Mines & unexploded ordnance
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Do not approach, touch, move, collect or attempt to dismantle a suspicious object, munition or wire. Keep other people away from a safe position. Avoid abandoned positions, disturbed ground and routes that have not been assessed after fighting. Report only through a safe verified channel; do not enter a hazardous area to identify an object.
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Act on immediate danger. Seek qualified help when reachable and safe, but do not make your first protective step depend on a response. This page is general guidance, not a live alert.
Do now.
- 01
Stop approaching
Do not move closer to inspect, photograph or identify the object. Small fragments and abandoned everyday objects can conceal explosive hazards.
- 02
Keep others away
Warn people from where you are safe. Keep children and animals away without crossing suspect ground. Do not place a marker beside the object.
- 03
Avoid uncertain routes
Stay out of abandoned military sites and recently fought-over or marked hazardous areas. A road, field or house that was once safe may no longer be.
- 04
Share the location safely
From a safe place, describe the general location to verified demining, humanitarian or emergency contacts. Do not broadcast a precise route that invites others to approach.
- 05
Do not attempt a rescue into suspect ground
Call specialist help when reachable. Entering a suspected mined area can create additional casualties; do not improvise a clearance or dismantling method.
PLAN AROUND WHAT YOU HAVE
If help is unavailable.
If no qualified contact answers, keep the area avoided and warn trusted people from a safe location. Do not treat the lack of an official sign or report as proof that it is safe.
People & practical needs.
Assign a trusted adult to each person who needs assistance. Keep medicines, essential contacts and a workable reunion plan with the group. Make decisions around the least mobile person, not the fastest; avoid splitting the family without a clear, safe way to reconnect.
Keep essentials within reach
Keep essential medicines, safe drinking water, a battery light, footwear, phone power and written contacts accessible. Carry only what you can manage; collecting supplies must not delay escape.
Next steps.
Teach children a simple rule: do not touch, move away from the hazard without approaching it, tell a trusted adult. Use routes confirmed safe by qualified local assessment; no appearance-based test proves ground is clear.
Watch for.
Never burn, bury, throw, transport or disturb an object. This guide cannot determine a safe distance or a safe escape path through mined ground.
Sources & context.
Osprey Zero combines source-based protective guidance with practical household planning. References provide context, not a promise of assistance. Some standards are U.S.-based; local risks, laws and services differ.
Updated 2026-10-02. Editorially reviewed against linked references; not independently certified by a subject-matter expert. Verify changing conditions through sources safe for you to contact.