The Government of Japan has contributed US$1,000,000 to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), for the project “Humanitarian Mine Action to Address Explosive Ordnance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory''. The funding from the Government of Japan will support UNMAS to deliver explosive ordnance risk education and conduct explosive ordnance disposal response in the Gaza Strip. This will help mitigate the threat of explosive ordnance for the vulnerable populations in Gaza and contribute to enabling safe delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance.
The ongoing escalation witnesses the use of explosive munitions in Gaza through air, sea, and land strikes, warning of a legacy of explosive ordnance contamination posing an immediate risk to lives and livelihoods, hindering the delivery of humanitarian assistance, restricting safe movement and impeding recovery initiatives. This necessitates large-scale and coordinated mine action to save lives and support emergency, future recovery and development interventions.
The contribution from Japan will support UNMAS in delivering mine action interventions throughout Gaza. Through the project, UNMAS will enable the humanitarian community to deliver lifesaving support by accompanying missions such as rescue missions and food, fuel and medical convoys, and by assessing critical humanitarian infrastructure like hospitals, shelters and United Nations aid distribution sites. In parallel, UNMAS will disseminate explosive ordnance risk education messaging through in-person sessions and posters, leaflets and mass media campaigns, sharing lifesaving information about how to mitigate explosive ordnance threats. This will equip conflict-affected people – as well as humanitarian personnel – with the knowledge and skills to adopt safe behaviours when facing these threats when moving around the Strip both during active hostilities and in ceasefire times. By supporting these mine action interventions, the contribution from Japan will make humanitarian personnel and conflict-affected people in Gaza safer at this critical time.
Mr. ARAIKE Katsuhiko, Japan’s Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs stated, “The project is extremely important not only for contributing to the safety of the population in Gaza including women and children, and humanitarian workers, but also for preparing for future recovery and reconstruction in Gaza.”
Mr. Luke Irving, Chief of Mine Action Programme for UNMAS in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said, “This generous contribution allows UNMAS to continue its efforts in Gaza to safeguard civilians and enable lifesaving humanitarian response. UNMAS thanks the People of Japan for this critical support.”
The Government of Japan has supported humanitarian mine action in Gaza for years, enabling UNMAS to mitigate the explosive ordnance threat in Gaza in peace times and during periods of conflict. UNMAS is grateful for this ongoing support and particularly appreciates the contribution from the People of Japan at this critical moment in the humanitarian response in Gaza.
For more information contact:
Mr. Luke Irving, Chief, Mine Action Programme, UNMAS OPT, luke.irving@un.org
Ms. Tomoko Nakayama, Programme Management Officer, UNMAS OPT, tomokona@unops.org