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