The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that the humanitarian dangers posed by armed conflict in Lebanon persist even after fighting subsides, with mines and unexploded ordnance continuing to threaten civilians returning to their homes and communities.
ICRC in a statement sent to GLOBAL TRACKER correspondent Sani Magaji Garko said more than 100 incidents involving explosive remnants of war were recorded across Lebanon between April and October 2026, exposing families, children and communities to potentially life-threatening dangers as they attempt to rebuild their lives.
Mines and unexploded ordnance can remain hidden in fields, beneath rubble and around residential areas long after hostilities have ended, turning familiar surroundings into hazardous zones.
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Children are particularly vulnerable because unfamiliar objects can attract their curiosity without them understanding the potential danger.
To address the threat, the ICRC, in collaboration with the Lebanese Armed Forces–Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC), has introduced explosive ordnance risk-awareness messages through clowning and interactive theatre.
The initiative featured performances by Clown Me In, using storytelling, humour and audience participation to teach children how to identify and respond to potentially dangerous objects.
The performances promoted a simple safety message: “If you didn’t drop it, don’t pick it up.”
According to Sabine Choucair of Clown Me In, presenting safety information through theatre allows children to understand and remember potentially life-saving messages without unnecessarily frightening them.
The ICRC organised 20 performances in villages across southern Lebanon, the Bekaa, northern Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut, working in coordination with municipalities and local communities.
Colonel Ali Makki, Head of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education at LMAC, commended the initiative, describing it as an example of how explosive ordnance education could combine professional standards with approaches that effectively engage communities.
The ICRC also warned that the risk could increase with changing weather conditions.
As winter approaches, rain and snow can expose or displace mines and unexploded ordnance, potentially causing dangerous items to emerge in places where they were previously hidden.
The danger is particularly relevant to families and children engaging in outdoor activities or collecting firewood.
Jessica Ibrahim, Weapon Contamination Field Manager at the ICRC delegation in Lebanon, said children should leave the performances remembering one crucial instruction: never touch an unfamiliar object.
“We want children to leave the show smiling, but also remembering one very serious message: if you see something you don’t recognize, don’t touch it. Move away and call 1706,” Ibrahim said.
She added that helping communities understand the dangers posed by mines and unexploded ordnance remained an essential part of the ICRC’s humanitarian response.
The ICRC said it would continue working with partners to reduce the risks posed by explosive remnants of war and improve awareness among communities living in areas affected by hostilities.
The situation highlights the long-term humanitarian consequences of armed conflict, where the danger can continue long after the guns fall silent, leaving civilians exposed to explosive devices that may remain hidden for months or years.