UN Warns of Persistent Danger from Unexploded Ordnance in Gaza

UN Warns of Persistent Danger from Unexploded Ordnance in Gaza
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The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has warned that unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Gaza continues to pose a severe threat to residents and humanitarian workers, as displaced communities begin returning to areas devastated by two years of conflict, Arab News reported.

Since October 2023, UNMAS has documented 328 incidents in which civilians were injured or killed by explosive devices, though officials believe the true number is likely much higher. Among recent casualties, five children were injured last week, two seriously.

UNMAS has so far identified 560 items of explosive ordnance in accessible areas, but the full extent of contamination remains unknown. Chief of UNMAS in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Luke David Irving, emphasized that the threat is expected to persist for months and years, posing risks to returning residents and children playing in affected zones.

Humanitarian operations are also endangered, as UNMAS carries out risk-education campaigns, technical assessments of infrastructure, and clearance of debris that may harbor explosives. Since March 2025, the agency has reached approximately 460,000 people, distributing over 400,000 awareness materials including flyers and stickers.

Following the ceasefire on October 10, UNMAS has received nearly 100 requests for explosives-clearance support, averaging 10 per day, highlighting the urgent need for technical personnel and critical disposal equipment to scale up operations and support recovery.

Irving stressed that humanitarian mine action is indispensable for safe aid delivery and reconstruction, calling on donors and international partners to expand explosives-clearance efforts to safeguard civilians and enable long-term recovery.