29 tonnes of explosive materials removed from Gaza since 2014

Some 29 tonnes remnants of explosive materials have been removed from the Gaza Strip since Israel’s deadly 2014 “Operation Protective Edge” war on the Strip, a statement by UNRWA revealed yesterday.

The representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority, Ambassador Takeshi Okubo, and the Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service in Palestine concluded a Japanese-funded project to remove the dangerous materials, hold an awareness campaign on the dangers of explosive remnants and a photos exhibition.

According to the statement, Japan enabled the United Nations Mine Action Service to clear up the last known unexploded bombs in Gaza, through its support of a multi-donor project in April.

Since the last Israeli attack on Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014, the United Nations Mine Action Service has cleared and destroyed 29 tonnes of explosive material from 149 unexploded aerial bombs in Gaza.

#GazaSiege

“This important work protects the community of Gaza, which was directly affected by the presence of unexploded ordnance,” UNRWA declared.

“In addition to clearing explosive remnants of war, the United Nations Mine Action Service has undertaken other activities to mitigate the threat posed by explosive remnants of war, through sensitizing the affected communities, including children, farmers, construction workers and all those at risk of death or injury as a result of the remnants of war that are buried under the rubble and underground.”