Leftover Israeli Ordnance Explodes, Injures Farmer in Gaza

A Palestinian farmer Thursday was injured as a leftover Israeli ordnance exploded to the east of Deir al-Balah city in the central Gaza Strip, said WAFA correspondent.

As a Palestinian farmer was tending his farmland, east of Deir al-Balah, an Israeli leftover ordnance exploded, causing injuries to him.

The farmer was rushed into Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital, where medics described his injuries as moderate.

Almost 21 months since the Israeli onslaught on Gaza ended, there are still more than 7,000 explosive remnants of war (ERW) across the Gaza Strip.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) states in the 2016 Humanitarian Needs Overview “the entire ]Palestinian[ population, including at least 900,000 children, is exposed to the dangers of unexploded Ordinances (UXOs) following the recent escalation of conflict. Children are especially vulnerable when they play in conflict affected areas.”

As part of explaining the need for ongoing support for Palestinians in the blockaded strip, It states that injuries as a result of UXOs are ongoing and over 484,000 children need to be continually sensitized on mine awareness.

On April 4, UNRWA organized an event to mark the annual International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. The event was intended to raise the awareness of students, parents and the larger community about the danger and impact of explosive remnants of War (ERW).

UNRWA’s Gaza Situation Report 138, covering the period from March 29 to April 5, reports Head of UNRWA Gaza Community Mental Health Program Dave Huttonas saying that “in Gaza, since 2014, 115 civilians have been victims of ERW-related accidents, which is 115 too many.”

UNRWA defines ERW as comprising unexploded ordnance (UXOs) – bombs, mortars, grenades, missiles, cluster munitions or other devices – that fail to detonate on impact but remain volatile and can kill if touched or moved – or abandoned explosive ordnance.

With guidance from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNRWA is implementing outreach activities on safety and risk education regarding ERWs. UNRWA has been providing training on how to recognize, demarcate and signal the presence of ERW safely.

Following the Israeli onslaught on Gaza, UNMAS estimates that more than 7,000 explosive ERWs were estimated to remain in the Gaza Strip.

“Although as of today approximately 42 per cent of ERW (2,953 ERW items) have been identified and destroyed, the remaining 58 per cent continue to pose a threat to the population living in Gaza,” it said.

“In total, to date in the occupied Palestinian territory, UNMAS has surveyed and cleared 246 ERW-infected sites, including schools; it has provided training to 10,000 UN staff, humanitarian workers, internally displaced persons, engineers, construction workers and other at-risk populations. In addition, it continues to monitor ERW demolition processes and has ensured the safe destruction of over 2,300 items of ERWs including aircraft bombs,” it added.

Source: WAFA