Unprecedented Increase in Civilian Casualties Caused by Explosives in 2023

New research by the UK-based charity Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) has revealed that 2023 saw the highest number of civilian casualties caused by explosives in over a decade. AOAV recorded a staggering 122% increase in civilian fatalities caused by explosives compared to the previous year. The rise in casualties can mainly be attributed to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, although conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia also contributed. AOAV's research, which is used by international forums such as the UN, has highlighted the severity of the situation and has been presented to the UK Parliament. According to AOAV's findings, there were at least 7,307 explosive incidents worldwide in 2023, significantly higher than the 4,322 incidents recorded in 2022. These attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 15,305 civilians, marking a 122% rise from the previous year. Additionally, tens of thousands of individuals sustained injuries. AOAV attributes a significant portion of the increase in civilian casualties to Israel's war in Gaza, which accounted for approximately one-third of the global total. The charity recorded 920 incidents of explosive weapons use in Gaza, leading to the deaths of 9,334 individuals. However, other estimates suggest that the actual figures might be higher. AOAV acknowledges that its data does not encompass all harm caused but does reveal clear trends in explosive violence. It incorporates reports from credible media organizations in its data. The charity also highlights the significant increase in air strikes recorded during Israel's military operation, which began in October 2023 in response to attacks by Hamas. Furthermore, AOAV underscores a drastic increase in the usage of air-launched weapons worldwide, with a rise of 226% from 519 incidents in 2022 to 1,694 incidents in 2023. Israel has asserted that it has taken unprecedented precautions to minimize civilian casualties, including issuing advance warnings before air strikes. However, AOAV's research indicates that when explosive weapons are deployed in densely populated areas, the majority of casualties are likely to be civilians. Iain Overton, director of AOAV, emphasizes that this data should serve as a strong warning to countries that the use of explosive weapons in urban areas disproportionately affects civilians. Furthermore, AOAV records a significant increase in the use of ground-launched weapons in 2023. State actors are primarily responsible for 77% of the civilian casualties caused by explosives worldwide, with Israel being identified as the most injurious state actor in 2023. AOAV demonstrates that Israel's actions resulted in more than 1,000 attacks causing 12,950 civilian casualties. Russia ranked second, with its war in Ukraine causing 8,351 civilian casualties. Ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, Syria, and Somalia also contributed to the highest civilian casualties recorded by AOAV since 2010. Additionally, non-state actors, including militants and proscribed groups, played a part in the increased use of explosive weapons in 2023. However, AOAV records a decrease of 8% in the number of civilians killed by non-state actors.