India, April 30 -- The head of UN peacekeeping and demining reiterated calls on Monday for a ceasefire in Gaza as a first step to returning the war-ravaged enclave to some normality, while mine clearance experts warned that the Strip is now at its most dangerous period.

This is the most dangerous period; once people start returning to the north, thats when most accidents will occur, because they wont be familiar with where your unexploded ordnance is located, said Mungo Birch, Chief of the UN Mine Action Programme (UNMAS) in the State of Palestine. Its important that once the returns start, were poised and ready to be able to provide the risk education they need.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 27th International Meeting of Mine Action...