The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) on Friday expressed concern about the potential threat caused by unexploded munitions at the military armoury on the outskirts of Maputo in Mozambique.
Head of Unicef in Mozambique Leila Pakkala said that children were particularly vulnerable as curiosity may attract them to play with these objects.
”Previous experience in similar situations has shown that children are particularly at risk of getting injured while inadvertently playing with unexploded shells and mortars,” Pakkala said in a statement.
Unicef would launch public-awareness campaigns to inform about the potential dangers from unexploded ordnance.
Posters and leaflets would be distributed and radio and public-service announcements would be made to inform people against unexploded munitions.
”This has been a traumatic experience for many children,” said Pakkala.
”The psychological and emotional impact will not only affect the children who have lost relatives and friends but also those who have witnessed the damage caused by the explosion,” Pakkala said.
The death toll following Thursday’s blasts near Maputo’s international airport had risen to 96 and more than 400 had been reported injured by Friday afternoon.
A series of explosions went off at a military armoury in the area on Thursday — the third such incident since 1985.
Unicef said it was supporting government authorities and non-governmental partners to reunite separated children with their relatives and provide psycho-social support to children who may have suffered trauma. – Sapa