The Explosive Weapons Monitor is a civil society initiative that conducts research and analysis on harms from and practices of explosive weapon use in populated areas for the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW).


4214

Running annual civilian casualty count 2023


Monthly update on Explosive Weapons use

Casualties

Populated areas

Incidents

337

Deaths

311 civilians

165 armed actors

Injuries

1022 civilians

69 armed actors

Unpopulated areas

Incidents

176

Deaths

57 civilians

612 armed actors

Injuries

77 civilians

270 armed actors

Impact on civilians

Populated areas

85 % of civilians killed and injured in a populated area

Unpopulated areas

13 % of civilians killed and injured in a unpopulated area

At least one death or injury from the use of explosive weapons was recorded in 27 countries and territories in March 2023. Worldwide, there were at least 513 reported incidents of explosive weapon use resulting in at least 2,583 casualties, of which 1,467 (57%) were civilians. About 41% of all reported civilian casualties occurred in Ukraine. Some of the other most affected countries and territories in terms of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were Somalia, Myanmar, Syria, and Yemen.

When explosive weapons were used in populated areas in March 2023, civilians reportedly accounted for 85% of the total recorded casualties. This pattern of harm has been consistently recorded over the last decade.

In the last year (April 2022 to March 2023), at least one death or injury from the use of explosive weapons was recorded in 61 countries and territories. Worldwide, there were 5,220 incidents of explosive weapon use resulting in 32,463 casualties, of which 64% (20,642) were civilians. About 51% of all reported civilian casualties occurred in Ukraine. Some of the other most affected countries and territories in terms of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were Somalia, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, and Iraq.

This data is collected from English-language media reports. It does not attempt to exhaustively capture all incidents of explosive weapon use around the world but to serve as an indicator of the scale and pattern of deaths and injuries. 

There were 23 incidents of explosive weapon use affecting aid access, education and healthcare services in March 2023. Nearly all incidents, 22, occurred in Ukraine, a third of which were recorded in Donetsk oblast. In other oblasts, a humanitarian aid delivery point, kindergartens, health clinics, and pharmacies were damaged in Russian forces shelling. The remaining incident occurred In Myanmar, where a clinic belonging to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) was damaged during a Myanmar military airstrike in Kachin state. 

In the last year (April 2022 to March 2023), there were 594 recorded incidents of explosive weapon use affecting aid access, education, and healthcare services in 23 countries and territories. Over 100 aid workers, educators, and health workers were killed in these incidents. Air-launched weapons most frequently impacted aid access, education, and healthcare services in Ukraine and Myanmar while IEDs were more commonly recorded in Afghanistan and Myanmar.

This data may include some incidents where a device did not detonate or where there were no civilian casualties, and includes incidents where historical items such as unexploded ordnance were found and which affected the provision of these services.

Monthly incidents by country

0

1-5

6–10

11–50

51–100

> 100

Affected countries in March 2023

Afghanistan

March 2023

Azerbaijan

March 2023

Bangladesh

March 2023

Cambodia

March 2023

Cameroon

March 2023

Colombia

March 2023

Democratic Republic of the Congo

March 2023

Ecuador

March 2023

Germany

March 2023

India

March 2023

Iraq

March 2023

Israel

March 2023

Mali

March 2023

Montenegro

March 2023

Mozambique

March 2023

Myanmar

March 2023

Nepal

March 2023

Nigeria

March 2023

Occupied Palestinian Territories

March 2023

Pakistan

March 2023

Philippines

March 2023

Russia

March 2023

Somalia

March 2023

South Sudan

March 2023

Syria

March 2023

Syria

March 2023

Thailand

March 2023

Tunisia

March 2023

Ukraine

March 2023

Yemen

March 2023


Annual count 2022

Recorded casualties

Civilian deaths and injuries Armed actors deaths and injuries 2,750 2,500 2,250 2,000 1,750 1,500 1,250 1,000 750 500 250 0 Jan ’23 Apr ’22 May ’22 June ’22 July ’22 Aug ’22 Sept ’22 Oct ’22 Nov ’22 Dec ’22 Feb ’23 Mar ’23

Recorded incidents affecting aid access, education and healthcare

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Aid access Education Healthcare 90 80 Jan ’23 Apr ’22 May ’22 June ’22 July ’22 Aug ’22 Sept ’22 Oct ’22 Nov ’22 Dec ’22 Feb ’23 Mar ’23