2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for Gaza and West Bank
nature and tendency to explore their environments; since May 2021
escalation, 77% of the reported ERW victims are children 102. Internal
displaced persons are more vulnerable because they are in locations that
are less familiar to them. Furthermore, they may not have the same access
to the normal lines of communication within the community, which might
share ERW locations when they are identified.
There is an urgent need for life saving mine action intervention, including
emergency ERW risk assessments, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
responses, and ERW risk and Conflict Preparedness and Protection (CPP)
messaging remain priority.
Humanitarian actors and the general population must receive risk education
to reduce the risk from ERW if/when it is encountered. Even before the
recent escalation in Gaza Mine Action partners noted a considerable
decrease in sensitization about ERW contamination and the pressing need
for intervention.
The capacity for mine action remains a major challenge, and there are
access restrictions on EOD equipment and provision of training to the local
EOD responders. UNMAS delivers clearance liaison and rendering safe and
excavation of DBB, as well as support for future rubble removal and
reconstruction projects.
Risk 6.1: Operational context
During the military escalation in Gaza in May 2021, an estimated 258
buildings, comprising 1,042 housing and commercial units, were destroyed,
and 769 units severely damaged or rendered uninhabitable. IF launched an
estimated 4,223 strikes via air, sea and land. A sizable proportion of items
discharged did not explode on impact and remain on the ground, in some
cases deeply buried, posing an immediate threat to life. With an estimated
failure rate at 10%, the conflict has left a dangerous explosive legacy in the
area. The ERW lie in agricultural areas and amongst the rubble, thus
precluding the delivery of humanitarian aid, inhibiting safe movement, and
curtailing recovery and development initiatives.
With the ceasefire holding, UN agencies and humanitarian partners must
accelerate their emergency response. In order to do this safely and
effectively, rapid explosive risk assessments at sites of operation and routes
of passage are needed to ensure partner operations are not disrupted by
ERW. The new contamination caused by the May 2021 escalation, in
addition to historic ERW contamination from previous conflicts, has
increased the need for a concerted effort to mitigate the threats posed by
these explosive hazards through EOD - including the removal of DBB, risk
assessments, and explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) along with the
CPP messages.
Risk 6.2: Partner responses and capacities
One million people need Mine Action services in 2022. In response to these
needs, UNMAS cleared 10 DBB sites out of 16 in addition to carrying out 76
risk assessments to various UN humanitarian projects sites. A total 34,368
people received EORE and CPP sessions by UNMAS, NPA, UNICEF and Save
the Children since the beginning of 2022. In the same reporting period, 12
ERW injuries, of which seven are children, were recorded due to ERW.
Risks 6.3: Humanitarian needs and gaps
Rapid explosive risk assessments at sites of operation and routes of
passage to ensure safe access for humanitarian partners
Clearance of deep buried bombs
Widespread EOD risk education and CPP messaging
102
UNMAS 2022
26View entire presentation