The United Nations has warned that civilian deaths from landmines and unexploded bombs are spiking worldwide as donor money dries up, threatening to shut down life-saving clearance operations by March.
Programmes on the Edge
UNMAS officials told a Geneva meeting that while Sudan and the Occupied Palestinian Territory still have workable budgets, critical demining work in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Ethiopia could end in months without new cash.
Sudan: Just Five Teams Left
In war-torn Sudan, only five clearance squads operate nationwide all in Khartoum — to protect 1.5 million returning residents. Al-Fasher, under siege for over 500 days, remains littered with mines, blocking safe access.
Nigeria: Returnees Walking into Danger
As displacement camps close, families head back to 15 high-risk zones. UNMAS says 80% of civilian casualties now occur in just 11 of those areas.
To cope, the agency is training Nigerian police, soldiers and civil defence workers to deliver mine-risk education in remote communities.
The Bigger Picture
UNMAS stressed that mine action is not “post-conflict recovery”, it’s an urgent humanitarian priority. Every dollar cut means more children, farmers and returnees lose limbs or lives to hidden explosives.
The clock is ticking: without fresh funding, entire programmes collapse by spring 2026.
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