On February 15, a landmine of unknown origin exploded near six members of the same family who were collecting truffles in the Badiya (desert area) of Khanaser town in the southern suburbs of Aleppo governorate, controlled by Syrian regime forces, killing two family members, identified as Hussein Ali al Khallouf, aged 51, and a four-year-old child whose name has not yet been confirmed, as well as injuring the other members of the family. SNHR is still trying to contact witnesses to obtain more details of the incident.
SNHR calls on the governing forces in each area to bear responsibility for protecting civilians in the 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 threat to people, particularly children, for several years to come.
