Unexploded ordnance (UXO) continued to threaten life and safety of children in the Gaza Strip.
In the last week, one child was killed and another three were injured, raising the number of persons killed to 12 including six children and the number of injured persons to 71 including 29 children in 42 separate incidents since the beginning of 2007.
According to information collected by Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, at approximately 5:00 am on Thursday 14 February 2013, medical sources at Al-Shifa Hospital announced the death of Emad Mohammed Abu Qadous, 4, from wounds he had sustained earlier on Tuesday 12 February 2013.
Emad and his brother Younis, 13, were injured by UXO.
At approximately 7:30 am on Thursday 14 February 2013, three children were admitted to Beit Hanoun Hospital after they were injured by UEO opposite their home which is located in Al Qarman St.
in Beit Hanoun in the North Gaza district.
Al Mezan has identified their names as follows: Abdel Kareem Raed Abu Oda, 6, injured by shrapnel in the left leg and arm; Amer Jihad Abu Oda, 4, sustained shrapnel wounds in the legs; and Duha Saeb Abu Oda, 4, sustained shrapnel wounds in the legs.
Medical sources described Abdel Kareem’s injury as critical and referred him to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
The injuries of the two other were described as minor.
The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights expresses its profound regret that UXO left by the occupation or by local actors continues to claim victims, and its sharp concern that these incidents will be repeated.
It demands that the government in Gaza adopt measures to ensure the non-recurrence of these incidents, including stepped-up awareness campaigns among local residents, especially in areas near the border and those which have seen Israeli incursions or armed confrontations.
It also calls on popular and other local organizations to increase awareness campaigns concerning UXO cases, both those involving explosive materiel left by the occupation and that left by the Palestinian resistance, in order to prevent children from continuing to fall victim to UXO explosions.
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