In July 2022, Action on Armed Violence recorded 2,353 deaths and injuries from 367 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 76% (1,799) of the deaths and injuries recorded.
When explosive weapons were used in populated areas, 96% (1,736) of the casualties were civilians, compared to 4% (63) in other areas.
Manufactured explosive weapons accounted for 73% (1,309) of civilian casualties, while improvised explosive weapons (IEDs) accounted for 10% (181) of these civilian casualties in May 2022. Of the main launch method types of manufactured explosive weapons, ground-launched explosive weapons accounted for 58% (1051) of civilian casualties, air-launched weapons were responsible for 12% (208) of civilian casualties, and landmines were responsible for 2% (122) of civilian casualties.
At least one death or injury from the use of explosive weapons was recorded in 27 countries and territories in July 2022. The five most affected countries and territories in terms of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, and Myanmar.
UKRAINE
In July 2022, there were 169 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Ukraine, 161 of which resulted in 1,265 civilian casualties, of whom 358 were killed and 907 injured, including at least 30 children and 15 women. Civilians accounted for 93% of the total 1,363 casualties, as there were also 98 recorded armed-actor casualties, 57 of whom were killed and 41 injured.
The majority of civilian casualties, 98% (1,245), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 46% (579) occurred in locations in which the detonation of an explosive weapon affects multiple types of spaces within an urban environment, 33% (414) in urban residential areas, 10% (131) in other locations, 3% (33) in transport-related infrastructure, 2% (25) in villages, 2% (25) in schools, 2% (20) in commercial premises. The remaining 2% (20) of civilian casualties occurred in armed bases (6), other unpopulated areas (4), where no location information was reported (5), agricultural land (3), and roads (2).
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Ukraine were Donetsk (572 civilian casualties), Kharkiv (142), Vinnytsia (140), Mykolaiv (121), Kherson (89), Odesa (58), Dnipropetrovsk (58), Sumy (23), Kirovohrad (18), Kyiv (15), Zaporizhzhia (14), Volyn (6), Sevastopol (6), Luhansk (2), and Khmelnytskyi (1).
The vast majority of civilian casualties, 99% (1,248), were caused by state actors’ use of explosive weapons. Specifically, Russian armed forces caused 78% (982) of civilian casualties, Ukrainian armed forces caused 11% (133), and unknown state actors caused 11% (133). Non-state armed groups caused <1% of civilian casualties, specifically Ukrainian resistance forces (1), and unknown non-state actors (6). Groups of unknown status and name were the perpetrator in the cases of <1% (10) of civilian casualties.
The use of ground-launched explosive weapons was the cause of 71% (894) of civilian casualties, specifically shelling (543), rockets (234), missiles (76), artillery (26), a combination of ground-launched explosive weapons (14), and mortars (1). Air-launched weapons were the cause of 5% (69) of civilian casualties, specifically missiles. Mines were the cause of 1% (11) of civilian casualties, in particular landmines. IEDs were the cause of 1% (8) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs (7), and car bombs (1). Weapons of unclear launch method were the cause of 22% (278) of civilian casualties, specifically missiles (208), and rockets (70). Combinations of explosive weapons were the cause of <1% (5) of civilian casualties.
The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Ukraine in July saw an increase from June, in which 165 incidents were recorded along with 888 civilian casualties (238 killed and 650 injured). In May, 180 incidents were recorded, which caused 1,049 civilian casualties (411 killed and 638 injured).
SYRIA
In July 2022, there were 71 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Syria, 39 which resulted in 158 civilian casualties, of whom 33 were killed and 125 injured, including at least 21 women and 29 children. Civilians accounted for 59% of the total 268 casualties, as there were also 110 recorded armed-actor casualties, 45 of whom were killed and 65 injured.
The majority of civilian casualties, 98% (155), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 46% (72) occurred in villages, 21% (33) in urban residential areas, 9% (15) in places of worship, 5% (8) in town centers, 5% (8) in encampments, 4% (7) on agricultural lands, 3% (5) in markets, 2% (3) in police stations, and 1% (2) in commercial premises and in areas where multiple urban locations were impacted, respectively. Of the remaining civilian casualties, 2% (3) occurred in armed bases.
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Syria were Aleppo (42 civilian casualties), Idlib (41), Hasakah (26), Hama (25), Daraa (11), Raqqa (9), Tartus (2), and Deir Ezzor (2).
The majority of civilian casualties, 49% (77), were caused by ground-launched weapons, specifically shelling (34), artillery shells (17), missiles (11), rockets (10), mortars (4), and grenades (1). Air-launched explosive weapons caused 18% (29) of civilian casualties, specifically missiles (25), air strikes (2), and air-dropped bombs (2). IEDs caused 11% (17) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs. Combined launch methods caused 6% (9) of civilian casualties. Mines caused 3% (4) of civilian casualties, specifically landmines. Weapons of unclear launch method caused 14% (22) of civilian casualties.
The majority of civilian casualties, 64% (101) were caused by state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically Turkey (46 civilian casualties), Russia (25), Syria (25), and Israel (2). Unknown state actors caused three civilian casualties. Non-state actors were the reported perpetrators of 21% (44) of civilian casualties, specifically unknown non-state actors (29 civilian casualties), the Syrian opposition (7), the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) (6), and ISIS (2). Actors of unknown name and status caused 8% (13) of civilian casualties.
The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Syria in July saw an increase from June, in which 66 incidents and 156 civilian casualties were recorded (29 killed, 127 injured). Levels have continued to rise from May 2022, when there were 82 reported incidents of explosive violence in Syria, which caused 101 civilian casualties (30 killed and 71 injured).
IRAQ
In July 2022, there were 17 reported incidents of explosive weapon use in Iraq, 13 of which resulted in 89 civilian casualties, 20 of whom were killed and 69 injured. At least six civilian casualties were reportedly women and 11 were children. Civilians accounted for 83% of all 107 casualties, as 18 armed-actor casualties were also recorded, nine of whom were killed and nine injured.
The majority of civilian casualties, 79% (70), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 61% (54) occurred in entertainment venues, 11% (10) in urban residential areas, and 7% (6) in villages. Of the remaining civilian casualties, 9% (8) occurred on roads, 6% (5) in other locations, 6% (5) in locations where no information was reported, and 1% (1) on armed bases.
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Iraq were Duhok (54 civilian casualties), Nineveh (18), Diyala (10), Baghdad (3), Salahuddin (3), and Sulaimaniyah (1).
The majority of civilian casualties, 69% (61), were caused by state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically Turkey. Non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons caused 30% (27) of civilian casualties, specifically unknown non-state actors (26 civilian casualties), and ISIS (1). Groups of unknown name and status caused 1% (1) of civilian casualties.
The use of air-launched weapons caused 69% (61) of civilian casualties, specifically air strikes. IEDs caused 28% (25) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs (16 civilian casualties) and roadside bombs (9). Ground-launched weapons caused 2% (2) of civilian casualties, specifically grenades. Mines caused 1% (1) of civilian casualties, in particular landmines.
The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Iraq in July 2022 saw a small decrease from June, in which 22 incidents were recorded. However, significantly fewer civilian casualties were recorded in June (47 civilian casualties, 16 killed and 31 injured). In May, there were 26 reported incidents of explosive weapon use which caused 42 civilian casualties (14 killed, 28 injured).
SOMALIA
In July 2022, there were 11 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Somalia, six of which caused 70 civilian casualties, 30 of whom were killed and 40 injured. At least one child was recorded among the civilian casualties. Civilians accounted for 79% of the total 89 casualties of explosive weapons use in Somalia in July, as 19 armed-actor casualties were also recorded, 14 of whom were killed and five injured.
All of the civilian casualties occurred in populated areas, specifically 33% (23) in markets, 27% (19) in hotels, 26% (18) in public buildings, and 14% (10) in urban residential areas.
The states in which civilian casualties were reported in Somalia were Lower Shabelle (41 civilian casualties), Middle Shabelle (19), Bay (9), and Banaadir (1).
All of the civilian casualties were caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons. In particular, Al Shabaab caused 86% (60) of civilian casualties, and unknown non-state actors were responsible for 14% (10) of civilian casualties.
All of the civilian casualties were caused by IEDs, in particular, 73% (51) were from non-specific IEDs and 27% (19) were from car bombs.
The number of recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Somalia in July 2022 saw a significant rise from June, in which three incidents caused two civilian injuries. In May 2022, there were five recorded incidents of explosive weapon use, which resulted in 25 civilian casualties (five killed, 20 injured).
MYANMAR
In July 2022, there were 41 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Myanmar, 23 of which caused 64 civilian casualties, 22 of whom were killed and 42 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 15 children and five women. Civilians accounted for 26% of the total 246 casualties of explosive weapon use, as 126 armed actors were also reportedly killed and 56 were injured.
The majority of civilian casualties, 94% (60), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 47% (30) occurred in villages, 20% (13) in commercial premises, 9% (5) in encampments, 6% (4) on agricultural land, 5% (3) in urban residential areas, 5% (3) in places of worship, and 3% (2) in public buildings. An additional 6% (4) of civilian casualties occurred in agricultural land.
The states in which civilian casualties were reported in Myanmar were Karen (17 civilian casualties), Sagaing (15), Yangon (15), Rakhine (8), Shane (4), Kachin (2), Chin (2), and Magwe (1).
The majority of civilian casualties, 65% (42), were caused by the use of explosive weapons by Myanmar military forces. Unknown non-state actors were the reported perpetrator in the case of 23% (15) of civilian casualties. Groups of unknown status and name were the reported perpetrators in the case of 11% (7) of civilian casualties.
Ground-launched weapons were the cause of 34% (22) of civilian casualties, specifically artillery shells (15 civilian casualties), non-specific shelling (5), and mortars (2). Air-launched weapons caused 33% (21) of civilian casualties, specifically air strikes (14 civilian casualties) and air-dropped bombs (7). IEDs caused 20% (13) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs, and mines caused 13% (8) of civilian casualties, specifically landmines.
The number of recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Myanmar in July 2022 saw a small decrease from June, in which 55 incidents were recorded and 67 civilian casualties (24 killed and 43 injured). In May, 41 reported incidents of explosive weapon use caused 87 civilian casualties (34 killed, 53 injured).
AOAV condemns the use of violence against civilians and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. All actors should stop using explosive weapons with wide-area effects where there is likely to be a high concentration of civilians.
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