Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Awareness

Unexploded ordnance (UXO) kills and maims thousands of people every year — not just during conflict, but for decades afterwards. Landmines planted during conflicts in the 1970s and 1980s still kill civilians today. Cluster munitions that failed to detonate during aerial bombardment lie hidden in fields, roads, and buildings in post-conflict areas across the world. A child picking up a shiny object, a farmer ploughing a field, a family returning to their home — these are the typical UXO victims. Awareness and strict behavioural rules are your only protection.

UXO encompasses: landmines (anti-personnel and anti-vehicle), cluster munition sub-munitions (bomblets), artillery shells, rockets, grenades, aircraft bombs, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that did not detonate when intended.

Why UXO Is Especially Dangerous

Factor	Why It Matters
Unpredictable	UXO can detonate from vibration, pressure, heat, disturbance, or no apparent cause after years of stability
Hidden	Buried mines and overgrown UXO are invisible; they do not announce themselves
Long lifespan	Some mines and UXO remain functional for 50+ years
Attractive appearance	Some submunitions (cluster bomblets) are brightly coloured and resemble toys
Sensitive fuzing	UXO that survived initial impact may have damaged, unstable fuzing mechanisms that detonate with minimal disturbance

⚠️ There is no such thing as a "safe" unexploded ordnance. Never touch, move, approach, or attempt to disarm any suspected UXO under any circumstances. Even trained explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians treat every item as live until proven otherwise.

Recognising UXO and Contaminated Areas

Warning Signs of UXO Contamination

Sign	Meaning
Abandoned vehicles or equipment	Fighting occurred here; UXO likely
Craters and blast marks on ground	Explosions occurred; others may not have detonated
Collapsed or heavily damaged buildings	Aerial bombardment area; unexploded bombs possible
Dead animals in a field	May have triggered mines
Unexplained mounds or disturbed soil	Possible buried mines
Warning signs, tape, or markers	Mine clearance organisations mark known areas
Paths that veer inexplicably around areas	Locals avoiding a known hazard

What UXO Looks Like

UXO comes in many forms. Common items encountered in post-conflict areas:

Item	Description
Anti-personnel landmine	Buried disc, cylinder, or irregular shape; often plastic or metal; 5–30 cm diameter
Cluster submunition (bomblet)	Small cylindrical or spherical object; often yellow, orange, or green; can be 10–20 cm in size
Artillery shell	Metal cylinder with pointed nose; varies from 10 cm to 1 m in length
Mortar round	Finned cylindrical projectile; 4–12 cm diameter
Grenade	Oval or cylindrical; metal; 10–15 cm long
Aircraft bomb	Large metal cylinder or teardrop shape; can be very large
Rocket	Long metal tube with fins; various sizes

⚠️ Any unfamiliar metal or plastic object in a post-conflict area should be treated as UXO until confirmed safe by trained personnel. Children are frequently killed by cluster submunitions that resemble toys or food containers.

The Core Rules — Memorise These

1. Stop. Don't go near it. 2. Don't touch it. 3. Mark the location — carefully, from a distance. 4. Report it to authorities or mine action organisations. 5. Warn others.

These five rules have saved thousands of lives. None of these rules require you to approach the object.

Travelling in Potentially Contaminated Areas

Before You Travel

1. Check if the area you plan to travel to has known UXO or mine contamination — consult UNMAS, HALO Trust, Mines Advisory Group (MAG), or national mine action authorities.
2. If possible, travel with a local guide who knows the area well.
3. Carry a first aid kit capable of treating blast injuries — tourniquet, pressure bandages.
4. Tell someone your route and expected return time.

On the Road

1. Stay on known, used roads and paths. Mines and UXO are rarely planted in the centre of heavily trafficked routes.
2. Do not shortcut through fields, forests, or abandoned areas — these are the highest-risk locations.
3. Avoid driving off-road unless you have confirmed the area is clear.
4. If you see a new crater or blast mark on a road you have used before: assume the road may be newly mined. Do not proceed.
5. Follow local advice — communities living with contamination develop detailed knowledge of safe and unsafe areas.

If You See an Unfamiliar Object

1. Stop immediately. Do not approach.
2. Do not touch, kick, throw, or pick up the object.
3. Retrace your steps carefully back the way you came.
4. Mark the location from a distance using something visible (cloth, bright object) placed at the safe perimeter.
5. Report the exact location to authorities, NGOs, or mine action centres.
6. Warn other people away from the area.

Mine-Contaminated Fields and Agriculture

In post-conflict areas where agriculture overlaps with contamination:

1. Do not plough new land that has not been certified clear by mine action organisations.
2. Do not burn vegetation — heat can detonate UXO.
3. Do not dig in areas that have not been cleared.
4. If an animal is killed or injured in a field by an explosion, mark the area and report — do not send others to retrieve the animal.

If Someone Triggers a Mine or UXO

If you or someone nearby triggers an explosion:

1. Stop. Do not rush toward the victim — there may be secondary mines.
2. Do not enter the blast area on foot without following the exact footprints used to enter. Move single-file on the same path.
3. Treat life-threatening bleeding first — blast injuries typically cause severe limb trauma.
4. Apply tourniquets immediately to any limb with arterial bleeding — blast amputations are the most common mine injury.
5. Evacuate the casualty along the known safe path — call for evacuation if possible.
6. Report the incident to authorities, mine action organisations, and medical services.

Tourniquet for Blast Injury

A tourniquet is the most important first aid tool for mine/UXO blast injuries:

1. Apply 5 cm (2 inches) above the wound on the limb.
2. Tighten until bleeding stops completely.
3. Write the time of application on the casualty's skin or a tag.
4. Do not remove a tourniquet once applied — this is for medical professionals.

Reporting UXO

Contact whichever of these applies to your location:

• National mine action authority (most post-conflict countries have these)
• UNMAS (UN Mine Action Service) — active in many conflict-affected countries
• HALO Trust, MAG, or other demining NGOs operating in the area
• National police or military EOD units

Provide: exact location (coordinates or landmarks), description of the object (size, colour, shape), and how you found it.

Quick Reference — UXO Safety

Situation	Action
See unfamiliar object on ground	Stop — do not approach — do not touch
Unsure if area is safe	Stay on known used paths — do not shortcut
Find UXO	Mark from distance — report — warn others
Someone triggers a mine	Stop — check for secondary devices — treat bleeding — tourniquet — evacuate on safe path
Travelling in post-conflict area	Use main roads only — follow local advice — travel with guide
Children approaching unknown object	Stop them firmly — never allow children to pick up unknown objects

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This guide provides general awareness information. If you live or work in a mine-contaminated area, seek formal mine risk education from UNMAS, HALO Trust, MAG, or your national mine action authority. Never attempt to handle, move, or disarm explosive ordnance.