New report highlights a sharp increase in civilian casualties in conflicts in 2024

The annual Explosive Weapons Monitor, published on 21 May, highlights that civilians in 74 countries - more than a third the world  are affected by bombing and shelling. Civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure are increasing as armed conflicts and geopolitical tensions rise, at the expense of international humanitarian law. 

• In 2024, civilians were affected by explosive violence in at least 74 countries and territories.
• The Occupied Palestinian Territories represented more than 60% of all civilian fatalities reported across the globe in 2024.
• Civilian deaths from explosive weapons in countries and territories other than the Occupied Palestinian Territories increased by more than 60% in 2024, notably in Lebanon, Myanmar, Syria and Ukraine. 
• Attacks on healthcare, including health facilities and ambulances, increased by 64%.
• Attacks on education (schools, etc.) more than doubled.
• Attacks on humanitarian aid occurred nearly five times more frequently than in 2023.

“Eighty-three states have endorsed the 2022 Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas—the first formal international recognition that bombing and shelling in towns and cities cause devastating humanitarian consequences. Three years on, States must show how they have translated this instrument into concrete actions to protect civilians from bombing and shelling. They have a responsibility to speak out vigorously and consistently against the ongoing use of explosive weapons in populated areas- from Gaza and Sudan to Ukraine and beyond. Upholding the declaration means changing military policies, including avoiding the use of these weapons to protect civilians from the consequences of urban warfare." says Alma Taslidžan, Disarmament and Protection of Civilians Advocacy Manager at Humanity & Inclusion.

Civilians at the mercy of armed conflict

There were 120 ongoing armed conflicts in 2024 and civilians have been hit hard by their consequences:

• Nearly 200,000 people died as a result of armed violence in 2024
• Hundreds of thousands of civilians were injured, maimed or traumatised by armed violence.
• More than 120 million people are forcibly displaced, largely as a result of conflict.

Bombings in populated areas, indiscriminate drone attacks, the reintroduction of banned weapons such as anti-personnel mines and cluster bombs into military arsenals, and so on... are all red flags: the very obligation on the part of belligerents to “protect civilians” seems to be completely collapsing. 

In Gaza alone, the Israeli Armed Forces stated that 40,300 targets were hit between October 2023 and October 2024, leaving no chance to the civilian population, who for the vast majority lives in densely populated areas in Gaza. 53,000 people in Gaza were killed, almost 2 million were displaced. 

“With the increasing attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in 2024, we are seeing a serious weakening of the principle of civilian protection - that civilians should be spared and protected from the effects of armed conflict. What we are witnessing is that parties to conflict simply do not care - they carry out indiscriminate attacks and civilians are even increasingly being directly targeted. In some contexts, prolonged sieges are no longer aimed solely at winning battles, but at terrorizing, injuring and killing populations.” Says George Graham, Executive Director for Humanity & Inclusion UK.

The return of forbidden weapons 

In that context marked by the violation of agreements like the international humanitarian law and protection of civilian norms, the return of anti-personnel mines and cluster bombs and the withdrawal of several states from treaties banning these indiscriminate weapons are adding a new danger for the populations.

Russia has massively used antipersonnel mines since it started its full invasion of Ukraine in 2022 while there are strong indications that Ukraine also used antipersonnel mines. 

Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are withdrawing from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans antipersonnel mines, and are considering deploying them at their borders. Lithuania has already withdrawn from the Oslo Treaty, which bans cluster munitions.

Urgent call to protect civilians

Humanity & Inclusion is calling on states to:

• Unambiguously reaffirm the fundamental principle of the protection of civilians
• Strengthen international humanitarian law  
• Put an end to the use of prohibited weapons.

Notes

Spokespersons

Alma Taslidžan, Disarmament and Protection of Civilians Advocacy Manager at Humanity & Inclusion.

George Graham, Chief Executive, Humanity & Inclusion UK

To access the report https://www.humanity-inclusion.org.uk/sn_uploads/document/EWIPA-annual-report-2024.pdf

Testimonies of civilians impacted by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas available upon request

Humanity & Inclusion’s campaign to protect civilians in conflict

For the past 30 years, Humanity & Inclusion has gathered people together to campaign against anti-personnel mines and cluster bombs which led to the signing of the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty (1997) and the Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions (2008). Humanity & Inclusion was co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for its work against anti-personal mines. Humanity & Inclusion was very involved in the international agreement endorsed in November 2022 by 83 states to end the harm and suffering caused to civilians by heavy urban bombing.

About the EWIPA declaration

In November 2022, 83 states, including the UK, endorsed an international agreement in Dublin to end the harm and suffering caused to civilians by heavy urban bombing. To date, 86 states have joined the agreement (Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences arising from the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated areas).

What is international humanitarian law?

The Geneva Conventions of 1949, particularly the Fourth, clearly define that civilians - women, children, the elderly and the wounded - must be protected in all circumstances. They were born out of the horrors inflicted on civilian populations during the world conflicts of the 20th century. The United Nations Charter, which came into force exactly 80 years ago, established peace and security as the foundations of world order.

In the First World War, 15% of casualties were civilians; this figure rose to 50% in the Second World War. Today, war is waged in cities and more than 90% of victims of bombing in populated areas are civilians. International Humanitarian Law is under attack.