The number of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons has increased by 83% in 2022, due to their increasing use in conflicts, including the latest in Ukraine, a report published on Monday claims.
According to the newly created Explosive Weapons Observatory, 50,995 people including 32,136 civilians were killed or injured by explosive weapons in 2022. This is an 83% jump from 2021, says a statement from the NGO Handicap International ( HI), one of the contributors to the report.
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The figure "
is due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the increasing use of explosive weapons in conflicts
" in Ethiopia, Burma and Somalia, HI said.
"
Vital infrastructure and services such as health care and humanitarian aid are severely affected by explosive weapons in urban areas
."
The report "
provides compelling evidence of the human suffering and humanitarian disasters caused by explosive weapons in populated areas
," the statement added.
“Civilians remain the first victims”
In 2021, intentional weapons - traps, mines, improvised devices - had been the most used, with 1,236 incidents.
In 2022, those fired from the ground - rockets, mortars, artillery shells - took over, with 2,273 incidents and 12,689 victims.
“
For 10 years, one constant remains, however: civilians remain the first victims
,” notes the document, according to which 90% of people killed or injured by explosive weapons in populated areas are civilians.
The report mentions Mosul (Iraq), Raqqa (Syria), Mariupol (Ukraine) and Hodeidah (Yemen) "
destroyed or damaged by heavy bombardments, causing large-scale population displacements, killing and injuring thousands of civilians and leaving a contamination by explosive devices that endangers lives for years to come
”.
A total of 83 countries had pledged last November at a conference in Dublin to respect a declaration supported by the United Nations and the Red Cross to restrict the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
Under the agreement, which is not binding, these countries agree to reduce the use of these weapons in populated areas to protect civilians living in the midst of conflict.
