State of the World from NPR The Deadly Long-term Problem Hiding Throughout Gaza
Oct 31, 2025
Rob Schmitz, a seasoned NPR reporter, shares harrowing stories from Gaza, focusing on the peril of unexploded ordnance. He recounts a tragic incident where two boys were severely injured after finding potentially explosive materials in the rubble. The discussion reveals the widespread and deadly presence of these munitions, with clearance efforts hampered by local personnel losses and security constraints. Schmitz highlights that the risks will linger for decades, impacting future generations and complicating recovery efforts.
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Children Injured While Scavenging Rubble
- Eight-year-old Jude and his cousin Zayn found a container of small black pellets in Gaza rubble that looked like lentils or coal.
- The pellets exploded after being tossed, leaving both boys covered in shrapnel and treated at Al-Shifa Hospital.
Widespread Unexploded Ordnance Crisis
- UNMAS estimates 5–10% of weapons fired into Gaza failed to detonate, leaving widespread unexploded ordnance.
- Those duds have already killed at least 328 people and continue to pose lethal long-term hazards.
Bomb Disposal Capacity Devastated
- Gaza's civil defense reports tens of thousands of tons of unexploded bombs across buildings, roads, and rubble.
- They warn movement is risky because specialized bomb-disposal teams have been largely killed during the war.