“I want to play without fear,” said Haya, a 7-year-old girl from Syria. This sentiment is shared by children across the world who are impacted by the daily threat posed by explosive ordnance.
Explosive ordnance poses an indiscriminate risk to communities across the world. Children are often at the greatest risk, as they are more likely to stray from safe paths or be curious about picking up strange-looking objects.
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) works with these communities across 19 countries and territories to mitigate these risks, sharing lifesaving safety information to encourage safe behaviours.
In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, and Syria, where explosive ordnance contamination is extensive, UNMAS delivered risk education messaging to more than 3.4 million men, women, and children in 2025, empowering communities with the tools to minimize the risk to themselves and their families.
On 1 April, UNMAS launched “Signs of Safety”, a digital exhibition spotlighting explosive ordnance risk education in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, and Syria by showcasing children's drawings and quotes, as well as photos and video clips.
The exhibit amplifies the voices of affected communities and puts children at the forefront of risk awareness.
"Signs of Safety" has three clear messages:
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explosive ordnance contamination risks children’s lives and limbs in a way that is deadly, indiscriminate, and borderless in an era of proliferating threats
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risk education remains a lifesaving necessity
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impacted communities, who understand these threats, must champion safety messaging efforts
