Explosive violence affects hundred of countries around the world. Some countries, though, consistently witness high levels of harm wrought by weapons that range from artillery shells to air-dropped bombs to improvised explosive devices.
In 2022, the top five worst-affected countries in terms of civilian casualties from explosive weapons were Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, and Ethiopia.
Over the past decade, from 2013 to 2022, AOAV recorded 30,433 incidents of explosive weapons use across 122 countries. These incidents caused 343,377 reported casualties, of which 72% (245,841) were reported as civilians.
The five countries with the highest levels of civilian harm from explosive violence between 2013 and 2022 are Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Pakistan.
Syria
AOAV recorded 8,341 incidents of explosive weapon use in Syria between 2013 and 2022, and 71,359 civilian casualties (33,393 killed, 37,966 injured). Civilian casualties include at least 7,364 children, 3,318 women, and 141 men. Overall, civilians account for 81% of all 88,537 casualties of explosive weapons reported in Syria between 2013 and 2022.
91% (64,703) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. When explosive weapons were used in populated areas in Syria between 2013 and 2022, 94% of casualties were reported as civilians. The most impacted location-types in Syria between 2013 and 2022, in terms of civilian casualties, are multiple urban locations, where 32% (22,575) of civilian casualties occurred, and urban residential areas, where 21% (15,248) of civilian casualties occurred. Villages account for 11% (7,586) of civilian casualties, markets for 6% (4,530), and schools for 3% (2,496).
The five worst affected governorates in Syria between 2013 and 2022, in terms of civilian casualties, are Aleppo (20,610 civilian casualties), Idlib (11,472), Rif Dimashq (9,106), Damascus (6,696), and Raqqa (5,703).
State actors’ use of explosive weapons caused the majority, 61% (43,670), of civilian casualties in Syria between 2013 and 2022, while non-state actors caused 28% (19,823) of civilian harm. Actors of unknown name and status caused 11% (7,866) of civilian casualties.
Air-launched weapons caused 47% (33,798) of civilian casualties in Syria between 2013 and 2022, ground-launched weapons caused 28% (19,701), and improvised explosive devices caused 18% (12,491). The use of combined explosive weapons resulted in 6% (3,956) of civilian harm. Mines (790) and weapons of unclear launch method (610) caused 1% of civilian casualties, and naval launched weapons (13) caused less than 1% of civilian harm.
Iraq
AOAV recorded 4,156 incidents of explosive weapon use in Iraq between 2013 and 2022, and 45,398 civilian casualties (14,655 killed, 30,743 injured). Civilian casualties include at least 804 children, 437 women, and 32 men. Overall, civilians account for 74% of all 61,597 casualties of explosive weapons reported in Iraq between 2013 and 2022.
92% (41,717) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. When explosive weapons were used in populated areas in Iraq between 2013 and 2022, 92% of casualties were reported as civilians. The most impacted location-types in Iraq between 2013 and 2022, in terms of civilian casualties, are markets, which account for 18% (8,145) of civilian harm, followed by 12% of civilian casualties in commercial premises (5,431) and urban residential areas (5,252) respectively, 10% (4,650) across multiple urban areas, and 7% (3,178) in entertainment venues.
The five worst affected governorates in Iraq between 2013 and 2022, in terms of civilian casualties, are Baghdad (22,356 civilian casualties), Nineveh (5,920), Diyala (3,968), Salahuddin (3,774), and Anbar (3,443).
Actors of unknown name and status caused the majority, 52% (23,560), of civilian casualties in Iraq between 2013 and 2022. Non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons caused 33% (14,773) of civilian harm, while state actors caused 16% (7,065) of civilian casualties.
Improvised explosive devices caused 76% (34,600) of civilian casualties in Iraq between 2013 and 2022, air-launched weapons caused 13% (6,033), and ground-launched weapons caused 8% (3,848). The use of combined explosive weapons resulted in 2% (832) of civilian harm. Weapons of unclear launch method caused 1% (57) of civilian casualties, while mines caused less than 1% (28) of civilian harm.
Afghanistan
AOAV recorded 3,717 incidents of explosive weapon use in Afghanistan between 2013 and 2022, and 27,649 civilian casualties (8,910 killed, 18,739 injured). Civilian casualties include at least 2,290 children, 1,057 women, and 2 men. Overall, civilians account for 58% of all 47,782 casualties of explosive weapons reported in Afghanistan between 2013 and 2022.
88% (24,279) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. When explosive weapons were used in populated areas in Afghanistan between 2013 and 2022, 85% of casualties were reported as civilians. The most impacted location-types in Afghanistan between 2013 and 2022, in terms of civilian casualties, are roads (3,921) and urban residential areas (3,782), where 14% of civilian harm occurred, followed by 11% (2,993) of civilian casualties in places of worship, 10% (2,866) in public buildings, and 7% (1,860) in villages.
The five worst affected provinces in Afghanistan between 2013 and 2022, in terms of civilian casualties, are Kabul (9,512 civilian casualties), Nangarhar (2,949), Kandahar (1,653), Helmand (1,585), and Kunduz (1,169).
Non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons caused the majority, 76% (20,876), of civilian casualties in Afghanistan between 2013 and 2022, while actors of unknown name and status caused 14% (3,922) of civilian harm. State actors caused 10% (2,851) of civilian casualties.
Improvised explosive devices caused 79% (21,727) of civilian casualties in Afghanistan between 2013 and 2022, ground-launched weapons caused 11% (3,083), and air-launched weapons caused 8% (2,262). The use of combined explosive weapons resulted in 2% (444) of civilian harm. Mines (126) and weapons of unclear launch method (7) caused less than 1% of civilian harm.
Yemen
AOAV recorded 1,426 incidents of explosive weapon use in Yemen between 2013 and 2022, and 17,125 civilian casualties (7,304 killed, 9,821 injured). Civilian casualties include at least 1,391 children, 612 women, and 28 men. Overall, civilians account for 68% of all 25,063 casualties of explosive weapons reported in Yemen between 2013 and 2022.
88% (15,039) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. When explosive weapons were used in populated areas in Yemen between 2013 and 2022, 94% of casualties were reported as civilians. The most impacted location-types in Yemen between 2013 and 2022, in terms of civilian casualties, are urban residential areas, where 25% (4,235) of civilian harm occurred, followed by 10% (1,663) of civilian casualties in markets, 7% in multiple urban areas (1,237) and public buildings (1,160) respectively, and 5% (930) in armed bases.
The five worst affected governorates in Yemen between 2013 and 2022, in terms of civilian casualties, are Sana’a (5,054 civilian casualties), Taiz (2,697), Saada (2,209), Hudaydah (2,087), and Aden (1,493).
State actors’ use of explosive weapons caused the majority, 66% (11,291), of civilian casualties in Yemen between 2013 and 2022, while non-state actors caused 27% (4,640) of civilian harm. Actors of unknown name and status caused 7% (1,194) of civilian casualties.
Air-launched weapons caused 62% (10,562) of civilian casualties in Yemen between 2013 and 2022, ground-launched weapons caused 23% (4,017), and improvised explosive devices caused 13% (2,168). The use of mines resulted in 1% (211) of civilian harm. Combined explosive weapons (85), weapons of unclear launch method (66), and naval-launched weapons (16) caused less than 1% of civilian harm respectively.
Pakistan
AOAV recorded 1,961 incidents of explosive weapon use in Pakistan between 2013 and 2022, and 15,321 civilian casualties (3,598 killed, 11,723 injured). Civilian casualties include at least 831 children, 601 women, and 45 men. Overall, civilians account for 71% of all 21,691 casualties of explosive weapons reported in Pakistan between 2013 and 2022.
93% (14,286) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. When explosive weapons were used in populated areas in Pakistan between 2013 and 2022, 91% of casualties were reported as civilians. The most impacted location-types in Pakistan between 2013 and 2022, in terms of civilian casualties, are markets, were 18% (2,717) of civilian harm occurred, followed by 17% (2,678) of civilian casualties in places of worship, 9% on roads (1,393) and at public gatherings (1,360) respectively, and 7% (1,072) in villages.
The five worst affected provinces in Pakistan between 2013 and 2022, in terms of civilian casualties, are Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (5,836 civilian casualties), Balochistan (4,559), Sindh (2,147), Punjab (1,644), and Kashmir (850).
Non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons caused the majority, 58% (8,854), of civilian casualties in Pakistan between 2013 and 2022, while actors of unknown name and status caused 34% (5,154) of civilian harm. State actors caused 9% (1,313) of civilian casualties.
Improvised explosive devices caused 73% (11,162) of civilian casualties in Pakistan between 2013 and 2022, ground-launched weapons caused 21% (3,184), and combined explosive weapons caused 5% (741). The use of mines (121) and air-launched weapons (113) resulted in less than 1% of civilian harm respectively.
AOAV’s casualty figures represent the lowest of estimations in terms of the number of people killed and injured by explosive weapon use. In an effort to quantify the explicit harm caused by specific explosive weapons, AOAV solely records incident-specific casualty figures, as reported in English-language media.
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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