Landmine Toll Hits Four-Year High Amid Treaty Withdrawals and Funding Cuts

A new report reveals that deaths and injuries from landmines have reached their highest levels in four years, driven by conflicts in Syria and Myanmar. European nations are withdrawing from the treaty banning landmines, and donor funding cuts are impacting mine clearance and survivor support efforts.

In 2024, deaths and injuries from landmines and unexploded ordnance surged to a four-year high, largely due to ongoing conflicts in Syria and Myanmar, and European countries moving to withdraw from the treaty prohibiting their use, a report published Monday revealed. Last year saw over 6,000 incidents, as recorded by the Landmine Monitor 2025.

The conflicts in Syria and Myanmar drove the surge, with mines becoming a prevalent threat in these regions, particularly as Syria attempts to rebuild after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. The report highlighted Myanmar as the most affected, with over 2,000 landmine incidents linked to both state and non-state military forces.

European countries like Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are stepping away from the Ottawa Convention due to perceived Russian threats, potentially endangering international cooperation on the issue. Activists urge a worldwide ban on landmines, as diminished global funding cuts threaten clearance operations and victim assistance efforts.

(With inputs from agencies.)