A Sudanese official revealed on Saturday that 51 incidents involving landmine and war remnant explosions have been recorded, resulting in the deaths of at least 23 people.
Major General Khaled Hamdan, Director of the National Mine Action Center, told Sudan Tribune that “51 incidents related to landmine and war remnant explosions have been recorded since the outbreak of the conflict until the end of last June.”
He noted that the incidents, which occurred in Khartoum, Blue Nile, and North Kordofan, claimed the lives of 23 individuals and injured 51 others.
Hamdan disclosed that the center has received more than 831 reports related to landmines and unexploded ordnance this year, most of which have been addressed—except for those coming from areas outside government control.
He explained that the center’s teams are actively engaged in educating and guiding citizens in non-government-held areas on how to avoid unexploded ordnance by marking and identifying their locations to prevent accidents.
Hamdan stated that the Mine Action Center has deployed seven teams in Khartoum State to remove landmines and unexploded ordnance. Additionally, seven other teams are operating in the states of Al Jazirah, White Nile, Sennar, and in the cities of El-Obeid and Um Rawaba in North Kordofan, along with a team in Kadugli, South Kordofan.
He acknowledged the difficulties facing demining operations due to contamination in urban areas and the presence of buildings, which slows the process. The presence of civilians in contaminated zones also increases the risk of accidents.
The official added that the United Nations is funding five of the teams working in Khartoum State, while the government funds the rest, including those operating in other states.
He also reported that the center is working with the United Nations to increase the number of teams deployed across the states, with this expansion expected to take place in August.
