Fahd al-Ghajar, a 35-year-old former Syrian soldier turned mine-clearer, tragically lost his life to a landmine explosion on February 21 while working on a farm in northern Syria. Al-Ghajar, who had dedicated himself to ridding the war-torn nation of deadly mines, was killed instantly while inspecting a field he had just cleared. His commitment to making Syria safer for returning civilians has been widely recognized, and his passing underscores the continuing dangers posed by landmines in the region.
Al-Ghajar had gained extensive knowledge of planting and removing mines during his time in the Syrian army before the civil war began in 2011. He later left the army to join the opposition movement against the Assad regime. His work clearing mines was well-documented on social media, where he frequently shared images showcasing his efforts across Syria. Despite the risks, al-Ghajar expressed pride in his work, once captioning a photograph with, "The most beautiful thing is the end."
Al-Ghajar's brother, Abduljabbar Alghajar, spoke of his brother's selflessness, saying he sacrificed himself so others could live. The loss of al-Ghajar is a poignant reminder of the persistent threat posed by landmines in Syria. According to the Halo Trust, by last week alone, 640 people had been either killed or injured by landmines, with a third of the victims being children as reported earlier by the UN.
"Syria is free, but we, the engineering team, lose someone every day. In the end, we are all dead; what matters is to clean the country." – Fahd al-Ghajar
Fahd al-Ghajar was survived by his wife and four children. His untimely death highlights the ongoing necessity for mine-clearing operations in Syria, a process experts say will take decades to complete. Mohammed Sami Al Mohammed, mine action programme coordinator for the Syrian Civil Defence, emphasized the widespread danger.
"We cannot say that any area in Syria is safe from war remnants." – Mohammed Sami Al Mohammed