Survey and disposal of Explosive Ordnance contamination in Qatana District (Priority 2) Explosive ordnance contamination remains a major protection concern, dangerously affecting the lives and livelihoods of the Syrian population. The widespread explosive contamination continues to threaten lives, hamper access to basic services, and obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the efforts of the international community towards building resilience and early recovery. Records indicate that since 2013, an average of 4 people per day have been killed or injured by explosive ordnance. According to the 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview, 1 in 2 Syrians are estimated to be living in areas containing some form of explosive contamination. Mine Action response activities are key enablers to the delivery of humanitarian aid, services, and early recovery to assist people in need, as well as a prerequisite to safe, dignified and voluntary return. Mine Action is a comprehensive approach which requires sustained and flexible funding, and Mine Action mainstreaming supports planning of all sectors through provision of contamination data and enables safe activities by promoting life-saving behaviors through risk education and mitigating and removing threats by survey and clearance. Yet, while delivery of explosive ordnance risk education and awareness messages is widespread, survey and clearance remain geographically limited and underfunded.

Through this project NPA will, in an effort to enhance the Mine Action capacity within government-controlled areas of Syria, develop and deploy much needed non-technical and technical survey teams to conduct contamination survey and if needed clearance, staffed with Syrian nationals and initially deploying within the Qatana district. As per information provided by UNMAS (and much appreciated in the absence of nationwide baseline data), a total of 46 communities (representing a total of 369,336 beneficiaries) within Qatana district are reported to have some form of explosive ordnance contamination. At sub-district level, comparing to the total number of communities, the Qatana sub-district represents 18 communities, Beit Jan sub-district 9 communities and Sa'sa sub-district 19 communities. In addition to carrying out planned work within target communities, the teams may also have the capacity to support UN agencies and other partners working in support of the 2022 HRP, if requested.

The proposed activities will directly support Priority 2 within the 2022 allocation strategy, namely - Strengthening the delivery of priority humanitarian assistance planned for in the 2022-2023 HRP in areas of high needs and low coverage of response. The response will focus on strengthening resilience - in addition to direct support towards the Protection Sector priority of strengthening resilience and the specific objective to Minimize the impact of explosive ordnance for communities most at risk.

NPA adheres to the humanitarian principles of Humanity, Neutrality, Impartiality, and Independence in its programming and firmly believes in the need to assess and monitor activities to ensure that they contribute positively to social unity and cohesion and do not contribute to further conflict – the ‘Do No Harm’ principle.