HI’s Nick Orr said clearing Gaza could take “20 to 30 years,” citing massive rubble and restricted access to heavy disposal machinery. He described the enclave as an “open minefield,” warning that safe removal requires sustained international engineering support.

Northern Gaza Heavily Contaminated

UN data indicate more than 20,000 unexploded items across Gaza—roughly 58 per square kilometer—with around 3,000 tons concentrated in Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and other northern districts. At least 53 people have already died from UXO incidents.

Central and Southern Burdens

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that clearance in central Gaza’s camps—Nuseirat, Maghazi, Bureij, and Deir al-Balah—could take a decade. Khan Younis contains about 2,000 tons of UXO, while Rafah holds around 800 tons, each requiring over ten years of technical clearance.

Priority Sites and Initial Actions

Orr said HI’s seven-person team will first map explosive remnants in hospitals and bakeries before scaling operations. Total contamination may exceed 7,000 tons strip-wide, making Gaza one of the most UXO-dense territories globally.

Limited Access and High Risk

HI continues to face restrictions on equipment imports and movement. Dense urban destruction and deep-buried explosives complicate the work, prompting UN agencies to emphasize risk-education campaigns and phased clearance to prevent further civilian casualties.