In October 2022, Action on Armed Violence recorded 3,726 deaths and injuries from 548 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 69% (2,560) of the deaths and injuries recorded.
When explosive weapons were used in populated areas, 85% (2,388) of the casualties were civilians, compared to 18% (172) in other areas.
Manufactured explosive weapons accounted for 57% (1,448) of civilian casualties, while improvised explosive weapons (IEDs) accounted for 35% (884) of these civilian casualties in October 2022. Of the main launch method types of manufactured explosive weapons, ground-launched explosive weapons accounted for 38% (965) of civilian casualties, air-launched weapons were responsible for 16% (407) of civilian casualties, and landmines were responsible for 3% (76) of civilian casualties.
At least one death or injury from the use of explosive weapons was recorded in 28 countries and territories in October 2022. The five most affected countries and territories in terms of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were Ukraine, Somalia, Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Syria.
UKRAINE
In October 2022, there were 233 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Ukraine, 230 of which resulted in 1,013 civilian casualties, of whom 298 were killed and 715 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 21 children and 34 women. Civilians accounted for all but five of the total 1,018 casualties, as there were also five recorded armed-actor casualties, four of whom were killed and one injured.
The majority of civilian casualties, 87% (883), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 41% (411) occurred in locations where the blast impacted multiple urban areas, 36% (362) in urban residential areas, 3% (29) in villages, 3% (27) on public transport, 2% (18) in other locations, 2% (16) in markets, 1% (11) in commercial premises, <1% (4) on roads, <1% (2) in town centres and hospitals, respectively, and <1% (1) in entertainment venues.
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Ukraine were Donetsk (324 civilian casualties), Zaporizhzhia (289), Kharkiv (108), Dnipropetrovsk (75), Kherson (58), Kyiv (54), Mykolaiv (43), Sumy (33), Chernihiv (9), Chernivtsi (8), Odesa (5), Crimea (4), Zhytomyr (1), Cherkasy (1), Vnnytsia (1).
The vast majority of civilian casualties, 96% (976), were caused by state actors’ use of explosive weapons. Specifically, Russian armed forces caused 93% (938) of civilian casualties, Ukraine’s armed forces caused 4% (37), and unknown state actors caused <1% (1). Groups of unknown status and name were the perpetrator in the cases of 2% (24) of civilian casualties. Non-state armed groups caused 1% of civilian casualties, specifically unknown non-state actors (8) and Ukrainian resistance forces (5).
The use of ground-launched explosive weapons were the cause of 74% (750) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific shelling (582), combined ground-launched explosive weapons (69), missiles (65), rockets (29), artillery shelling (3), and mortars (2). Combined explosive weapons caused 10% (103) of civilian casualties. Weapons of unclear launch method were the cause of 9% (94) of civilian casualties. Mines caused 4% (36) of civilian casualties, specifically landmines (29), anti-vehicle mines (6), and anti-personnel mines (1). IEDs caused caused 1% (13) of civilian casualties, specifically car bombs (9), and roadside bombs (4).
The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Ukraine in October saw a small decrease from September, in which 251 incidents caused 1,140 civilian casualties (310 killed and 830 injured). In August, 171 incidents were recorded, which caused 758 civilian casualties (205 killed and 553 injured).
SOMALIA
In October 2022, there were 14 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Somalia, nine of which caused 627 civilian casualties, 186 of whom were killed and 441 injured. Civilians accounted for 95% of the total 661 casualties of explosive weapons use in Somalia in October, as 34 armed actors were also killed.
All but one civilian casualty occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 72% (454) occurred in locations where the blast impacted multiple urban areas, 9% (56) in hotels, public buildings, and roads, respectively, and <1% (4) occurred in urban residential areas.
The states in which civilian casualties were reported in Somalia were Banaadir (471 civilian casualties), Jubaland (56), Hirshabelle (56), Lower Shabelle (27), and Hiiraan (17).
The majority of civilian casualties, 96% (601), were caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons. In particular, Al Shabaab were reportedly responsible for 93% (583) of civilian casualties, and unknown non-state actors for 3% (18). Groups of unknown name and status were the reported perpetrators in the case of 4% (26) of civilian casualties.
The use of IEDs caused all civilian casualties, specifically car bombs (583 civilian casualties), roadside bombs (39), and non-specific IEDs (5).
The number of recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Somalia in October 2022 remained consistent with September, when 15 incidents were recorded. However, significantly fewer civilian casualties, 53, were recorded in September (15 killed and 38 injured). In August 2022, there were 10 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use, which resulted in 54 civilian casualties (14 killed and 40 injured).
ETHIOPIA
In October 2022, there were seven incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Ethiopia, which resulted in 336 civilian casualties, 150 of whom were killed and 186 injured. At least one civilian casualty was a woman, and four were children. There were no recorded armed-actor casualties.
All civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 50% (168) occurred in villages, 27% (91) in urban residential areas, 15% (50) in schools, 6% (20) in encampments, and 2% (7) in schools.
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Ethiopia were Tigray (168 civilian casualties) and Oromia (168).
All civilian casualties were caused by state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically Ethiopia (221 civilian casualties), unknown state actors (93), Eritrea (20), and Eritrean and Ethiopian together (2).
The use of air-launched weapons caused the majority, 93% (314), of civilian casualties, specifically air strikes. Ground-launched weapons caused 7% (22) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific shelling.
The highest casualty incident took place on 23 October 2022, when at least 68 civilians were killed and over 100 injured in an Ethiopian drone strike on Ofu Bekke village, Oromia.
The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Ethiopia in October 2022 saw a rise from September, in which six incidents caused 35 civilian casualties (20 killed and 15 injured). In August, there were two reported incidents of explosive weapon use which caused nine civilian casualties, seven of whom were killed and two injured.
MYANMAR
In October 2022, there were 107 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Myanmar, 34 of which caused 155 civilian casualties, 49 of whom were killed and 106 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 11 children and 22 women. Civilians accounted for 19% of the total 798 casualties of explosive weapon use, as 643 armed-actor casualties were also recorded, 427 of whom were killed and 216 injured.
The majority of civilian casualties, 95% (148), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 35% (55) occurred in villages, 29% (45) at public gatherings, 12% (18) in police stations, 3% (5) on roads, urban residential areas, and entertainment venues, respectively, 3% (4) in schools, 2% (3) in encampments, 1% (2) in hospitals and public buildings respectively, and <1% (1) in places of worship.
The states in which civilian casualties were reported in Myanmar were Kachin (50 civilian casualties), Rakhine (29), Karen (27), Yangon (19), Kayah (11), Sagaing (6), Chin (4), Mon (3), Magway (3), Tanintharyi (2), and Mandalay (1).
The majority of civilian casualties, 82% (127), were caused by the use of explosive weapons by Myanmar military forces. Non-state actors caused 14% (22) of civilian casualties. Specifically, 12% (18) of civilian casualties were reportedly caused by unknown non-state actors, 2% (3) by groups belonging to the People’s Defense Forces, and <1% (1) by the Guerilla Zero Defense Force.
Ground-launched weapons were the cause of 35% (55) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific shelling (38), artillery shelling (16), and grenades (1). Air-launched weapons caused 35% (54) of civilian casualties, specifically air strikes. Combined explosive weapons caused 125 (19) of civilian casualties. IEDs caused 12% (19) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs, and mines caused 5% (8), specifically landmines (8).
The number of recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Myanmar in October 2022 saw a significant rise from August, in which 44 incidents were recorded, which caused 115 civilian casualties (27 killed and 88 injured). In August, 49 reported incidents of explosive weapon use caused 103 civilian casualties (34 killed and 69 injured).
SYRIA
In October 2022, there were 74 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Syria, 33 of which resulted in 91 civilian casualties, 23 of whom were killed and 68 injured. At least seven women and 12 children were reportedly among the civilian casualties. Civilians accounted for 35% of the total 263 casualties, as there were also 172 recorded armed-actor casualties, 88 of whom were killed and 84 injured.
The majority of civilian casualties, 89% (81), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 27% (25) occurred in villages, 24% (22) in urban residential areas, 21% (19) in encampments, 7% (6) on roads, 4% (4) in other locations, 2% (2) in agricultural lands and public gatherings, respectively, and 1% (1) in schools.
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Syria were Aleppo (46 civilian casualties), Idlib (13), Hasakah (11), Daraa (8), Latakia (5), Homs (4), Hama (2), and Deir Ezzor (2).
The majority of civilian casualties, 47% (43), were reportedly caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) (22 civilian casualties), ISIS (9), the Manbij Military Council (9), the Syrian National Army (1), and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (1). Unknown non-state actors caused one civilian casualty. State actors were the reported perpetrators in the case of 45% (41) of civilian casualties, specifically Syria (25 civilian casualties), Turkey (12), and Syria and Russia (1). Unknown state actors caused one civilian casualty. Actors of unknown name and status caused 8% (7) of civilian casualties.
The majority of civilian casualties, 69% (63), were caused by ground-launched weapons, specifically non-specific shelling (30), combined ground-launched weapons (11), mortars (9), artillery shelling (6), grenades (4), and rockets (3). IEDs caused 11% (10) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs, and mines caused 7% (6), specifically landmines. Air-launched explosive weapons and combined explosive weapons caused 1% (1) of civilian casualties respectively.
The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Syria in October saw an increase from September, in which 61 incidents were recorded. However, more civilian casualties, 110, were recorded in September (30 killed and80 injured). In August, there were 70 reported incidents of explosive violence in Syria, which caused 170 civilian casualties (37 killed and 133 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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