2016 worst year for civilian deaths from explosive violence recorded in the last six years.
Since 2011, Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) has been recording the global impact of explosive violence as reported in English language media.
In 2016, AOAV recorded 45,624 deaths and injuries from the use of explosive weapons around the world. As with previous years, civilians bore the burden of this explosive violence. Of those harmed, 70% were reported to be civilians – 32,088.
In its 2016 report, Explosive Truths, AOAV recorded the highest number of civilian deaths since it began its monitor in 2011. This constituted a 7% increase compared to the previous year, and a 92% increase from 2011.
In addition, AOAV found that 92% of those reported harmed by explosive weapons in populated areas were civilians. In 2016, AOAV recorded an average of 32 civilian deaths from explosive weapons every day.
Such findings reflect a consistent pattern of harm that has endured throughout the years that AOAV has been tracking explosive violence.
The full report is available for download here: Explosive Truths: Monitoring explosive violence in 2016.
KEY FINDINGS
The key findings of the report are:
- AOAV recorded 45,624 deaths and injuries by explosive weapons in 2,300 incidents in 2016. Of these, 32,088 were civilians – 70%.
- When explosive weapons were used in populated areas, 92% of those killed and injured were civilians. This compares to 25% in other areas.
- Civilian deaths and injuries in populated areas, represented 89% of all reported civilian deaths and injuries.
- AOAV recorded the highest number of civilian deaths since it began its monitor in 2011 – a 7% increase compared to the previous year, and a 92% increase compared to 2011.
- An 8% increase in civilian harm from air-launched attacks compared to 2015 – with a reported 9,934 civilians worldwide killed and injured, accounting for 31% of all civilian deaths and injuries.
- Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Turkey saw the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries in 2016.
- A further rise in death and injuries in Syria from explosive violence; over 15,000 deaths and injuries in 2016, 51% more than in 2015.
- Turkey saw a 113% rise in civilian deaths and injuries in 2016 from explosive violence, compared to 2015. Somalia saw an increase of 83% of the same.
- Six countries and territories saw over 1,000 civilian deaths and injuries in 2016.
- Incidents were recorded in 70 countries and territories around the world – seven more countries than in 2015.
- AOAV recorded 256 suicide bombings in 2016, causing 12,673 deaths and injuries – of which 76% were civilians.
- On average 38 civilians were killed and injured by each suicide bombing– an increase of two since 2015.
Iain Overton, Executive Director of Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), said of the report: “AOAV’s figures show, yet again, that the vast burden of harm suffered from those killed or injured by explosive weapons are civilians. Year in and year out, over 90% of those reported harmed in populated areas have been civilians.”
“The UN Secretary-General and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have repeatedly called on states to avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas. Furthermore, the UN Secretary General has called on states to engage constructively in efforts to develop a political declaration to address the issue. Discussions have started towards developing an international political instrument to address this humanitarian problem, and already 70 states have spoken out on this issue. The time has come for states to make a clear collective commitment on this vital humanitarian question.”
For the report please go here.
For more information on this report, please contact Iain Overton, AOAV’s Executive Director on +44 (0) 7984 645 145 or at ioverton@aoav.org.uk.