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Wide-Area Impact Report

This is a 2015/16 report by AOAV that looks at the wide area effects of explosive weapon use, with case studies in Jordan, Yemen and Ukraine.

18 May 2022

Civil Society Statement on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Conflict (2022)

AOAV is proud to be one of the endorsing NGOs for the Civil Society Statement on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Conflicts, ahead of the UN's annual open debate on the protection of civilians (POC) in armed conflict. Over the past year, the devastating impact of urban warfare on civilians has been made increasingly clear, especially the parallel direct and indirect, short-term and long-term nature of urban warfare's effects on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

armed violence, explosive weapons, civilian harm, conflict zones, humanitarian impact, arms trade, UK defence, war reporting, casualty tracking, human rights, military accountability, public health and violence, post-conflict recovery, disarmament, international humanitarian law, AOAV, weapons regulation, urban warfare, conflict data analysis, security policy

4 Jun 2021

What is a mortar?

An in-depth look at the history, use, and harm of mortars in modern warfare. AOAV data indicates that 40% of all incidents of mortar harm in the last decade have been perpetrated by non-state actors. State actors account for 20% of mortar attacks and the perpetrator status is unknown for 38% of incidents.

10 Jul 2019

The duty to investigate civilian deaths in armed conflict

This article challenges the notion that ‘restoring the primacy of the law of armed conflict’ would remove scrutiny over the actions of military personnel on the battlefield.

8 Mar 2016

Wide-Area Impact – Investigating the wide-area effect of explosive weapons

This report analyses the impact of air-dropped bombs in Yemen, mortar attacks on the Syrian-Jordanian border and multiple-rocket attacks in Ukraine.

8 Mar 2016

Wide-Area Impact Report: Introduction

The rationale, methodology and case studies of AOAV's Wide-Area Impact Report explained.

8 Mar 2016

Wide-Area Impact Report: Conclusions and Recommendations

AOAV calls on states and other actors to stop using explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas.

8 Mar 2016

Multi-launch rocket systems (MLRS) in Ukraine

Globally, more deaths and injuries were recorded from multiple-rocket launched systems in Ukraine than in anywhere else in the world (39 per cent of worldwide harm from MLRS was in Ukraine).

8 Mar 2016

Case study: Grads strike Mariupol, Ukraine

At least 30 people were killed in Eastern Ukrainian attacks on 24 January 2015, including two children aged five and 15. One military serviceman was also killed.

8 Mar 2016

Multiple munitions: Rocket Launchers – Grad Rockets

Grad means ‘Hail’ in Russian: a name that reflects the power and reach of the weapon system. Each individual Grad rocket stands almost 3m tall, and weighs approximately 66kg.

2 Mar 2016

Mortar fire on the Syrian-Jordanian border: an overview

In 2014, AOAV recorded 1,910 civilian deaths and injuries from 115 mortar attacks in Syria. AOAV’s investigations in September 2015 charted 15 explosive weapon strikes that crossed the Syrian border.

2 Mar 2016

Explosive weapons with lack of accuracy: mortars (M-1943/M43)

Nearly 50 countries have manufactured one or more types of mortars – with 30 continuing to do so as of 2008 – making it the most widely produced light weapon.

2 Mar 2016

Air-dropped bombs in Yemen – an overview

Between 1 January 2011 and 31 July 2015, AOAV found that no manufactured explosive weapon type killed more civilians per incident on average than aerial bombs.

Wide-Area Impact Report

Civil Society Statement on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Conflict (2022)

What is a mortar?

The duty to investigate civilian deaths in armed conflict

Wide-Area Impact – Investigating the wide-area effect of explosive weapons

Wide-Area Impact Report: Introduction

Wide-Area Impact Report: Conclusions and Recommendations

Multi-launch rocket systems (MLRS) in Ukraine

Case study: Grads strike Mariupol, Ukraine

Multiple munitions: Rocket Launchers – Grad Rockets

Mortar fire on the Syrian-Jordanian border: an overview

Explosive weapons with lack of accuracy: mortars (M-1943/M43)

Air-dropped bombs in Yemen – an overview

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