Monthly update on Explosive Weapons use

March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021

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.