(74) people killed and injured in (51) mine explosions in Sudan

A Sudanese official unveiled on Saturday that 51 mine explosions and unexploded ordnance (UXO) had been recorded, killing at least 23 people.

Maj. Gen. Khalid Hamdan, Director of the National Mine Action Center, told Sudan Tribune that 51 incidents related to mine explosions and remnants of war have been recorded since the outbreak of the conflict until last June.

He pointed out that the incidents recorded in Khartoum, Blue Nile, and North Kordofan resulted in the deaths of 23 people and the injury of 51 others.

Mines and unexploded ordnance pose a threat to the lives of residents in areas that have witnessed violent fighting, especially in Khartoum, where the return of displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes is increasing, while government authorities are working to restore civilian life despite limited resources.

Khalid Hamdan revealed that the center received more than 831 reports related to mines and unexploded ordnance this year, which were dealt with with the exception of reports from areas outside government control. He explained that the center’s teams are actively educating and guiding citizens reporting in areas outside government control on how to avoid unexploded ordnance by marking and identifying their locations to prevent any accidents.

Hamdan stated that the Mine Action Center has deployed Seven teams in Khartoum state working to remove mines and unexploded ordnance.

There are also seven other teams in Al-Gezira, White Nile, Sennar, and the cities of El-Obeid and Umm Ruwaba in North Kordofan, in addition to a team in Kadugli in South Kordofan.