Gaza mine clearance needs urgent expansion as UN officials warn explosives are blocking aid, recovery and safe civilian movement.
NEW YORK: The United Nations has warned that Gaza mine clearance must be urgently expanded as unexploded ordnance continues to threaten civilians, aid workers and displaced families across Gaza and the West Bank.
Julius van der Walt, head of the UN Mine Action Service in the occupied Palestinian territory, said explosive contamination has become a daily emergency. Since October 2023, more than 1,000 people have reportedly been killed or injured by explosive ordnance, with children making up nearly half of verified victims.
A rapid damage and needs assessment cited by officials found that about 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents have been displaced, while 60 per cent have lost their homes. The assessment also estimated that human development in Gaza has gone backwards by 77 years.
The risks are now woven into daily life. Aid convoys face danger on transit routes, families returning to damaged homes may encounter hidden weapons in rubble, and farmers are unable to safely resume work on their land. Van der Walt said specialist teams have not yet been able to complete full surveys, but early field missions have already found about 1,000 hazardous items, equal to one explosive device every 600 metres.
In the West Bank, the UN has also recorded a rise in contamination over the past two years, with more than 400 fragmentation-related incidents reported since the latest escalation.
UNMAS says Gaza mine clearance is essential for humanitarian access, rebuilding and long-term recovery. The agency is calling for coordinated work with local partners, including training and risk awareness for vulnerable communities. Without faster Gaza mine clearance, officials warn that civilians will remain exposed even after fighting eases.
