Unexploded Shells Threaten Families Returning to Sudan's Capital

Dangers in Khartoum and Omdurman

• ⚠️ Families returning to homes and schools in Khartoum and Omdurman are facing the severe threat of unexploded ordnance.
• 📍 Streets, homes, schools, and shops are littered with ammunition and missiles left behind after fighting.
• 🏫 A primary school teacher discovered an unexploded shell under a pile of cloth, highlighting the danger even in educational spaces.

Community Efforts and Challenges

• 🤝 Volunteer groups are stepping in to help clear dangerous areas in neighborhoods.
• 🆘 Sudan and UN clearance teams are working to make areas safe but require more staff and funding.
• 💸 US aid cuts, implemented under the Trump administration, have impacted the availability of resources for clearance operations.

Civilian Casualties and Scale of the Problem

• 💔 A 16-year-old boy lost an arm and suffered severe injuries when a shell exploded while his family was clearing rubble at their home.
• 📈 Sudan's National Mine Action Center has destroyed over 12,000 devices and found an additional 5,000 since expanding operations.
• ❗ At least 16 civilians have been killed and dozens wounded by munitions explosions in recent weeks, with the actual toll believed to be higher.