UN reports rising casualties from unexploded ordnance in Gaza

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) reported that unexploded ordnance in the Gaza Strip continues to kill and maim civilians, posing a long-term obstacle to reconstruction. Julius van der Walt, the head of UNMAS in the Palestinian territories, stated in Geneva that over 1,000 deaths have been recorded due to these munitions, though the actual figure is likely higher. Approximately half of the registered victims are children. According to the NGO Save the Children, the use of explosives results in 475 children becoming disabled each month, contributing to the highest concentration of child amputees in the world. UNMAS has documented over 1,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance in the last two and a half years, identifying a high density of remnants across the enclave. Before the conflict, which began following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Gaza was one of the most densely populated areas globally. UNMAS warned that the scale of the contamination is currently difficult to fully assess, but the threat level remains high as the available living space in the region has been significantly reduced.