The Gaza Strip faces a protracted danger from unexploded ordnance that may take decades to fully address. Experts warn that the territory, scarred by two years of relentless air raids, has effectively become a vast and unmapped minefield, with hidden explosives buried beneath homes, streets, and public buildings.

Munitions clearance specialist Nick Orr, drawing parallels with post-war Britain, estimates that identifying and neutralising all bombs and landmines could take between 20 and 30 years. “Complete removal will never happen,” he said. “These explosives will continue to be discovered for generations, posing a constant threat to civilians and essential infrastructure alike.” Orr leads a seven-member team preparing to survey hospitals, bakeries, and other critical sites to locate and safely dispose of buried ordnance.

The human cost is already evident. At least 53 civilians have been killed by hidden explosives since the end of the recent war, with many more injured. Aid organisations stress that these figures are likely a severe undercount. Clearing densely populated areas is especially arduous, a challenge mirrored in other post-conflict regions such as Mozambique and Vietnam, where unexploded munitions continue to endanger communities decades after the fighting has ended.