KHARTOUM, April 4 (Xinhua) -- A minor blast late Friday in Sudan's Burri area, east of Khartoum, highlighted the ongoing threat of war remnants on Sudanese, experts and data have suggested, as Saturday marks the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
The blast of a leftover landmine was triggered by local residents burning waste, with no casualties reported, according to a statement by Sudanese Police Headquarters.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that erupted in April 2023 has left Khartoum State severely contaminated by war remnants, along with Darfur and Kordofan regions.
The Conflict and Environment Observatory estimated 38 million tons of war debris across Khartoum, an average of 100,000 tons per 57 square km.
As the Sudanese government officially announced the resumption of operations in Khartoum in January, residents are gradually returning to Khartoum, triggering a growing urgency for mine clearance.
In fact, the UN warned that across Sudan, nearly 14 million people, both civilians and humanitarian workers, are facing risks from explosive hazards, with children particularly vulnerable.
Lack of critical equipment and reduced funding are hindering efforts on clearance operations, victim assistance and risk education, it said, adding that unlike such efforts ongoing in Khartoum, those in other areas, especially Darfur, are much more limited.
"The capital is experiencing widespread contamination with war remnants, and despite progress by field teams, the scale of the challenge remains significant," Khalid Hamdan, director of Sudan's National Mine Action Center, told Xinhua.
"Clearing war remnants in Sudan requires long-term efforts due to the complexity of urban environments and the random spread of ordnance," mines and explosives expert Mohamed Abdul-Rahman told Xinhua, citing funding and equipment shortages as major challenges.
"Mine action is not only about removing deadly hazards -- it is about protecting lives, enabling recovery, and laying the foundations for peace," UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan Denise Brown said in a statement.
Homes, roads, schools and critical infrastructure are affected, placing civilians at daily risk and constraining humanitarian access, she added. ■