Gaza: Making people aware of the danger of unexploded ordnance

The ceasefire reached between Gaza and Israel continues to hold, after 11 days of bombing. But the threat to civilians is not over - hundreds of unexploded bombs can still pose a danger as people return home to areas that were bombed.

Pamphlet used in 2015 to conduct Risk Education sessions in Gaza | © F-X Errembault / HI

Educating people of the danger of unexploded bombs and informing them on what to do is urgently needed.

Bombing and shelling have stopped. But how many unexploded bombs are in the rubble? It is still hard to tell but it is definitely threatening the lives of civilians. So far, local authorities say they have located 292 items of unexploded ordnance.

Back home after the bombing, displaced families can find unexploded ordnance inside their house, in destroyed buildings, rubble or scattered across the city. Educating people about the risks and teaching them the correct and safe behaviour is a priority.

“It is very important to educate people about the risk from explosive remnants of war and to teach them best practices which can save their lives”,

says Laurent Palustran, Country Manager for HI in the Palestinian territories.

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Date published: 08/06/21