As the ceasefire takes hold in Gaza, a new danger emerges from the ruins left behind by 15 months of devastating warfare. Over 2 million displaced Palestinians are preparing to return to their shattered neighborhoods, despite the lethal threat posed by a staggering amount of unexploded ordnance and toxic debris buried in the rubble.
A Perilous Homecoming
For the war-weary Gazans, the long-awaited reunion with their homes and the chance to search for missing loved ones comes at a steep price. Experts estimate that the 50 million tonnes of debris blanketing the territory conceal an unprecedented array of hazards, from undetonated bombs to asbestos and decomposing human remains.
“Anyone who goes near the debris is at risk,” warns Gary Toombs of the NGO Humanity and Inclusion UK. “As soon as they can, people will move back into all those devastated areas – that’s when we will see a spike in injuries and deaths.”
Urgent Warnings Amid Desperation
Aid organizations are scrambling to raise awareness of the dangers lying in wait. The Palestinian NGOs Network in Gaza has sent out millions of text messages urging residents, especially children, to report any suspicious findings to authorities and keep a safe distance.
I am terrified of losing someone or having them injured because of these explosives. I fear that one of these remnants will explode, and I could lose my life, or a hand, or a leg.
Suheila al-Harthani, 65, Gaza resident
However, desperation may overshadow caution as the displaced prioritize sifting through the wreckage for any salvageable belongings or the remains of lost family members over their own safety.
An Unprecedented Challenge
The monumental task of clearing the explosive remnants of war from Gaza’s rubble-strewn landscape is “unprecedented,” according to Greg Crowther of the Mines Advisory Group. The sheer intensity and duration of the bombing, combined with the densely populated urban terrain, pose unparalleled challenges.
- Over two-thirds of Gaza’s buildings destroyed or damaged
- 15+ years and $500-600 million to clear debris (UN estimate)
- “Most complicated clearance task in 30 years” – Gary Toombs, Humanity and Inclusion UK
A Ticking Time Bomb
Beyond the immediate threat to life and limb, the explosive contamination presents a formidable barrier to Gaza’s desperately needed reconstruction. Even areas spared from direct bombardment face the risk of crumbling infrastructure weakened by the extensive Hamas tunnel networks below.
In the hardest-hit regions like Jabaliya, Gaza’s largest refugee camp, some residents are resorting to living in the skeletal remains of their former homes, relying on small fires for warmth amidst the acrid stench of death that still hangs in the air.
There is nothing left, you cannot walk in the streets. Houses collapsed on top of each other. You get lost, you don’t know if this is your home or not.
Umm Nidal, Jabaliya resident
As the shattered territory pieces itself back together, the lethal legacy of the war embedded within the very foundations of its future looms large. The hardships endured by the resilient people of Gaza are far from over – a long and perilous road to recovery awaits.
