Clearing the Gaza Strip of unexploded ordnance is likely to take between 20 and 30 years, said an official with the humanitarian organization Humanity & Inclusion, who described the enclave as a "terrible, unmarked minefield."
More than 53 people have been killed and hundreds injured by deadly debris from the two-year war between Israel and Hamas, according to a United Nations-run database that aid groups say is a vast underestimation.
A US-brokered ceasefire this month has raised hopes that the massive task of removing these ordnance from millions of tons of rubble could finally begin.
"If we're talking about complete clearance, it's never going to happen, it's all underground. We'll be finding the remains for generations to come," said Nick Orr, a demining expert from the humanitarian organization Humanity & Inclusion, comparing the situation to British cities after World War II.
"Clearing the area, that's something that's achievable within a generation, I think 20 to 30 years," he added.
"It will be a very small step in solving a huge problem."
Or, who has been to Gaza multiple times during the conflict, is part of his organization's seven-member team that will begin identifying war remnants in key infrastructure, such as hospitals and bakeries, starting next week.
For now, however, humanitarian organizations like his have not received general permission from Israeli authorities to begin work on removing and destroying unexploded ordnance, nor to import the necessary equipment, he said.
COGAT, the Israeli military branch responsible for overseeing humanitarian aid to Gaza, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. COGAT blocks entry into Gaza of items it considers “dual-use” - those that can have both civilian and military uses.
Or said he was seeking permission to import supplies to incinerate bombs instead of detonating them, to alleviate concerns about their repurposing by Hamas.
He expressed support for interim forces, such as those envisaged in the 20-point ceasefire plan.
"If there is to be any future inside Gaza, security forces are needed that allow humanitarians to work," Or said.
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