Two children, 15-year-old Saif al Nouman, and 14-year-old Najma al Nouman*, both from Raqqa governorate, were killed on February 15, 2022 by the explosion of a landmine left by unknown parties while the children were herding sheep in farmland to the east of Aqarb village in the eastern suburbs of Hama governorate, which is under the control of Syrian regime forces.
SNHR is still trying to reach eyewitnesses for more details on the incident.
We call on the controlling forces to assume their responsibility for protecting civilians in areas under their control, to reveal the sites of planted landmines, and to remove them. We have documented hundreds of deaths and injuries resulting from landmine explosions, which will continue to constitute a real and lethal threat to people, particularly children, for several years to come.
* According to information which we received at the time from activists, we reported previously that the two child victims killed in this incident had been identified as Saif, aged 13, and Najma, aged 14, (whose last names we were unable to confirm). After further investigations, we have confirmed that the two children were 15-year-old Saif al Nouman, and 14-year-old Najma al Nouman, and updated the previous news report accordingly on February 17, 2022.
