Explosive violence monitor reports deadliest year since 2010 with 67,000 casualties
Last year, global incidents of explosive weapons use surged by 29 per cent, alongside a 69 per cent spike in civilian casualties and a 50per cent rise in civilian fatalities compared to 2023.
At least 67,026 deaths and injuries were caused by explosive weapons across 9,553 incidents around the world, the Explosive Violence Monitor's annual report shows.
Of the total recorded casualties, 59,524 were civilians, marking the highest levels of civilian harm recorded since the Explosive Violence Monitoring Project began in 2010.
"Overall, Gaza accounts for 39 per cent of global civilian casualties in 2024. AOAV recorded 57,506 civilians killed and injured in populated areas. This represented 97 per cent of globally reported civilian deaths and injuries," the report, released annually by 'Action on Armed Violence' - a London-based charity, stated.
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As a result, the average number of civilians killed per incident rose from 2.2 in 2023 to 2.5 in 2024 - a 14 per cent increase.
At least 2,932 women were reported among the civilian casualties last year - a 25 per cent increase compared to 2,344 in 2023, and the highest level of recorded harm to women by explosive weapons in AOAV's records. 2024 saw the highest levels of recorded harm to children from explosive weapons since 2017. At least 3,089 children were reported among the civilian casualties, a 12 per cent increase compared to 2,745 in 2023.
The report shows that 2024 saw the emergence of new conflicts, in particular Israel's military operation expanding to Lebanon, as well as the continuation of its operations in Gaza and the West Bank, the escalation of civil war in Sudan, and the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.
"Israel's operations in Gaza and Lebanon have been largely responsible for the exceptional increase in harm from explosive weapons worldwide. The conflict in Gaza has also sparked increased explosive violence across the Middle East, as tensions rise throughout the region. Ongoing international and non-international conflicts in Myanmar, Ukraine, Syria, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Yemen also contributed to the high level of incidents and harm. After the relative global downturn in violence in the pandemic years, the world appears to be marked by escalating levels of violence," the report warned.
Incidents were recorded in 56 countries and territories last year, 7 countries fewer than in 2023, with Gaza, Ukraine, Lebanon, Sudan, Myanmar, and Syria seeing the highest levels of civilian harm in 2024.
It noted that explosive violence was particularly intense in several countries, with Ukraine and Gaza recording more than 1,000 incidents; those that recorded less than 1,000 but more than 100 incidents included Sudan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, Myanmar, Russia, Iraq, and Israel.
Countries and territories with between 31 and 100 incidents were; India (88), West Bank (70), Yemen (61), Nigeria (44), Afghanistan (40), Somalia (39) while those that recorded between 11 and 30 incidents were; Iran (20), Azerbaijan (18), Thailand (15), DRC (12).
Countries with between 2 and 10 incidents included; Philippines (9), Kenya (9), Colombia (9), Bangladesh (9), Ethiopia (6), Armenia (6), Mexico (6), Turkey (4), Mali (4), USA (4), Tunisia (3), South Sudan (3), Cameroon (3), Italy (2), Niger (2), Jordan (2), Burundi (2).
Countries and territories with 1 incident were: Croatia, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Cyprus, Kosovo, Nepal, Brazil, China, Central African Republic, Greece, Libya, Morocco, Chad, Australia, Argentina, South Africa, Montenegro, and Kazakhstan.
"Manufactured explosive weapons accounted for 90 per cent of civilian casualties in 2024, while improvised explosive devices accounted for 10 per cent. Air-launched manufactured explosive weapons were responsible for 54 per cent of global civilian casualties, while ground-launched explosive weapons accounted for 22 per cent.
Last year, global incidents of explosive weapons use surged by 29 per cent, alongside a 69 per cent spike in civilian casualties and a 50per cent rise in civilian fatalities compared to 2023.
"AOAV has documented this for over a decade, consistently demonstrating that the threat explosive weapons pose to civilians is exacerbated when used in populated areas. In 2024, 95per cent of all those reported killed and injured by explosive weapons in populated areas such as towns and cities were civilians. The majority of all global civilian casualties from explosive violence, some 97per cent, occurred in such populated areas," added the report.
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