Last update:
2023-02-13

Noise Pollution and Building Damages from the Supersonic Russian Aircrafts at Hmeimim Airbase in Latakia, Syria

Residents of Hmeimim Town report widening cracks in their houses, decreased property values, and a halt to urban movement due to Russian military operations



Description:

Residents of the town of Hmeimim in Syria have reported that the residential buildings in the town are experiencing cracks on their walls and rooftops that are getting wider every day. This has caused most of the town's population to flee to areas far from the airport [3][4]. According to Al-Quds Al-Arabi report in 2015 a civil engineer whom they interviewed stated that if Russian warplanes continue to operate in this manner, it will have "disastrous" effects on the nearby town and people. The engineer explained that the planes take off near the town at low altitudes, creating a loud noise, a white cloud, and a pressure of air particles that can disturb the foundations of buildings and increase the load pressure on them, leading to the appearance of cracks that can reduce the lifespan of the buildings and potentially cause them to collapse. A real estate owner in the town also confirmed that the price of buildings has fallen by a quarter and that the town's urban movement has come to a complete halt due to the displacement of more than half of its population, estimated at 15,000 people.

See more
Basic Data
Name of conflict:Noise Pollution and Building Damages from the Supersonic Russian Aircrafts at Hmeimim Airbase in Latakia, Syria
Country:Syrian Arab Republic
State or province:Latakia
Location of conflict:Hmeimim
Accuracy of locationHIGH (Local level)
Source of Conflict
Type of conflict. 1st level:Industrial and Utilities conflicts
Type of conflict. 2nd level:Military installations
Project Details and Actors
Project details

Hmeimim Airbase is a military base located in the Latakia region of western Syria, on the Mediterranean coast. It is currently being used as the main base for Russian troops participating in the Syrian war. The legal status of the base is regulated by a treaty signed between Russia and Syria in 2015. In 2017, Russia decided to transform Hmeimim into a permanent military installation, upgrading its infrastructure and adding various amenities such as an air traffic control tower, housing for soldiers, warehouses, a fuel station, and a fire brigade. In July 2020, Syria granted Russia the use of an additional 16 hectares of land and water surrounding the base in order to expand it and create a health clinic and rehabilitation center for soldiers. Despite being frequently targeted by Syrian fighters with rocket launchers and weaponized drones, the base remains active. Hmeimim Airbase is equipped with a number of facilities to support the soldiers stationed there. These include residential buildings for soldiers, a fuel station, and a fire brigade. The base also has a runway and air traffic control tower, enabling aircraft to take off and land safely. In addition to these practical facilities, there are also warehouses for storing equipment and supplies [1][2].

Project area:300 hectares
Type of populationRural
Affected Population:15,000
Start of the conflict:13/10/2015
Relevant government actors:Ministry of defense (Syria)
Ministry of defense (Russia)
Russian military (Russia)
Conflict & Mobilization
IntensityLATENT (no visible organising at the moment)
Reaction stageUnknown
Groups mobilizing:Neighbours/citizens/communities
Forms of mobilization:Media based activism/alternative media
Impacts
Environmental ImpactsVisible: Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Noise pollution
Potential: Air pollution, Global warming
Health ImpactsVisible: Accidents, Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Occupational disease and accidents, Other Health impacts
Potential: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide
Other Health impactsLoss of sense of hearing
Socio-economical ImpactsVisible: Displacement, Loss of livelihood, Loss of landscape/sense of place
Outcome
Project StatusIn operation
Conflict outcome / response:Migration/displacement
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:No
Briefly explain:The military airport expanded in 2020 and still operating at the time of writing.
Sources & Materials
References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries

[1] The sounds of Russian aircraft turn the lives of residents of the Syrian coast into hell (North press agency, 2015)
[click to view]

[1] Buildings cracked in the Syrian coastal town of Hmeimim, due to Russian planes. (AL QUDS AL ARABI, 2015)
[click to view]

[3] THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION’S MILITARY BASES ABROAD (Institute of new Europe, 2020 )
[click to view]

[4] Russia's war in Syria (foreign policy research institute, 2020)
[click to view]

Meta information
Last update13/02/2023
Conflict ID:6272
Comments
Legal notice / Aviso legal
We use cookies for statistical purposes and to improve our services. By clicking "Accept cookies" you consent to place cookies when visiting the website. For more information, and to find out how to change the configuration of cookies, please read our cookie policy. Utilizamos cookies para realizar el análisis de la navegación de los usuarios y mejorar nuestros servicios. Al pulsar "Accept cookies" consiente dichas cookies. Puede obtener más información, o bien conocer cómo cambiar la configuración, pulsando en más información.