A new UN report warns that civilians continue to bear the overwhelming burden of modern warfare, with explosive weapons in populated areas remaining a leading cause of death, injury and destruction, drawing on AOAV data to illustrate the scale of the crisis.

In February 2026, Action on Armed Violence recorded 2,740 deaths and injuries from 458 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 92% (2,527) of the deaths and injuries recorded.

In January 2026, Action on Armed Violence recorded 2,845 deaths and injuries from 494 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 77% (2,190) of the deaths and injuries recorded.

In December 2025, Action on Armed Violence recorded 2,735 deaths and injuries from 421 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 90% (2,453) of the deaths and injuries recorded.

In November 2025, Action on Armed Violence recorded 2,370 deaths and injuries from 437 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 89% (2,370) of the deaths and injuries recorded.

In October 2025, Action on Armed Violence recorded 3,433 deaths and injuries from 570 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 88% (3,032) of the deaths and injuries recorded.

In September 2025, Action on Armed Violence recorded 4,441 deaths and injuries from 725 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 92% (4,089) of the deaths and injuries recorded.

In August 2025, Action on Armed Violence recorded 3,599 deaths and injuries from 683 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 89% (3,191) of the deaths and injuries recorded.

Myanmar’s descent from the persecution of the Rohingya to a nationwide civil war shows how impunity, foreign arms, and explosive violence have enabled the junta to turn terror against its own people.

Israel’s leaked intelligence showing that 83% of Gaza’s dead are civilians confirms AOAV’s long-standing findings that explosive weapons in populated areas overwhelmingly kill non-combatants.

In May 2025, Action on Armed Violence recorded 5,235 deaths and injuries from 811 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 94% (4,905) of the deaths and injuries recorded.

This report presents the findings of global explosive violence patterns in 2024. It constitutes the fourteenth consecutive year of Action on Armed Violence’s (AOAV) Explosive Violence Monitoring Project (EVMP), which records the casualties from explosive weapons use worldwide as reported in English-language media.