UN Warns Of Unexploded Ammunition In Gaza Is A Threat, The Most Risky Children

Israeli Tanks in the Gaza Strip. (Source: IDF)

JAKARTA - Head of the Asi Mine Program in the Palestinian Territories occupied by Julius Van der Walt warned that the remains of war and unexploded ammunition hindered the return of normal life in Gaza, with children at risk.

In a press statement Wednesday he said unexploded ammunition in Gaza poses a serious threat to civilians, especially as hundreds of thousands of people returned home and their environment after the ceasefire.

Van der Walt noted that more than two years of intensive Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip had led to widespread contamination with explosives, which had a negative impact on humanitarian aid shipments, slowed the recovery of the sector, and made reconstruction work very dangerous, in addition to directly threatening the lives of civilians, quoted from WAFA (11/12).

He further explained that the UN team faces the dangers of explosives almost daily in various areas of the Gaza Strip, and families moving within Gaza are at risk of being exposed to these materials.

He stressed that children are the most vulnerable, as is the case in most conflict zones around the world, because of their curiosity and tendency to touch explosives that have not exploded without understanding the dangers.

The UN official noted there was no definite data on the extent of the contamination of explosives in Gaza, although strong indicators show its widespread presence in most areas.

Van der Walt revealed that the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has been operating in Gaza since October 2023.

Since then, Van der Walt said more than 650 malicious objects have been identified in areas accessible to the team, with most of the explosives that have not exploded and homemade explosives.

Van der Walt highlighted that Gaza's tiny geographic area and high population density make the situation more complex than other conflict zones such as Syria and Lebanon.

Van Der Walt stressed that avoiding the remains of explosives is almost impossible under these conditions, and even small remains can cause major disasters.

He warned residents returning to their homes should be very careful and immediately report any suspicious or moving objects.

These objects are very sensitive and could explode at any time, potentially causing death or serious injury, as well as releasing toxic substances, Van der Walt said.