Aid Efforts in Gaza Escalate, as Risk from Deadly Unexploded Ordnance Grows
January 29, 2025
Gaza City, Gaza Strip – Aid efforts in the Gaza Strip are escalating as the risk from unexploded ordnance (UXO) grows following a recent escalation in violence.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), there have been over 500 UXO incidents reported in Gaza since the end of hostilities on January 27. At least 20 people have been killed and dozens more injured.
UXO refers to explosive weapons that have failed to detonate as intended and pose a serious threat to civilians. They can be small, like grenades, or large, like bombs or rockets.
“The risk from UXO is extremely high,” said Dr. Mahmoud Daher, director of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. “Every day, we are seeing new patients with injuries from these weapons.”
Dr. Daher said that the majority of the injuries are caused by shrapnel, which can penetrate the body and cause severe damage. He added that children are particularly vulnerable to UXO, as they may not be aware of the dangers.
“Children are curious and they may pick up UXO, thinking it’s a toy,” he said. “This can have devastating consequences.”
Aid agencies are working to clear UXO from the Gaza Strip, but the task is daunting. The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) estimates that there are over 1 million pieces of UXO in Gaza, and it could take years to clear them all.
“We are working around the clock to clear UXO from Gaza,” said UNMAS spokesman Samir Al-Alami. “But it is a dangerous and time-consuming process.”
Al-Alami said that UNMAS is using a variety of techniques to clear UXO, including manual clearance, mechanical clearance, and controlled explosions. He added that UNMAS is also training local personnel to help with the clearance effort.
“We are committed to making Gaza safe from UXO,” said Al-Alami. “But we need the support of the international community to do this.”
The international community has condemned the use of UXO in Gaza and called for an end to the violence. The United States, the European Union, and other countries have pledged financial and technical assistance to help clear UXO from Gaza.
“The use of UXO in Gaza is a war crime,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “The United States strongly condemns this indiscriminate attack on civilians.”
Blinken said that the United States is providing $5 million to help clear UXO from Gaza and is working with other countries to provide additional support.
The international community is also calling for an independent investigation into the use of UXO in Gaza. The UN Human Rights Council has established a commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations during the recent escalation in violence.
“The international community must hold those responsible for these war crimes accountable,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. “We must ensure that the victims of these attacks receive justice.”
Aid efforts in Gaza escalate, as risk from deadly unexploded ordnance grows
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