“Explosive remnants of war and unexploded ordnance (UXO) continue to pose significant risks of injury or death to people across the Gaza Strip, with IDPs, people returning to areas that have been bombarded or seen heavy fighting, and children being particularly affected, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a humanitarian situation update on Monday.
On 29 June, a nine-year-old girl was reportedly killed, and three others were injured, by UXO in the Qizan An Najjar area, south of Khan Younis.
Earlier on 5 June, six children were reportedly injured when a UXO reportedly exploded near Al Aqsa University in western Khan Younis.
On 31 May, a displaced man and his two children were injured by UXO at a school in southern Khan Younis, UNRWA reported on 28 June. UNMAS estimates that over 37 million tons of debris in the Gaza Strip contain about 800,000 tons of asbestos, other contaminants, and UXO, noting that at least 10 per cent of fired ammunition potentially fails to function.
According to the Protection Cluster, there are ongoing efforts to conduct explosive hazard assessments, deploy additional Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers, and raise public awareness about the risks of explosive ordnance, despite a range of challenges that prevent the scaling up of mine action work, including lack of funding, administrative hurdles (e.g. delayed visas), insecurity, and the denial of entry of critical mine action supplies.
Between the afternoons of 27 June and 1 July, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, 135 Palestinians were killed and 631 were injured.
On 27 June, UN Women highlighted that at least 557,000 women in Gaza are facing severe food insecurity, with the most concerning situation being one of mothers and adult women, who are bearing increased caregiving and domestic responsibilities in tents and makeshift shelters, “leading many to skip meals or reduce their intake to ensure their children are fed.”
Between the afternoons of 28 June and 1 July, three Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza, according to the Israeli military. 317 soldiers have been killed in Gaza or along the border in Israel since the beginning of the ground operation.
