On Wednesday, October 25th 2017, Action on Armed Violence’s Executive Director, Iain Overton, presented the findings from AOAV’s latest report, the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Monitor, at Countering the Threat Posed by Improvised Explosive Devices 2017: a side event on the data and the developments in global IED usage and response. The event was organised in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations, and took place as the UN General Assembly First Committee on Disarmament and International Security meets to discuss current international security challenges.
Since October 2010, Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) has been recording the appalling suffering caused across the globe by both manufactured and improvised explosive weapons, as reported in English language media. In this latest report, AOAV focuses on the harm wrought by IEDs.
Since AOAV’s recording began, the organisation has found that the civilian harm caused by IEDs outweighs that caused by all other explosive weapon types combined. Between 2011 and 2016, AOAV recorded over 109,000 deaths and injuries from IEDs and of these, 81% were civilians.
Though 2013 was the worst year for IED harm, in recent years many countries have seen a significant increase in the number of civilians killed or injured by IEDs. 2016 was the worst year on record for civilian casualties from suicide bombings, with 9,680 civilian deaths and injuries recorded.
So far in 2017, drastic increases in civilian casualties have been witnessed in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia. In the first half of this year, Afghanistan saw a 61% increase in civilian deaths and injuries compared to the same period last year – a 105% increase in civilian deaths.
This data focuses on the immediate impact of IEDs, but the damage wrought by such weapons resonates far beyond the initial blast: displacement of populations, destruction of homes, ongoing psychological suffering and economic deprivation are just some of the reverberating effects of IEDs – consequences that are often poorly understood or addressed.
The report also includes three further articles on IED use, harm and developments: The Islamic State’s Suicide Industry; The evolution of Suicide Car Bombs examined; and Drones and the IED threat.
The full report is available to view or download here: Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Monitor.
KEY FINDINGS
2016
- AOAV recorded 19,246 deaths and injuries by IEDs in 903 incidents in 2016. Of these, 14,301 were civilians – 74%.
- These account for 45% of all civilian casualties from explosive violence.
- When IEDs were used in populated areas last year, 88% of those killed and injured were civilians. This compares to 29% in other areas.
- Civilian deaths and injuries in populated areas, represented 91% of all reported civilian deaths and injuries from IEDs.
- Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey and Pakistan saw the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries from IEDs in 2016.
- The top six worst impacted countries had all seen a rise in civilian casualties from IED incidents, compared to 2015.
- Turkey saw a 103% rise in civilian deaths and injuries in 2016 from IEDs, compared to 2015. Somalia saw an increase of 132% on the same.
- Six countries and territories saw over 500 civilian deaths and injuries from IEDs in 2016.
- Incidents were recorded in 48 countries and territories around the world – five more countries than in 2015.
January – June 2017
- When IEDs have been used in populated areas in the first 6 months of 2017, 91% of the casualties were civilian.
- So far this year, the worst impacted countries from IEDs have been Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan and Somalia.
- Afghanistan has been the worst impacted country by suicide bombings.
- In the first half of 2017, there has been a 61% increase in civilian deaths and injuries from IEDs in Afghanistan compared to the same period last year – or a 105% increase in civilian deaths.
- Pakistan has seen a 22% increase in civilian casualties – or a 41% increase in civilian deaths.
- Somalia has seen an 18% increase in civilian casualties – or a 38% increase in civilian deaths.
Trends and patterns: 2011-2016
- The numbers of civilians killed or injured by suicide attacks have been consistently increasing; with 9,680 harmed in 2016. This was 5% more than recorded in 2015, and 90% more than recorded in 2011.
- In the last six years, the harm caused by IEDs has outweighed the civilian harm caused by all other weapon types combined.
- When IEDs were used in populated areas, 91% of casualties were civilians.
AOAV’s Executive Director said of the report: “There is no day that goes past without the impact of an improvised explosive device (IED) making headlines around the world. Of all explosive weapons used, the IED is the most widespread, the most harmful and the most pernicious. Based on the belief that to overcome a problem, we must first understand it, this monitor is a small step in seeking to address the terrible realities of today.”
It is a monitor that is, also, a response to a call to action.
In July 2016, the United Nations Secretary-General released a report called “Countering the threat posed by improvised explosive devices”. Within its pages lay a recommendation: ‘Further research on various dimensions of IED issues, including prevention, preparedness, response and recovery’ was called for, so as to ‘help inform a better understanding of the multifaceted approach required to address the issue of IEDs’ (Recommendation 22). In addition, in late 2016, the Afghanistan government proposed, for the second year, a resolution: “Countering the Threat Posed by Improvised Explosive Devices.” It was adopted by the General Assembly on December 5th 2016. Its text encouraged greater research and awareness-raising on improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Accordingly, based on data from AOAV’s own Explosive Violence Monitor, and further in-depth research by experts in this field, AOAV presents this monitor on IED harm, developments, tactics, and users.
For more information on this report, please contact Iain Overton, AOAV’s Executive Director on +44 (0) 7984 645 145 or at ioverton@aoav.org.uk.
Did you find this story interesting? Please support AOAV's work and donate.
Donate