JERUSALEM: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees reported on Tuesday the discovery of unexploded 1,000-pound bombs within schools in Gaza, shortly after Israeli troops withdrew from the main city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
The Israeli military has conducted a series of intense airstrikes and bombardments in Gaza since October 7, leaving behind a hazardous aftermath of unexploded ordnance (UXOs).
Following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Khan Younis, UN agencies initiated an “assessment mission” in the area, as confirmed by UNRWA. The assessment revealed “significant challenges in operating safely due to the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXOs), including 1,000-pound bombs inside schools and on roads.”
According to UNRWA, the situation is dire, with thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) urgently requiring lifesaving assistance, including access to health services, clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as food aid.
The United Nations had previously warned that the process of decontaminating Gaza from unexploded munitions would be extensive, both in terms of time and resources. “It would take millions of dollars and many years to decontaminate the Gaza Strip from unexploded munitions,” stated a UN representative.
Charles Birch, chief of the UN Mine Action Service, emphasized the scale of the challenge, stating, “We work off the rule of thumb that 10 percent of ordnance doesn’t function as designed. We estimate that, to begin the clearance of Gaza, we need around $45 million.”
