Demining teams in Khartoum, Sudan, are working to clear thousands of unexploded ordnance (UXO) items from residential areas and public parks as the city attempts to recover from years of intense urban warfare. According to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), at least 25 people have died and 52 have been injured by explosive remnants of war in Sudan so far in 2026, though officials believe these figures represent a significant undercount of the actual toll.
Why is urban demining in Khartoum expected to take over a decade?
The scale of contamination in Khartoum is vast, with local cleanup teams estimating that more than 70% of the city requires systematic inspection before it can be considered safe for residents. Hussein Ismail Salam, a local demining team leader, states that the process is intentionally slow because safety protocols must be prioritized over speed to protect both the deminers and the returning public. The city’s history as a central front in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left behind a dense, unpredictable layer of explosive hazards in schools, homes, and recreational spaces.
In the Al-Mogran park alone, the local organization Jasmar and the Danish Refugee Council have already recovered 12,000 pieces of explosive debris and rendered 164 specific items safe.
What are the primary risks for returning civilians?
Returning residents face extreme danger from unexploded ordnance hidden within their own homes and neighborhoods. According to UNMAS data, the majority of recent casualties are individuals under the age of 16, who often lack the awareness required to identify or avoid these devices. While the Sudanese army claims to have identified tens of thousands of explosives since gaining control of the capital, the presence of these items in everyday locations—such as the Al-Mogran amusement park—remains a persistent threat. Humanitarian organizations are currently utilizing radio programs, podcasts, and market outreach to warn the population, but they report a critical shortage of resources for large-scale public information campaigns.
How does international funding support the recovery?
The demining operations in Khartoum are heavily reliant on external financial support, specifically from the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which is organized by the United Nations. Norway is currently one of the largest contributors to this fund, enabling local groups like Jasmar to conduct the dangerous work of manual clearance. While international aid provides the necessary equipment and training, the physical labor remains a local effort. Deminers, often working in 44-degree heat while wearing heavy protective gear, must clear ground centimeter by centimeter to ensure that sites like the Al-Mogran park—once a hub for families—can eventually reopen to the public.
Comparison: The Human Cost of Explosives
| Metric | Reported Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed Deaths (2026) | 25 (Source: UNMAS) |
| Confirmed Injuries (2026) | 52 (Source: UNMAS) |
| Est. City Area Requiring Inspection | >70% (Source: Local Deminers) |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Khartoum safe for residents to return to? While the Sudanese army has established control, the city remains heavily contaminated. Authorities advise extreme caution, as many houses and public areas have not yet been cleared of explosives.
- How do deminers mark safe areas? Teams typically use physical markers, such as yellow-painted stakes, to indicate areas that have been cleared of mines and are safe for pedestrian traffic.
- Who is funding the cleanup efforts? The Sudan Humanitarian Fund, with significant contributions from Norway and other international partners, provides the primary financial backing for organizations like Jasmar.
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