UN says children most at risk from unexploded ordnance in Gaza

Julius Van der Walt, chief of the Mine Action Programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said in a press statement that the remnants of war and unexploded ordnance in Gaza pose a threat to civilians returning to normal life, stressing that children are most at risk.

More than two years of systematic Israeli attacks have contaminated the Strip with explosive materials, impacting the humanitarian sector and reconstruction efforts.

Van der Walt noted there is still no exhaustive data on the full extent of explosive contamination in Gaza, but said that since the Mine Action Programme started operating in October 2023, it identified 650 hazardous items.

He also stressed that Gaza’s limited geographical area and high population density make the situation more difficult compared to other conflict zones.

Given the impossibility to wholly avoid these remnants under current conditions, he warned residents returning to their homes to exercise extreme caution and to report any suspicious or movable objects immediately.