On July 11th 2019, a car bomb was detonated in Syria’s Afrin, in Aleppo province, leaving at least 11 dead and injuring 35.
The bomb was reported to have been planted in a diesel fuel tanker and detonated in Tirende a residential area south of central Afrin.
Many homes and businesses were damaged by the blast.
AOAV records casualties (i.e. people killed and injured) from explosive violence around the world as reported in English-language news sources.
AOAV has recorded a marked rise in civilian casualties in the last three months across Syria, compared to the three months previous. Between April and June 2019, AOAV recorded 1,930 civilian casualties, compared to 1,186 between January and March 2019 – a 63% increase in civilian deaths and injuries.
However, most of this violence has been caused in Idlib and by state use of explosive weapons. 13% of civilian casualties from explosive violence occurred in Aleppo province in the first half of 2019.
In total, 92% of all civilian casualties this year in Syria were caused in populated areas, such as towns and cities.
AOAV calls for states and international organisations to work collaboratively to generate greater awareness of the number of civilians killed and injured each year by IEDs, and encourage a greater stigma from political, religious and social leaders on the use of IEDs. There is an urgent need for preventative measures to be implemented by States and the international community.
Did you find this story interesting? Please support AOAV's work and donate.
Donate