NEW YORK CITY: The UN Mine Action Service has warned of the severe threat posed by unexploded ordnance in Gaza, as displaced communities and aid workers begin to return to areas ravaged by two years of relentless Israeli bombardment.
Luke David Irving, the chief of UNMAS in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, highlighted the ongoing dangers posed by these explosive remnants of war.
“As communities and humanitarian personnel now move through affected areas, the explosive risk is incredibly high,” said Irving, speaking in Jerusalem.
“We know from decades of experience that when many other conflicts end, explosive ordnance continue to maim and kill. Gaza is no exception.”
His team has documented many cases of injuries when people encountered unexploded ordnance, he added, including five children who were hurt last week, two of them seriously.
