New report: Syrian victims of explosive weapons trapped in never-ending waiting list

The conflict in Syria is in its eighth year. Every day Humanity & Inclusion's teams across the region support the most vulnerable people who have been impacted by this devastating crisis.

With 1106 children killed in the Syrian crisis in 2018 alone, and half of those impacted by the crisis in need of psychological support, it is clear that something has to change.

The new report, “The Waiting List: Addressing the immediate and long-term needs of victims of explosive weapons in Syria” (pdf, 18,2Mb) exposes the devastating impact the conflict is having across the region, which will continue to be felt for decades.

The title of the report refers to the never-ending waiting list of Syrian men, women and children who are just trying to access their basic human rights: to walk again, to eat and drink, to play, to go to school, to work.

Explosive weapons not only devastate life, limb, and mind, but impact upon every part of life.

• More Syrians are estimated to have died from the breakdown of the health system than directly from the fighting.
• A four year old child who loses a limb may need up to 30 to 40 artificial limb limbs throughout his or her lifetime.
• Even when returning home, explosive remnants of war litter the landscape. In some instances 95% of victims of explosive weapons had not received risk education, prior to their accident. 1 in 5 victims are children and almost half were playing at the time of the accident.

When explosive weapons are used in populated areas, 90% of the victims are civilians. This must end now.

Download the report

• The Waiting List: Addressing the immediate and long-term needs of victims of explosive weapons in Syria (pdf, 18.2Mb)
• The Waiting List - Executive summary (pdf, 2.7 Mb)
• The Waiting List - Types of injuries caused by explosive weapons (pdf, 1.41 Mb)

How you can take action

• Please read the report and share it with people you think might be interested.
• Sign our petition to Stop Bombing Civilians
• Email your member of Congress to pressure the UK Government to protect civilians in conflict.

Our work on the Syria crisis

Humanity & Inclusion is taking action to improve the lives of Syrian refugees across the region through physical rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and risk education on explosive weapons. This work is supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.