UN: Gaza’s children face deadly threat from war remnants and unexploded ordnance

Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Van der Vaart said that unexploded ordnance poses a serious threat to civilians, especially as hundreds of thousands move around following the ceasefire.

He noted that over two years of intense Israeli attacks on Gaza have left widespread contamination by explosive materials, which hampers the delivery of humanitarian aid and slows the recovery of the territory.

This, he added, makes rebuilding efforts in Gaza extremely dangerous and poses a direct threat to civilian lives.

Van der Vaart stated that the UN Mine Action Service has been operating in Gaza since October 2023 and has so far identified over 650 hazardous items in areas they’ve accessed, most of them being unexploded ordnance or improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

He stressed that UN teams face daily risks from explosives throughout the Strip and that families moving within Gaza are constantly exposed to danger.

The UN official emphasized that children are the most vulnerable, just as in other conflict zones, due to their curiosity and tendency to touch unfamiliar objects without realizing the risk.

He warned that while no precise data exists on the full scale of explosive contamination in Gaza, there are strong indicators of widespread presence across most areas.

Van der Vaart explained that Gaza’s small size and dense population make the situation even more complex compared to other war zones like Syria or Lebanon.

He stressed that avoiding explosive remnants is nearly impossible in such conditions, where even small fragments can cause devastating harm. Returning to damaged homes requires extreme caution, and he urged the public to report any suspicious or unexploded objects immediately.

“These objects are extremely sensitive and may detonate at any moment,” he warned. “That could lead to loss of life, severe injuries, or the release of toxic substances.”