In the heart of Ar-Raqqa, families are reclaiming their homes after years of destruction, but the threat beneath their feet remains. Explosive remnants of war continue to endanger lives, especially children, in neighborhoods once controlled by ISIS. DCA is working on the front lines of mine clearance, removing deadly devices hidden among the rubble and helping communities rebuild their lives with safety and dignity.
Six-year-old Houssain stands in the doorway, peering out. Just beyond the entrance, a red and white warning tape flutters in the wind. A woman in a protective vest and helmet watches him closely. He must not step outside – if he does, the mine clearance team will be forced to halt their work.
His father, Hassan Ahmad Al-Eibesh, gently pulls him back inside, ensuring the dangerous operation outside their home continues uninterrupted.
“ISIS was everywhere here. Everything was destroyed.
We rebuilt our home, but the fear of our children finding a bomb has never left us,”
says Hassan.
Living with hidden dangers
Hassan grew up in his family home in the center of Ar-Raqqa, witnessing every battle, every wave of destruction that reshaped his city. Even after years of rebuilding, he and his wife, Ameera Al-Ahmad, felt a deep fear whenever their children played outside.
Across the street, the ruins of a house once belonged to an ISIS executioner. Their children played among the rubble and debris, unaware of the dangers hidden beneath.
When DCA’s mine-clearance teams arrived, they uncovered two mortar shells, each capable of causing massive casualties.
“Every time our children played there, I ran across the rubble to bring them back. I was terrified I’d step on something that could exploded, killing both me and my children,” recalls Ameera.
Now, with the bombs removed, she finally breathes a little easier.
“Now our children can play without fear. Trees are starting to grow again, and I hope that soon our city will be green again, not just gray with ruins,” she says.
A child’s hope for a rebuilt Ar-Raqqa
Inside the house, 13-year-old Sawa sits quietly, watching the mine-clearance teams work outside. For her, removing explosives is more than just safety – it is a symbol of hope.
She dreams of a colorful Raqqa, where houses are painted bright shades instead of covered in dust and bullet holes. She hopes the destroyed building across the street will be rebuilt soon.
“When they rebuild the house across from us, I hope they turn it into a library,” she says, smiling.
Sawa loves reading, especially horror novels, but books are rare in Raqqa.
“I’ve seen so many books online that I wish I could read one day,” she says.
For Sawa, her family, and thousands of others in Raqqa, clearing landmines is more than just removing explosives. It’s about rebuilding lives, restoring dreams, and reclaiming their city.
“Now our children can play without fear. Trees are starting to grow again, and I hope that soon our city will be green again, not just gray with ruins,” Ameera says.
About the project
Full title: Creating Safer Communities and Enabling Safe and Sustainable Returns, Encouraging Stabilization and Early Recovery in Ar-Raqqa, Northeast Syria (NES)
Period: September 2022 – June 2024
Amount: 4.5 million EUR
Number of people reached by end of the project: 26,182
Donor(s): UN & Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
Started in 2023, the project targets the most vulnerable communities across Ar-Raqqa City and Deir ez-Zor Governorate. One major achievement was the clearance of Al Thawrah Public Park, where the team safely removed 11 explosive remnants of war (ERWs), including two improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Once declared safe, the space was handed over to DCA’s shelter team for full rehabilitation. This initiative has turned an abandoned and dangerous site into a vibrant, inclusive, and gender-sensitive community space that promotes social cohesion, mental well-being, and safe recreation, particularly for women and children. This life-changing work is made possible through funding from the UN and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
