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Protecting civilians from explosive weapons in conflict: 5 things you should know |


The devastating damage caused by explosives falling on population centers has been witnessed again and again, from Syria to Ethiopia, Myanmar and Iraq. The images spilling out of Ukraine shocked many people. In addition to deaths, the use of these weapons causes long-term harm, destroying livelihoods and critical infrastructure such as healthcare.

Secretary General António Guterres has continuously lobbied countries to fulfill their commitment to avoid the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas.

Below, we look at the impact these weapons have on civilians and some of the ways countries, the United Nations, and partners around the world are working to mitigate humanitarian impacts. .


Damage from explosive weapons in Bucha, Ukraine

© UNDP / Yevhenii Zavhorodnii

Damage from explosive weapons in Bucha, Ukraine

1. What is an explosive weapon?

An explosive weapon is a system that uses ammunition or devices whose primary destructive effect is due to the detonation of a high explosive that creates an explosive and fragmented zone. There are different types of explosive weapons used by national military forces and non-State armed groups.

Examples include indirect incendiary weapons, such as artillery, rockets and mortars; weapons fired in rescue vehicles, such as multiple launch rocket systems; large bombs dropped in the air and from the sea; surface-to-surface ballistic missiles; and improvised explosive devices.

Explosive weapons with “area effect” form a major subset of explosive weapons. These include weapons that use bombs and bullets with large destructive radius, fired in rescue vehicles or deliver a variety of ammunition over a wide area.

Armed conflicts are becoming more and more intense in population centers. The urbanization of war has resulted in devastating and well-documented effects on civilians, often due to the use of weapon systems designed for traditional open battlefields.

Many of these weapons have predictable and indistinguishable effects when used in densely populated areas, resulting in increased civilian casualties and devastating humanitarian impacts.


Children walk through a damaged part of Craiter city center in Aden, Yemen.  The area was heavily damaged by air strikes in 2015 when the Houthis were driven from the city by coalition forces.

OCHA / Giles Clarke

Children walk through a damaged part of Craiter city center in Aden, Yemen. The area was heavily damaged by air strikes in 2015 when the Houthis were driven from the city by coalition forces.

2. What are the humanitarian impacts and consequences of using these weapons in densely populated areas?

When used in villages, towns, cities or other densely populated areas, explosive weapons create a more consistent form of immediate and lasting harm to civilians, destroying lives. , livelihoods and critical infrastructure.

In addition to the immediate impact, many civilians are affected by the indirect and often long-lasting effects of a weapon – also known as a rebound impact. Children are especially vulnerable to various forms of psychological or emotional trauma.

Health facilities are affected, hindering the delivery of medical care. Home and essential infrastructure, such as water and wastewater treatment plants and power supply systems, are damaged or destroyed, increasing the risk and spread of disease and placing a greater burden more for the health care system.

Schools blow up, disrupting or preventing access to education, pose significant risks to children, and often reveal gender disparities. The use of these weapons in densely populated areas can also contribute to large-scale displacement, forcing people to flee their homes, often for long periods of time and in precarious conditions. .

The use of these weapons almost always leaves behind explosive remnants of war that can kill and injure civilians, especially children, long after the war is over. Remains may also prevent or delay reconstruction or agricultural production, as well as the return of refugees and displaced persons.


A child rides a toy car as people celebrate Eid al-Fitr, in eastern Ghouta, Syria.

© UNICEF / Amer Al-Mohibany

A child rides a toy car as people celebrate Eid al-Fitr, in eastern Ghouta, Syria.

3. What are the UN and partners doing to reduce civilian deaths?

Since 2009, UN chief António Guterres, and his predecessors, have repeatedly called on conflicting parties to avoid using them, especially through his Disarmament Programme, pledging assist UN member states in formulating a political statement addressing the use of explosive weapons. in densely populated areas, as well as operational limits, standards, and policies consistent with international humanitarian law.

In 2019, along with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Guterres called on the parties to the conflict to adopt combat strategies and tactics outside of densely populated areas and “try to completely reduce urban skirmishes”.

Adequate documentation of the short- and long-term humanitarian impacts of explosive weapons use in densely populated areas, including the collection of civilian casualty data, is key to action. fit.

The United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and NGOs around the globe have published numerous studies to inform debates and improve military policies and practices.

Some military forces have adopted policies to avoid or limit the use of certain explosive weapons in certain situations to better protect civilians, such as the International Security Assistance Force. in Afghanistan and the African Union Mission in Somalia.


Children walk past damaged buildings in Benghazi, Libya.

© UNOCHA / Giles Clarke

Children walk past damaged buildings in Benghazi, Libya.

4. What else is happening at the global level?

Over the past decades, a coalition of governments and civil society has successfully lobbied for new tools to address humanitarian harm, such as the Landmine Ban Convention, the Bomb Convention, and the Ammunition Convention. beam and the Safe Schools Statement.

Since 2010, humanitarian organizations, including civil society, have worked to raise awareness of the indiscriminate and serious humanitarian impact of explosive weapons use in densely populated areas. .

The consultation process to develop an international political statement addressing the humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas – led by Ireland – has been going on since 2019, after many years of consistent campaigning efforts. After a period of hiatus due to the pandemic, the States convened again last April to negotiate a political declaration, which is expected to end in June.

The Secretary-General has expressed full support for this process and continues to support a political statement that includes a clear commitment to avoid the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas.


Children sit in an old classroom in a destroyed school in Saada city, Yemen.  They are currently attending school in nearby UNICEF tents.

© UNOCHA / Giles Clarke

Children sit in an old classroom in a destroyed school in Saada city, Yemen. They now go to school in nearby UNICEF tents.

5. What difference can a political statement make?

Adopting a political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas could go a long way toward reducing the humanitarian harm involved, by acknowledging that conflict cannot takes place in densely populated areas the same way it is fought on open battlefields.

States should commit to developing presumptive operational policies against the use of explosives in densely populated areas to promote behavior change and promote concrete steps to protect populations often and ultimately to enhance compliance with International Humanitarian Law.



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