In February 2023, Action on Armed Violence recorded 2,155 deaths and injuries from 469 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 53% (1,133) of the deaths and injuries recorded.
When explosive weapons were used in populated areas, 74% (1,029) of the casualties were civilians, compared to 14% (104) in other areas.
Manufactured explosive weapons accounted for 75% (845) of civilian casualties, while improvised explosive weapons (IEDs) accounted for 21% (236) of these civilian casualties in February 2023. Of the main launch-method types of manufactured explosive weapons, ground-launched explosive weapons accounted for 65% (738) of civilian casualties, air-launched weapons were responsible for 5% (51) of civilian casualties, and landmines were responsible for 5% (56) of civilian casualties.
At least one death or injury from the use of explosive weapons was recorded in 23 countries and territories in February 2023. The five most affected countries and territories in terms of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were Ukraine (456 civilian casualties), Somalia (237), Myanmar (103), Syria (86), and Pakistan (77).
UKRAINE
In February 2023, there were 179 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Ukraine, 171 of which resulted in 456 civilian casualties, of whom 116 were killed and 340 injured. Civilian casualties included at least nine children and 42 women. Overall, civilians accounted for 81% of all 560 casualties recorded in Ukraine in February, as there were also 104 armed-actor casualties, of whom 87 were killed and 17 injured.
The majority of civilian casualties, 95% (434), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 43% (198) occurred across multiple urban locations, 34% (156) in urban residential areas, 14% (64) in villages, 2% (7) in town centres, 1% (4) on public transport, and <1% in other locations (2), roads (2), and hospitals (1).
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Ukraine were Donetsk (216 civilian casualties), Kherson (136), Kharkiv (59), Dnipropetrovsk (18), Chernihiv (9), Sumy (7), Khmelnytskyi (7), Zaporizhzhia (2), and Luhansk (2).
The vast majority of civilian casualties, 99% (450), were caused by state actors’ use of explosive weapons. Specifically, Russian armed forces reportedly caused 96% (436) of civilian casualties, Ukraine’s armed forces 3% (12), and unknown state actors <1% (2). Perpetrators of unknown status and name reportedly caused 1% (6) of civilian casualties.
The use of ground-launched explosive weapons was the cause of 84% (383) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific shelling (222 civilian casualties), combined ground-launched weapons (52), missiles (42), rockets (37), artillery shells (24), and mortar shells (6). Weapons of unclear launch method caused 5% (25) of civilian casualties, specifically missiles (24) and rockets (1). Multiple types of explosive weapons caused 5% (25) of civilian casualties. Air-launched weapons were the cause of 3% (14) of civilian casualties, specifically missiles (9) and air strikes (5), while landmines caused 2% (8) of civilian casualties, and IEDs, in particular non-specific IEDs, caused <1% (1).
The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Ukraine in February 2023 decreased compared to levels recorded in January, in which 235 incidents caused 783 civilian casualties, of which 221 killed and 562 injured. In December 2022, 194 incidents caused 794 civilian casualties (195 killed and 599 injured).
SOMALIA
In February 2023, there were 26 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Somalia, 14 of which caused 237 civilian casualties, 101 of whom were killed and 136 injured. Civilian casualties included at least five children and one woman. Overall, civilians accounted for 66% of the total 361 casualties of explosive weapon use, as 124 armed-actor casualties were also recorded, 112 of whom were killed and 12 injured.
The majority, 98% (232), of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 81% (192) occurred across multiple urban locations, 10% (24) in urban residential areas, 5% (12) in hospitals, and 2% (4) in entertainment venues.
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Somalia were Somaliland (213 civilian casualties), Banaadir (14), and Puntland (9).
The majority of civilian casualties, 68% (162), were caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically Somaliland militias (138 civilian casualties), Al Shabaab (14), ISIS (5), and unknown non-state actors (5). State and non-state actors, specifically Somalia state forces and tribal militia, caused 28% (67) of civilian casualties. Actors of unknown status and name caused 3% (8) of civilian casualties.
Ground-launched weapons caused the vast majority of civilian casualties, 90% (213). Specifically, combined ground-launched weapons were the cause of 90 civilian casualties, while non-specific shelling caused 85, and artillery shelling caused 38 civilian casualties. The use of IEDs was the cause of 10% (24) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs (19 civilian casualties), and roadside bombs (5).
Civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Somalia in February 2023 rose considerably compared to January, when 26 incidents caused 178 reported civilian casualties (81 killed, 97 injured). In December 2022, eight incidents of explosive weapon use were recorded, which resulted in 16 reported civilian casualties (3 killed, 13 injured).
MYANMAR
In February 2023, there were 100 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use in Myanmar, 33 of which caused 103 civilian casualties, 34 of whom were killed and 69 injured. Civilian casualties included at least 27 children and 21 women. Overall, civilians accounted for 19% of the total 547 casualties of explosive weapon use, as 444 armed-actor casualties were also recorded, 310 of whom were killed and 134 injured.
78% (80) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 38% (39) happened in villages,12% (12) in transport-related infrastructure, 7% (7) at public gatherings, 6% (6) in encampments, 5% (5) in commercial premises, 4% (4) across multiple urban locations, 3% (3) in places of worship, and 2% (2) in urban residential areas and police stations respectively.
The states in which civilian casualties were reported in Myanmar were Sagaing (32 civilian casualties), Bago (20), Kayah (13), Karen (9), Chin (8), Rakhine (6), Shan (6), Kachin (3), Tanintharyi (2), Mon (2), and Magwe (2).
The majority of civilian casualties, 57% (59), were caused by state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically Myanmar’s military junta. Actors of unknown status and name caused 22% (23) of civilian casualties. Non-state actors caused 20% (21) of civilian casualties, specifically People’s Defense Forces (13) and unknown non-state actors (8).
The use of ground-launched weapons was the cause of 53% (55) of civilian casualties, specifically artillery shelling (33 civilian casualties), non-specific shelling (14), and grenades (8). Landmines caused 27% (28) of civilian casualties, while IEDs, in particular non-specific IEDs, caused 15% (15). Air-strikes caused 5% (5) of civilian casualties.
Civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Myanmar in February 2023 decreased compared to January, when 100 incidents caused 170 reported civilian casualties (39 killed, 131 injured). In December, 45 incidents of explosive weapon use were recorded, and they caused 52 civilian casualties (6 killed and 46 injured).
SYRIA
In February 2023, there were 43 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Syria, 19 of which resulted in 86 civilian casualties, of whom 32 were killed and 54 injured. Civilian casualties include at least six children and five women. Overall, civilians accounted for 50% of the total 171 casualties, as there were also 85 recorded armed-actor casualties, 34 of whom were killed and 51 injured.
90% (77) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 38% (33) occurred in urban residential areas, 28% (24) on public transport, 13% (11) on roads in populated areas, and 2% (2) in schools, encampments, and armed bases respectively.
The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Syria were Homs (24 civilian casualties), Damascus (24), Hama (12), Aleppo (8), Deir Ezzor (8), Idlib (3), Hasakah (3), Daraa (2), and Latakia (2).
The majority of civilian casualties, 60% (52), were caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically ISIS (43 civilian casualties) and unknown non-state actors (9). State actors’ use of explosive weapons caused 40% (34) of civilian casualties, specifically Israel (24 civilian casualties), Turkey (5), Syria (4), and unknown state actors (1).
IEDs caused 59% (51) of civilian casualties. In particular, roadside bombs caused 35 civilian casualties, non-specific IEDs caused 11, and car bombs caused five. The use of air-launched weapons, specifically air-strikes, was the cause of 33% (28) of civilian casualties. Ground-launched weapons caused 5% (4) of civilian casualties, specifically artillery shelling (2), non-specific shelling (1), and grenades (1). Weapons of unclear launch method, specifically missiles, caused 2% (2) of civilian casualties, while landmines caused 1% (1).
Incidents of explosive weapon use in Syria in February 2023 decreased compared to January, when 63 incidents were recorded. However, fewer civilian casualties, 42, were recorded in January (13 killed, 29 injured. In December, 44 incidents were recorded, causing 60 civilian casualties (27 killed, 33 injured).
PAKISTAN
In February 2023, there were 27 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Pakistan, 16 of which resulted in 77 civilian casualties, 11 of whom were killed and 66 injured. At least seven children and five women were reported among these civilian casualties. Overall, civilians accounted for 46% of the total 168 casualties, as 91 armed actor casualties were also recorded, 38 of whom were killed and 53 injured.
The majority, 74% (57), of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 23% (18) occurred in markets, 17% (13) in urban residential areas, 10% (8) on roads in populated areas, 8% (6) on public transport, 6% (5) in police stations and villages respectively, and 3% (2) in commercial premises.
The regions where civilian casualties of explosive weapon use were recorded in Pakistan were Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (36 civilian casualties), Balochistan (33), Punjab (6), Sindh (1), and Bajaur (1).
91% (70) of civilian casualties were reportedly caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically unknown non-state actors (46 civilian casualties) and the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (24). Actors of unknown name and status caused 9% (7) of civilian casualties
The majority, 81% (62), of civilian casualties were caused by the use of IEDs. Specifically, non-specific IEDs caused 51 civilian casualties, and roadside bombs caused 11. Ground-launched weapons caused 14% (11) of civilian casualties, specifically grenades (5 civilian casualties), combined ground-launched weapons (3), and mortar shells (3). Mines caused 5% (4) of civilian casualties, specifically landmines (2) and anti-personnel mines (2).
Civilian casualties of explosive weapon use in Pakistan in February 2023 saw a considerable increase compared to January, when 12 incidents caused 20 reported civilian casualties, all of whom were injured. In December, 15 incidents were recorded, which resulted in 116 civilian casualties (14 killed, 102 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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