Explosive Weapons

Explosive Weapons Reports

Annual reports

Explosive Violence Monitor 2017 (pdf)

In 2017, AOAV recorded 42,972 total deaths and injuries as a result of explosive violence around the world. Of these, 74% were civilians (31,904).

Explosive Violence Monitor 2016 (pdf)

In 2016, AOAV recorded 45,624 total deaths and injuries as a result of explosive violence around the world. Of these, 70% were civilians (32,088).

Explosive Violence Monitor 2015 (pdf)

In 2015, AOAV recorded 43,786 total deaths and casualties as a result of explosive violence around the world. Of these, 76% were civilians (33,307).

Explosive Violence Monitor 2014 (pdf)

In 2014, AOAV recorded 41,847 total deaths and casualties as a result of explosive violence around the world. Of these, 78% were civilians (32,662).

Explosive Violence Monitor 2013 (pdf)

In 2013, AOAV recorded 37,809 total deaths and injuries as a result of explosive violence around the world. Of these, 82% were civilians (31,076).

Explosive Violence Monitor 2012 (pdf)

In 2012, AOAV recorded 34,758 total deaths and injuries as a result of explosive violence around the world. Of these, 78% were civilians (27,025).

Explosive Violence Monitor 2011 (pdf)

In 2011, AOAV recorded 30,127 total deaths and injuries as a result of explosive violence around the world. Of these, 71% were civilians (21,499).

Patterns of Harm (pdf)

With five years of data from the Explosive Violence Monitor, AOAV sought to examine the patterns and trends within the data recorded.

Manufactured Explosive Weapons

When the bombs fall silent (pdf)

AOAV examines the long-term harm from the use of explosive weapons. The report focuses on two case studies, the Sri Lankan civil war and the Lebanon-Israel 2006 war. It highlights the harms that remain years after the end of such violence in regard to health, economy, environment, society and culture, as part AOAV’s research into the reverberating effects of explosive weapons.

The Refugee Explosion (pdf)

AOAV examines Europe’s treatment of refugees fleeing explosive weapons, with case studies in Germany, Greece and the UK. The report particularly focuses on how refugees are impacted by explosive violence and how such violence is considered in asylum law and in psychological support.

Wide-area impact report (pdf)

AOAV examines the impact of explosive weapons with wide-are impacts using case studies such as, air-dropped bombs in Yemen, mortar attacks on the Syrian-Jordanian border and multiple-rocket attacks in Ukraine.

Under Fire: Israel’s artillery policies scrutinised (pdf)

AOAV scrutinises the rules that dictate how and where the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have used explosive weapons since 2005, the year that Israel withdrew from the Gaza strip. AOAV found that changes made to the rules of engagement for artillery shelling have increased the risk to civilians in Gaza.

Air Power in Afghanistan (pdf)

AOAV explores the way in which air strikes carried out by NATO forces have changed over the course of operations in Afghanistan.

The report scrutinises three specific directives and policies implemented by NATO after 2008, the deadliest year from aerial bombing for Afghan civilians.

A Tale of Two Cities (pdf)

AOAV explores the conduct of UK forces in Basra (2003), and the US in Fallujah (2004), and asks how the rules of engagement shaped how these two forces could use heavy explosive weapons in Iraqi populated areas.

Improvised Explosive Devices

Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Monitor (pdf)

Drawing on almost seven years of data, the IED Monitor examines the civilian harm caused by IEDs in this period.

The report also includes three further articles on IED use, harm and developments: The Islamic State’s Suicide Industry, The evolution of Suicide Car Bombs examined, and Drones and the IED threat.

Understanding the rising cult of the suicide bomber (pdf)

AOAV investigates what makes individuals give their lives, and take others, for causes propagated by these transnational terrorist groups. It also looks at what effect such attacks have had on local and regional conflicts, as well as on the communities exposed to them.

Furthermore, the report proposes how states and other actors in the international community might seek to prevent their use and further escalation based on the reports’ findings.