100 Incidents of Humanitarian Harm: Explosive Weapons in

Report byEsther Cann and Katherine Harrison

EditorKatherine Harrison

With contributions by Nerina Cevra, Coordinator, Survivor Rights & Victim Assistance, AOAV; and Henry Dodd, Research Intern, AOAV.

Copyright © Action on Armed Violence, March 2011

With thanks toSuhair Abdi, Ailynne Benito, Mike Boddington, Roos Boer, John Borrie, Maya Brehm, Dr. Réginald Moreels, Richard Moyes, Thomas Nash, Kerry Smith, Verity Smith, Miriam Struyk, and Sebastian Taylor.

Photographic materialBobby Benito/Bangsamoro Centre for Justpeace, Free Burma Rangers, Abdul Majeed Goraya/IRIN, ISM Palestine/Wikimedia Commons, Rachel Kabejja/The Daily Monitor, Jason Motlagh/Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, Avi Ohayon/Wikimedia Commons, Mark Pearson/ShelterBox UK, and Muhammad Sabah/B’Tselem.

Clarifications or corrections from interested parties are welcome.

Research and publication funded by the Government of Norway, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication DataA catalogue record of this report is available from the British Library.

ISBN: 978-0-9568521-0-6

DesignKieran Gardner

PrintingFM Print

Published in March 2011 by:

Action on Armed Violence (Landmine Action)5th Floor, Epworth House, 25 City Road, London, EC1Y 1AAT +44 (0) 20 7256 9500 F +44 (0) 20 7256 9311

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100 InCIDEnts of HuManItaRIan HaRM

Introduction6

Executive summary8

Incident profile guide10

Incident profiles 1–100 11

Health impacts17

Children and explosive weapons28

Damage to infrastructure, property, and services36

Displacement and explosive weapons50

Harm caused by explosive remnants of war61

Harm from explosions in stockpiles69

Victim assistance80

Counting explosive weapons casualties89

annex: the research process101

sources, incidents 1–100102

Contents

The graffiti reads: “This market was destroyed by the Americans and the Saudi Arabians. What did markets do wrong?” Sa’dah, Yemen, March 2010

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100 IncIdents of HumanItarIan Harm

From air-dropped bombs, rockets, and missiles to improvised explosive devices and grenades, explosive weapons share a particular capacity to cause humanitarian harm.

When used in populated areas, the impact can be devastating, causing large numbers of direct deaths and severe injuries, displacement, and long-term psychological, social, economic, and infrastructure damage. these impacts can be more severe where heavy explosive weapons are used or where use is sustained over time. When used in populated areas, the effects of explosive weapons tend to be indiscriminate – harming civilian men and women, children and the elderly, as well as any combatants.

However, because of their widespread use by both state and non-state actors, the use of explosive weapons, even in populated areas such as cities, towns, and villages is sometimes viewed as an inevitable part of conflict. The indiscriminate nature of the damage caused by explosive weapons used in populated areas can make their effects seem random – unfortunate, but unpredictable. This report argues that, broadly, the severe humanitarian harm caused by explosive weapons incidents in populated areas can be predicted. This harm can therefore be reduced, mitigated, or in many instances, avoided altogether.

Background

Research by Landmine Action (now Action on Armed Violence) in 2009 established that, when used in populated areas, explosive weapons are likely to cause elevated civilian casualties.1 The same pattern is demonstrated by Action on Armed Violence’s ongoing Explosive Violence Monitoring Project, which monitors global news wire reports on explosive weapons casualties.2 The recognition of this pattern as a serious humanitarian issue is reflected in a growing body of literature on the problem, including background papers and reports by UNIDIR, and reports by NGOs Save the Children UK and IKV Pax Christi.3 The UN Secretary-General’s November 2010 Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict recognises the problem of explosive weapons as one of five key challenges for the protection of civilians. The report makes specific recommendations for better data collection and analysis on the human costs of explosive weapons, urging states to collect and make available data in this regard.4

While states bear primary responsibility for collecting and publishing data on explosive weapons casualties, their

reluctance to share this data, or to collect it at all, means that civil society groups have often taken the lead on this issue.5 The capacity of civil society to monitor civilian casualties caused by armed violence continues to develop, and several groups have effectively demonstrated transparent, accessible and replicable methodologies.6 On the part of states, the release of classified US military files on Iraq and Afghanistan by Wikileaks in 2010 highlights the wealth of existing data which can and should routinely be made available by users of explosive weapons.7 The voluntary release of civilian casualty data by NATO’s International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) in March 20118 shows a further step towards recognition among weapons users that they are responsible for providing data on civilian casualties caused by their military operations. While this progress is to be welcomed, it should be recognised that data collected on deaths and injuries is limited in its ability to convey the full range of humanitarian harm caused by explosive weapons incidents in populated areas.

about this report

This report aims to complement quantitative data on explosive weapons casualties by contributing to a qualitative understanding of the broader pattern of harm. The report presents profiles of 100 incidents of humanitarian harm, caused by explosive weapons incidents in populated areas, over a two-year period from 1 January 2009 until 31 December 2010. These incidents do not represent a comprehensive inventory of humanitarian harm resulting from all explosive weapons incidents occurring in populated areas during the two-year period, but rather a specific selection to reflect particular elements of the problem of explosive weapons in populated areas. The data presented cannot therefore be used as a basis for statistical analysis of the problem.9 Incidents presented in this report took place within a range of conflict and non-conflict contexts, and are therefore subject to different considerations in terms of domestic laws and international humanitarian law.10

However, due to the specific focus on the humanitarian harm caused by explosive weapons across a range of contexts, issues of legality, intent, and targeting are not addressed in this report.

The selection of incidents is intended to reflect the breadth and scope of the problem, with incidents occurring across 35 territories, in different types of populated areas, involving different types of explosive weapons. Incidents include explosive weapons use by states and non-state actors which caused harm at the time of use, as well as a few incidents where harm was caused not by use per se, but by stockpile explosions affecting populated areas or by explosive remnants of war (ERW) accidents. Thematic chapters draw on the incidents to explore different aspects of both direct and indirect humanitarian harm, including: health impacts; impacts

Introduction

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on children; damage to infrastructure, property, and services; displacement; harm caused by ERW; harm caused by stockpile explosions; victim assistance, and issues relating to counting explosive weapons casualties. These chapters also address the intersection of the problem of explosive weapons with other humanitarian issues, such as emergency medical care, the protection of children, and humanitarian access.

The format of this report is aimed to encourage engagement with the specific nature of individual explosive weapons incidents as well as with the broader picture, and to encourage discussion and debate on a broad range of policy issues, including both those directly addressed, and those which are implicit but fall outside the scope of this report. Taken as a whole, this report provides a basis for considering the nature and severity of the impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas, and for re-examining the acceptability of explosive weapons use in such contexts.

1. Richard Moyes, “Explosive violence: the problem of explosive weapons,” Landmine Action, 2009, p.24, www.landmineaction.org/resources/Explosive%20violence.pdf (accessed 16 March 2011).2. See www.landmineaction.org3. Kerry Smith, “Devastating impact: explosive weapons and children,” Save the Children UK, 2011, p. 4, www.savethechildren.org.uk/assets/images/Devastating_Impact_low_res_(3).pdf (accessed 16 February 2011); Roos Boer, Bart Schuurman, and Miriam Struyk, “Protecting civilians from explosive violence: defining the humanitarian problem,” IKV Pax Christi, February 2011, p. 6, www.ikvpaxchristi.nl/files/Documenten/Veiligheid%20en%20Ontwapening/Explosive%20weapons%20policy%20brief%201%20low%20res.pdf (accessed 2 March 2011).4. In parallel to this, in a series of multilateral symposia held by UNIDIR with other UN and civil society partners, states, UN agencies, NGOs, and international organisations it was agreed that more data is needed in order to better understand the problem, and to develop policies which can protect civilians, both by preventing future harm and by assisting those who have already been victimised. See: UNIDIR, “Report of the 2nd symposium of the Discourse on Explosive Weapons project (DEW), 15 September 2010, New York,” October 2010, www.explosiveweapons.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Pressing_Humanitarian_Problem_Symposium_report_Oct2010.pdf (accessed 10 November 2010).5. In 2010, more than 60 states endorsed the Oslo Commitments on Armed Violence, under which they pledged to “measure and monitor the incidence of armed violence.”See: “The Oslo Commitments on Armed Violence, Achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” Oslo Conference on Armed Violence, Geneva, 12 May 2010, www.osloconferencearmedviolence.no/pop.cfm?FuseAction=Doc&pAction=View&pDocumentId=24790 (accessed 11 March 2011). Regarding the reluctance of states to make available this data, see: John Sloboda, “The people on the street document casualties – why can’t governments?,” The Guardian, Comment is free section, 2 March 2011, www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/02/arab-uprisings-casualties-war-victims (accessed 7 March 2011).6. The new project “Every Casualty” lists a number of such organisations on its member page, see: “Members,” Every Casualty, www.everycasualty.org/members7. See: David Leigh, “Iraq war logs: an introduction,” The Guardian, 22 October 2010, www.

guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/22/iraq-war-logs-introduction (accessed 12 January 2011); Nick Davies and David Leigh, “Afghanistan war logs: massive leak of secret files exposes truth of occupation,” The Guardian, 25 July 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/25/afghanistan-war-logs-military-leaks (accessed 12 January 2011).8. ISAF, Civilian Casualty (CIVCAS) Standard Operating Procedure, 23 February 2011; as referred to in J. Bohannon, Science Vol. 331, Issue 1256 (2011).9. Quantitative data on the problem of explosive weapons is available in the 2009 Landmine Action report on the issue, and is produced on a regular basis by AOAV’s Explosive Violence Monitoring Project. See respectively: Richard Moyes, “Explosive violence: the problem of explosive weapons,” Landmine Action, 2009; www.landmineaction.org/resources/Explosive%20violence.pdf (accessed 16 March 2011); Explosive Violence Bi-weekly Reports, www.landmineaction.org/issues/page.asp?PLID=1017&pageID=106810. Incident contexts include deliberate targeting of populated areas, mistaken targeting through technical or intelligence errors, political or criminal violence, and many incidents where the intention of the explosive weapons user cannot necessarily be determined.11. This definition is consistent with the definition outlined in: Richard Moyes, “Explosive violence: the problem of explosive weapons,” Landmine Action, 2009, p. 4, www.landmineaction.org/resources/Explosive%20violence.pdf (accessed 16 March 2011).12. Incidents where other weapons were also used were not discounted, although in such cases clarification is provided regarding which civilian impacts are attributable to explosive weapons, as opposed to other weapons.13. While police stations may often contain armed actors, they are commonly situated in populated areas, and are therefore likely to contain civilians or be near to concentrations of civilians.14. It is accepted that some of these locations may not contain concentrations of civilians at all times or under all circumstances. However, this definition provides a workable methodology for determining populated areas from non-populated areas using the types of sources used for this research.15. Sources sometimes reported civilian casualty figures as including police or security personnel; in such cases this is clearly indicated in the incident profile.

Definitions

Explosive weapon The following weapons were considered to be explosive weapons: air-dropped bombs, car bombs, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), mortars, artillery and howitzer shells, rockets, missiles, submunitions, and grenades.11 Only those incidents involving use of at least one explosive weapon were considered.12

Populated area For the purposes of this report, incidents were considered as taking place in a populated area on the basis that either a) a concentration of civilians was clearly reported, for example ‘a busy street,’ or ‘a crowded market,’ or b) the location was reportedly in or near one of a number of locations which are considered likely

to contain concentrations of civilians. These locations comprise: commercial premises; entertainment venues; hospitals; hotels; encampments (containing internally displaced people [IDPs], refugees or nomads); markets; places of worship; police stations;13 public gatherings; public buildings; public transport; schools; town centres; villages/compounds; commercial premises; urban residential neighbourhoods; and roads, if passing through one of the previously listed locations.14

Civilian casualties Casualties were recorded as civilian if they were reported as such, or if they were not identified by sources as armed actors or weapons bearers, nor as security personnel, police (who are considered likely to be armed in many contexts),15 or otherwise identified as taking part in armed violence.

notes

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Executive summary

summary of findings

Explosive weapons incidents in populated areas cause a particular pattern of physical and psychological harm to individuals directly killed and injured. These health impacts can be severe with long-term implications, placing a considerable burden on health services and with lasting impacts for those affected. Children are particularly vulnerable to explosive weapons, suffering direct death and injury, as well as long-term impacts such as psychological harm, loss of family members, and disruption to education through associated disability, economic disadvantage, or direct attacks on schools. Explosive weapons use, in particular from heavy explosive weapons or sustained use of explosive weapons can cause severe damage to physical infrastructure and property. This damage can seriously disrupt social, economic and health services, and humanitarian operations which support vulnerable populations. There is a clear link between the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and the displacement of civilian populations. Furthermore, displaced populations may be particularly vulnerable to explosive weapon attacks.

In addition to these thematic areas relevant to the impact of explosive weapon use, this report also raises issues in two other areas of particular significance for explosive weapons as a category – the long-term threat they can generate as explosive remnants of war (ERW) and the risks associated with their storage. Explosive weapons categorically present a risk of creating unexploded ordnance (UXO) as well as abandoned ordnance (AXO) which can cause humanitarian harm for decades. Without adequate controls, stockpiles of explosive weapons can present a serious hazard, especially where located close to population centres. Poorly managed stockpiles of explosive weapons also create risks of theft and diversion of explosive weapons and materials, which have been increasingly used for the creation of IEDs.1

Whether an explosive incident causes harm through an explosive attack, a stockpile explosion, or long after the time of use, the resulting humantiarian harm causes far-reaching and long-term problems for victims as they try to rebuild their lives. In order to address this harm, data on impacts must be systematically collected. However, the pattern of harm caused by explosive weapons incidents in populated areas presents particular short-term obstacles to counting explosive weapons casualties.

Recommendations

Based on these findings, this report makes recommendations for states and users of explosive weapons, as well as international organisations and NGOs working to increase civilian protection. These recommendations are raised in response to patterns of humanitarian harm reflected in the incidents of the report, but should not be seen as an exhaustive list. Additional and more specific recommendations may be developed as further data is collected on the harm caused by explosive weapons.

Prior to explosive weapons use. Drawing on the patterns of harm illustrated above, prior to any consideration of use of explosive weapons, this report recommends that states and users of explosive weapons should:

• Review and adapt policies on use in populated areas, taking into consideration the high level of risk to civilian populations. A strong general presumption against the use of explosive weapons should be adopted, considering the risks of large numbers of civilian casualties, the severity of health impacts, the effects on children and vulnerable populations, damage to infrastructure, the risk of displacement, and long-term impacts, including risks of ERW. Heavy explosive weapons, including

future humanitarian harm of the kind illustrated in this report can be prevented if urgent action is taken by nGos, international organisations, and governments:

In addition to these preventive priorities, further efforts are required to ensure that victims and survivors of explosive weapon use, in all contexts, are able to fully enjoy their rights.

• The distinct pattern of human suffering caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas should be acknowledged.

• National policies and practices regarding the use of explosive weapons should be reviewed and protection afforded to civilians should be strengthened.

• Relevant data on the use and impact of explosive weapons should be gathered and made public.

• Internationally, new prohibitions and restrictions on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas should be established.

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many air-dropped bombs, artillery, and IEDs, cannot be used amongst civilian populations without causing an unacceptable level of harm. Users of explosive weapons should take into account these wide ranging and long-term humanitarian risks when considering any attack.

• Should not undertake explosive weapon attacks on schools, hospitals (recognising existing legal obligations), or areas where humanitarian assistance is being provided, and amongst displaced persons.

• Recognise their responsibility to collect and publish data on explosive weapon use and impacts, including data on civilian deaths and injuries resulting from use.

addressing humanitarian harm. As steps to address the harm caused by explosive weapons, states and users of explosive weapons should:

• Recognise the long-term harm caused to explosive weapons victims, including those who have been physically affected, their families and affected communities, and strive towards the realisation of all rights of victims of explosive weapons and all forms of armed violence.

• Accede to and implement victim assistance provisions under the Mine Ban Treaty, Convention on Cluster Munitions, and the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol V Plan of Action on Victim Assistance, as well as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with a view to ensuring a rights-based approach to victim assistance.

• Ensure the provision of comprehensive, non-discriminatory, age- and gender-sensitive victim assistance programs; and include victims in victim assistance programming and decision-making processes affecting their lives.

• Provide international cooperation and assistance for victim assistance and build local and national capacities to address the needs of victims in a comprehensive and long-term approach.

Data on explosive weapons. To better understand the extent of the harm caused by explosive weapons and in response to the rights of those affected:

• States, international organisations, and NGOs should recognise the particular issues in collecting data on explosive weapons casualties, as a basis for developing methods to address and mitigate challenges, and facilitate timely data collection on humanitarian harm, and needs for adequate victim assistance.

• In line with the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development and the Oslo Commitments on Armed Violence,2 states should implement national systems to monitor the impacts of all incidents of armed violence, including explosive weapons incidents, both on their territories, and

from action they take outside their territories. This data should be seen as public information, and be published accordingly.

addressing ERW and stockpiles. Drawing on the patterns of harm caused by explosive weapons after use, along with risks associated with poor stockpile management, this report recommends that:

• States which have not yet done so should accede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Mine Ban Treaty, and CCW Protocol V, and join other States Parties to these conventions in working towards achieving the full implementation of their legal obligations to remove and reduce harm caused by cluster munitions, antipersonnel mines, and ERW.

• States and other relevant actors should accelerate efforts to clear contaminated land, provide age- and gender-sensitive risk education, and assist victims of ERW.

• States and users of explosive weapons should as a minimum collect and rapidly provide robust data on their use of explosive weapons to assist in rapid and effective clearance of ERW.

• States and other relevant actors should make greater efforts to ensure safe stockpiling practices are implemented to reduce the risk of humanitarian harm from stockpile explosions and the risk of theft and diversion as a source of materials for IEDs. In doing so, states and other relevant actors should accede to and implement existing regional and best practice standards for the storage, management, and destruction of stockpiles of explosive weapons.

• States and other relevant actors should destroy all surplus or unstable stocks of explosive weapons.

• States should develop comprehensive and rigorous interna-tional standards governing munitions storage, management, and destruction.

notes

1. ERW can also be a source of materials used in the creation of IEDs. 2. The Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, Geneva, 7 June 2006, www.genevadeclaration.org/fileadmin/docs/Geneva-Declaration-Armed-Violence-Development-091020-EN.pdf (accessed 14 March2011); The Oslo Commitments on Armed Violence: Achieving the Millenium Development Goals, Geneva, 12 May 2010, www.osloconferencearmedviolence.no/pop.cfm?FuseAction=Doc&pAction=View&pDocumentId=24790 (accessed 11 March 2011).

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notes

1. These are not original media headlines, but were devised using a media headline style to highlight certain impacts of the explosive weapons incident.2. Areas listed here include both countries and disputed or occupied territories such as Kosovo and Gaza. This should in no way be taken as any comment upon the status of such territories.3. There was not considered to be a ‘time limit’ for establishing the numbers of deaths and injuries, and sources dated at any point from the date of injury until the time of writing the report were considered. 4. Like victim assistance, activities such as mine clearance and risk education are positive efforts to address harm, as distinct from the harm itself. However, it is provided here as the need to provide such measures confirms and contextualises the level of damage caused.

Civilians killed The number of civilians reportedly killed is listed either as a range, from the lowest to highest reported figure, or as one figure, in the case that one figure can be seen as the most accurate final number. Figures for deaths represent those reported as directly killed by the incident of explosive weapons use in a populated area, and do not capture any deaths which may have been indirectly caused by the incident but are not included in accessed reports.3 The level of detail relating to information on the age and sex of those killed is dependent on the detail reported in the selected sources. Where aggregate numbers of those killed reportedly included police or security personnel, this is indicated here.

Civilians injured As above.

Health impacts Broader negative health impacts (as distinct from direct injury) suffered by an individual or a community, subsequent to, and reportedly resulting from, the incident.

Displacement Internal displacement and refugee movement across borders, both as a direct or indirect result of the use of explosive weapon use in populated areas, and in expectation or fear thereof.

Damage to infrastructure Damage to: public utilities, such as water mains and electricity networks; school and kindergarten buildings; national and local government buildings; state vehicles; hospital or health clinic buildings; public transport infrastructure, such as airports, metro stations, bridges, roads, and public transport vehicles; buildings used as places of worship; banks; and warehouses.

Damage to property Damage to housing, vehicles which were privately owned or whose ownership is unclear, agricultural land, harvests and livestock, and commercial properties such as hotels, shops, and restaurants.

Damage to services Disruption, suspension, or complete cessation of services provided by schools, kindergartens, government departments, and national health services. The period of disruption, suspension, or cessation is reported where this information is available.

Damage to humanitarian operations Damage to buildings or vehicles of international organisations, development or aid agencies, and any disruption, suspension, or closure of their services.

Economic impact Disruption to activities associated with livelihoods, such as agriculture and fishing; disruption to trade, through blockage of trade routes or closure of shops; increases in food prices; and damage to tourism, through perceptions of insecurity following explosive incidents.

ERW risk Reported presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO), or abandoned ordnance (AXO), reported fear of UXO or AXO, and reported responses to UXO or AXO, including clearance and mine risk education.4

Victim assistance Assistance reportedly provided to victims of the explosive weapon incident. Where information was available and is presented here, it included assistance in emergency medical care; assistance with emergency supplies, such as medicine, food, shelter, psychological support, mobility devices; as well as monetary payments and compensation for injuries, death and destruction of property.

Event Description of the explosive weapon incident occurring in a populated area. Times reported refer to local time at the place of the incident.

Location Description of the location, as reported in the sources.

Explosive weapon Explosive weapon(s) reportedly used.

Reported user The party reportedly responsible for or accountable for the explosive weapons incident occurring in a populated area. A party is listed as the reported user in the case that they either a) claim responsibility; b) acknowledge responsibility; or c) are reported as responsible by a credible source, such as a medical responder, or an international NGO, international organisation or NGO with on-the-ground investigative capabilities. Where the user remains unknown, or where reports relating to the user appear to be unsubstantiated, the user is reported as ‘unknown.’

000 TERRITORY2 date

HEADLINE1

Each incident profile presents information collated from selected sources. Only those casualties, impacts, or victim assistance provisions which are clearly reported as directly related to the incident are presented in the incident profile. The template below explains the type of information presented under each category. Categories relating to displacement, damage, economic impacts, ERW risk, and victim assistance are only reported on where information was available in the sources.

Incident profile guide

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100 IncIdents of HumanItarIan Harm100 IncIdents of HumanItarIan Harm

001 Gaza 5 January 2009

BomBinG of residential area kills women and children

civilians killed29, including women, children and the elderly.

civilians injured19, including five children.

damage to propertyCivilian housing destroyed.

Victim assistanceUSD 700 of international aid money was provided to each family that lost a house.

eventProjectiles hit a residential building in Zeytoun, near Gaza city. According to a survivor, the previous day Israeli forces had reportedly ordered around 100 members of the Al Samuni family from various neighbouring houses to gather in the building.

locationResidential building, Zeytoun, southeast of Gaza city.

explosive weapon3–4 projectiles/shells, possibly fired from Apache helicopters.1

reported userIsrael Defense Forces.

1. An eyewitness report from a survivor stated that these were missiles fired from Apache helicopters. The UNfact-finding mission was unable to verify this.

“the persons killed around me were my husband, who was hit in the back, my father-in-law, who was hit in the head and whose brain was on the floor, my mother-in-law rabab, my father-in-law’s brother talal, and his wife rhama muhammad a-samuni, 45, talal’s son’s wife, maha muhammad a-samuni, 19, and her son, muhammad hamli a-samuni, 5 months, whose whole brain was outside his body, razqa muhammad a-samuni, 50, hanan khamis a-samuni, 30, and hamdi majid a-samuni, 22.” Maysaa a-Samuni, 19 years old

“the icrc/Prcs team found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses. they were too weak to stand up on their own.” UN fact-finding mission report

Removal of bodies from the ruins of the house of Waeil a-Samuni©

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002 Gaza 6 January 2009

children killed as mortars hit school

civilians killed43, including “many children.”

civilians injured100.

eventShells struck the street outside a United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA)-run girl’s preparatory school in Jabalya refugee camp, which was sheltering hundreds2 of refugees from the conflict.

locationThe yard of a UNRWA-run school in Jabalya, Gaza Strip.

explosive weaponFour mortar shells, or three artillery shells.

reported userIsrael Defense Forces.

2. News report vary as to the exact number.

003 sri lanka 24 January 2009

shellinG of idPs kills women and children

civilians killed19, including women and children.

civilians injured52, including women and children. damage to infrastructureLocal government official’s vehicle damaged.

disruption to humanitarian operations• UN vehicle damaged.• UN bunker damaged.

eventShelling of a UN food distribution centre in the ‘no fire zone,’ where many internally displaced persons (IDPs) were gathered. Many were killed and injured as they were lining up to receive food.

locationA large playground in a 35 square kilometer ‘safe zone’ for civilians in Mullaitivu district.

explosive weaponShells.3

reported userSri Lanka Armed Forces.

3. One eyewitness described one of the shells as a mortar.

“i couldn’t see my brothers or their children. my body hurt all over. after a few minutes, the smoke began to clear and i saw a few of my relatives strewn on the ground, covered in blood.” Hussein Shafiq ‘Abd al-Hamid Dib, eyewitness

Jabalya refugee camp

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“THE CONCENTRATION

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CASUALTIES.” International Crisis Group

International Crisis Group, “War Crimes in Sri Lanka, Asia Report N°191,” 17 May 2010, www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/191-war-crimes-in-sri-lanka.aspx

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004 sudan 24 January 2009

BomBinG of town causes mass disPlacement

civilians killed1 child.

civilians injured1.

displacement1,000 civilians.

damage to property8–13 houses destroyed.

eventBombing of a town, in which two bombs landed near to a settlement for refugees and the African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) compound.

locationMuhajiriya, south Darfur.

explosive weaponTwo air-dropped bombs.

reported userSudanese Armed Forces.

005 eGyPt 22 february 2009

shoPPers hit By shraPnel as crowded market BomBed

civilians killed1 teenager.

civilians injured21–23, including one child.

economic impactEgyptian tourism industry reportedly damaged.

eventA bomb or grenade was detonated between 17:30 and 18:30 in a crowded market, “at the height of the evening rush.”

locationKhan-el-Khalili market, near Al Hussein mosque, Cairo.

explosive weaponGrenade or a homemade bomb.

reported userUnknown.

“Many of the injured were struck by flying fragments of stone and marble.” CBC News

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006 israel 28 february 2009

school hit By rocket, classes susPended

civilians killed0.

civilians injured2, in addition to nearby residents treated for shock.

damage to infrastructureClassrooms in the school destroyed. damage to services• Schools throughout the city closed following the incident.• Classes suspended.

eventA rocket fired from Gaza hit a school, which was closed at the time.

locationAshkelon city.

explosive weapon170mm ‘Grad’ rocket.

reported userNon-state armed actor.

“we’re hearing a lot about regression in children, bed-wetting, nightmares, refusal to leave (their) parents or venture outside. these are all symptoms of trauma but they are treatable.” Rita Pavlov, psychologist, commenting on the psychological impact of explosive attacks on children in January 2009, IRIN

Beersheva kindergarten after rocket attack from Gaza

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007 china 6 march 2009

BomB injures kinderGarten children

civilians killed2.

civilians injured6–100, including five to seven children from the kindergarten. Injuries were caused by glass and furniture shrapnel from the blast.

damage to infrastructureKindergarten damaged.

damage to propertyApartment building damaged.

damage to servicesKindergarten closed.4

eventAn IED was detonated in an apartment building in a residential area at around 10:00.

locationXinghu residential area, Baihenan, Nanyang city, Henan province, central China.

explosive weaponAn IED, possibly detonated electronically.


4. The period of closure was not clear from reports.

008 sri lanka 10 march 2009

PilGrims hit By BomB attack

civilians killed10–14.

civilians injured25–42.

eventA person carrying an IED detonated it in the midst of a procession of pilgrims celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed.

locationMosque, Matara district, southern Sri Lanka.

explosive weapon:IED.


“i heard a huge sound, and then i saw people had fallen everywhere. they were covered with blood and flesh, and the wounded people were screaming.” Ahamed Nafri, survivor, Associated Press

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Explosive weapons cause a predictable pattern of physical and psychological harm, particularly when used in populated areas.

In the incidents compiled here, eyewitnesses describe body parts flying through the air, mangled and mutilated bodies, shrapnel wounds, burns, and people being trapped beneath rubble. In addition to the severe harm caused, research suggests that when explosive weapons are used in populated areas, the number of civilian casualties is elevated when compared with attacks elsewhere.1 Such incidents harm not only those killed and injured, but also those who witness the events, struggle to pay for the treatment of injured relatives, suffer multiple bereavements, or cannot identify the bodies of their family members.2 At a broader level, explosive weapons incidents can also place an enormous strain on public health and emergency medical systems (see Damage to infrastructure, property, and services).

The pattern of harm

It is recognised that explosive blasts inflict a unique pattern of injury.3 The harm caused by explosive weapons can be divided into six distinct patterns of injury, which have been identified as: 1) primary blast injuries; 2) secondary blast injuries; 3) tertiary blast injuries; 4) crush injuries; 5) burns; and 6) psychological harm.4 When explosive weapons are used in populated areas, the severity of this pattern of harm is increased, as the surrounding environment amplifies the weapons’ effects. This is particularly exacerbated in enclosed spaces, as the blast wave can be intensified, causing increased risk of blast injuries and other severe injuries,5 as well as added risks of smoke inhalation aggravated by lack of air, burns, and injury from falling debris.6

1. Blast wave damages internal organsPrimary blast injuries occur when the blast wave causes sudden pressure changes in the air. The force of the impact can cause traumatic brain injury, by causing the brain to move inside the skull, resulting in lesions or ruptures.7 It can also impact on other internal organs and tissues, resulting in displacement, stretching, and shearing of organs.8 This can have particular implications for pregnant women, by causing placental abruption,9 which can lead to miscarriage, as may have been the case when a woman miscarried following

an explosion in a refugee camp in Gaza (85).10 The most vulnerable parts of the body are those in which air and fluid interact, meaning that the middle ear, lungs, and guts are most commonly affected.11 Ruptured eardrums are common to survivors of explosions,12 such as the survivor of a hotel bombing in Pakistan (20), who said, “The blast was so huge that I thought my ear drums were damaged forever.”13

2. Fragmentation and flying debrisSecondary blast injuries occur when either fragmentation from an explosive weapon14 or flying debris created and propelled by the blast collides with the body. When used in populated areas, this feature of explosive weapons is particularly deadly, for two reasons. Firstly, civilians are often concentrated among buildings and structures, which can collapse or fracture, creating flying debris. This dynamic was described following the bombing of a crowded market in Egypt (5), when injuries were reportedly caused by flying pieces of stone and marble.15 Secondly, the fragmentation produced by explosive weapons can affect a wide radius around the point of detonation,16 meaning that in populated areas, elevated civilian casualties can be expected. When a bomb exploded in a crowded market in Baghdad, Iraq (22), people standing as far as 600 metres away were reportedly hit by shrapnel.17 The incident caused up to 228 casualties.

Fragmentation injuries affecting limbs are sometimes so severe that they require medical amputation, or the limb is directly severed in a traumatic amputation. Following a grenade attack on a crowd of graduating law students in the Philippines (93), student Raissa Laurel had both her legs amputated due to fragmentation wounds.18 Another woman had one leg amputated, with other limbs also considered for amputation, also due to such wounds.19 An IED explosion in a town centre in the Philippines (78) hit a seven-year-old boy, cutting his intestines into three pieces and severing his left hand. The child died of his injuries soon after the blast.20 In Gaza (1), a three-year-old girl lost most of the fingers on one of her hands when she was among the casualties of a missile strike on a residential area.21

Fragmentation injuries are often severe and complex to respond to. A victim of IED attacks in Kampala (77), Mr. Francis Semwogerere, sustained an injury which cut through his neck and damaged his spinal cord, paralysing his lower limbs and requiring operations to remove the fragments, as well as operations on one of his lungs and his oesophagus. One month later, after a total of nine cardiac arrests, Mr. Semwogerere died from his injuries in hospital.22

While fragmentation injuries may not always be fatal upon impact, the resulting loss of blood, damage to internal organs, or the inability to pay for lengthy and expensive

heAlTh ImpAcTS

18


procedures to remove debris can result in the death of the victim. As an NGO worker in the Philippines explained, “...those hit by mortar shelling don’t have money to pay for hospitalization...but people often need 3–4 operations just to recover splinters from their bodies. Most of the time the money must come from relatives, but when relatives are also evacuees [displaced people], they cannot provide [it] and the person just dies.”23

3. Blast wind and traumatic amputationsTertiary blast injuries are caused when the blast wind impacts the body, propelling people into solid objects such as nearby buildings, or causing traumatic amputations.24 Traumatic amputations are described by survivors of several of the incidents presented here. A survivor of the bombing of a restaurant in India (43) described “body parts everywhere,” and a market trader spoke of “bodies torn apart,” following

a bomb explosion in a market in Burundi (39).25 In Pakistan (56), an explosion in a camp for displaced people was so powerful that a resident described relatives having to search for the limbs of family members in nearby crop fields.26 When 500- and 2,000-pound bombs were dropped on a village in Afghanistan (13), surviving villagers buried the body parts in a mass grave, suggesting that it was not possible to distinguish the individual corpses.27 A testimony given by a survivor of an artillery attack on a ‘no-fire zone’ sheltering IDPs in Sri Lanka (3) clearly describes tertiary blast impact, as well as fragmentation injuries.28

4.crush injuriesCrush injuries occur when people’s bodies are crushed by fallen heavy materials.29 In some cases, while the collapse of structures may not be the primary cause of death, people become trapped and either bleed, smother, or starve to death. After a car bomb attack on a volleyball match in Pakistan (40), a villager described the need for heavy machinery to reach the bodies.30

Eyewitnesses to incidents in Afghanistan (83) and Pakistan (40, 54) described seeing or hearing people trapped and/or injured beneath rubble, but being unable to reach them from beneath the fallen buildings. In Yemen (27), one report gives a graphic description of the impact of airstrikes on a bridge under which displaced people were sheltering. As air strikes began, displaced people took shelter under the structure,

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19


which was then was hit by another air strike. A total of 87 men, women, children and elderly people were killed, and 33 injured.31

5. BurnsBurns are particularly likely to be suffered by those nearer to a blast,33 who may be burned by the hot gases from detonation or by inhalation of smoke and debris in aerosol form,34 with potential longterm respiratory health impacts. Burns can also occur as a result of fires ignited by the detonation. The burns suffered by explosive weapons victims often contribute to the mutilation of bodies, making it difficult for people to identify them (see Counting explosive weapons casualties). A description of the aftermath of an IED attack on pilgrims in Sri Lanka (8), which killed up to 14 people, describes “[c]harred, twisted bodies…their clothes nearly incinerated by the explosion.”35 A car bomb explosion in the Meena Bazaar in Peshawar, Pakistan (33) killed up to 117 people and injured around 200 more. Most of the casualties were women and children, and of those killed, more than half of the bodies were so badly burned and disfigured that they could not be identified.36

6. psychological harmThere are many ways in which local populations may experience the harmful psychological impacts of explosive weapons incidents. This can be through injury, witnessing or hearing an attack, feeling they have narrowly escaped an attack, fearing an attack, searching for or identifying relatives, suffering multiple bereavements, or being bereaved with no physical body to bury. The severe harm caused by these incidents is such that those experiencing it often report symptoms associated with psychological stress, trauma, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Trauma refers to the persistent negative effects of experiencing very stressful events,37 in which a person’s ability to cope with or absorb a stressful event is overwhelmed, leaving them in constant fear.38 It was through the experiences of veterans from World War II and the Vietnam War that awareness of PTSD, initially referred to as ‘shell shock,’ first began to develop.39 Explosive attacks affecting civilians are particularly likely to cause psychological harm, and victims of bombings have been found to be more likely to develop PTSD than survivors of other types of disasters40 – although most reporting on explosive incidents does not detail psychological impacts.41 However, several of the incidents presented in this report suggest that victims suffered psychological harm consistent with trauma or PTSD symptoms.

Following the bombing of a crowded market in Pakistan (33), one of the victims described suffering panic attacks for days after hearing the blast.42 A survivor of an attack on a church in Nepal (17) said that loud noises still frightened her, four months after the incident.43 This is consistent with hypervigilance, a symptom of trauma whereby people remain excessively alert, long after the event where they felt their security or life was threatened. When such symptoms do not subside naturally after a certain period, this is considered to be a symptom of PTSD.44

Victims who have been traumatised may continue to live with symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares, avoidance or numbness, hypervigilance, depression, and somatization45 for months or even years.46 Those who have searched for the limbs of members of their family, or identified loved ones whose bodies have been mutilated and burned, may find it very difficult to come to terms with these events.

multiple bereavements

When explosive weapons detonate in places likely to be occupied by families, such as markets and villages, the impacts mean that some survivors suffer multiple bereavements, often of close relatives. The psychological harm that survivors suffer is likely to be significant. Testimonies of those who have lost multiple family members in an explosive attack convey a sense of an overwhelming loss which cannot be absorbed. A survivor of a missile attack on a residential area in Gaza (1), Helmi a-Samuni, lost his son, wife, father, mother, sister-in-law, and niece in the same attack.48 Six weeks after the event, he described the difficulty of trying to cope with life, saying, “I am really completely destroyed inside. Sometimes I have to deal with reality, to return back to my normal life, but I can’t.”49

In addition to the psychological impact for survivors coping with sudden and sometimes multiple bereavements, the particular characteristics of explosive weapons incidents in populated areas can make it difficult for the bereaved to handle their grief. Research has shown that not being able to see the body of the dead person can further contribute to negative outcomes for the bereaved family, disrupting their opportunity to say goodbye.50 Following an explosion in a market in Pakistan (33), a bereaved family member said, “My son was a shopkeeper at a stall selling clothes in this market. I know he is dead, but it would give me some sense of mental peace if I could see his body.”51

“i remember what had happened as if it happened yesterday. it lives with me, at home, on my way to college and at the classroom and when i walk with my friends.” Maysa’ a-Samuni, survivor, Gaza47

…those that had hidden were crushed to death as a result of the damage from the air raids…tractors had to pull the dead from the rubble later.” Impunity Watch, Yemen32

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elevated civilian casualties

The powerful effects of blast and fragmentation across an area mean that explosive weapons use in populated locations consistently causes elevated civilian casualties. Many of the individual incidents presented in this report caused over 100 casualties,52 and some caused over 150 casualties.53 In addition to single events with a devastating impact, sustained use of explosive weapons in populated areas, such as in Mogadishu, Somalia (31, 35, 42, 61, 66, 72, 82, 84, 88, 91), can cause elevated casualties over a longer period.54 The use of such weapons in enclosed spaces is also a likely indicator for high numbers of casualties, as many of those incidents causing over 100 casualties took place in enclosed spaces such as residential and public buildings, a hospital, under a bridge, inside trains, at entertainment venues, and in a mosque.55 The size of explosive weapon will also be a significant factor in the scale of civilian harm, with heavy explosive weapons tending to affect a wider area around the point of detonation.

Disability

The severe and complex nature of explosive weapons injuries is such that those who survive may have suffered traumatic amputations or later require medical amputations (1, 93), or sustain other injuries causing permanent impairments, affecting them for the rest of their lives. Such impairments, combined with obstacles that exist in society can prevent a person from realising their future earning potential if they do not receive assistance, increase their vulnerability and potentially that of their family. People with disabilities are often subject to discrimination and social exclusion, further negatively impacting their lives.56

conclusions

Explosive weapons incidents in populated areas cause a particular pattern of physical and psychological harm, including blast and fragmentation injuries, crush injuries, burns, trauma, and PTSD. The resulting severe injuries can include severed limbs and decapitation, sometimes rendering bodies unrecognisable to close family members. Despite the severe nature of explosive weapons impacts, a recent NGO report has identified a lack of reaction to this form of violence, which it terms “the moral outrage gap.”57 The lack of response suggests that there is a tacit acceptance of this harm among states and policy-makers, based on a perception that it is inevitable. This report argues that the pattern of physical and psychological harm caused by explosive weapons incidents in populated areas is both unacceptable and predictable in its nature. It therefore can and should be prevented.

Recommendations

• States and other relevant actors should recognise the long-lasting physical and psychological harm caused by explosive weapons used in populated areas.

• States should recognise the long-term harm caused to explosive weapons victims, ensure that victim assistance is not limited to those who have been physically affected, and include adequate psychosocial support and specific provisions for persons with disabilities, their families, and affected communities.

• Users of explosive weapons should review and adapt policies on use in populated areas, taking into consideration the high level of risk to civilian populations.

• States and other relevant actors should collect data on the particular impacts on health services in affected areas, and make available international cooperation and assistance to support health services in such areas.

1. Richard Moyes, “Explosive violence: the problem of explosive weapons,” Landmine Action, 2009, p. 24, www.landmineaction.org/resources/Explosive%20violence.pdf (accessed 16 March 2011).2. The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, establishes a broad definition of a cluster munition ‘victim’ (Article 2,1), to include families and affected communities, as well as individuals directly impacted by weapon use.3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Blast injuries: essential facts,” 25 March 2008, www.bt.cdc.gov/masscasualties/blastessentials.asp (accessed 13 January 2011). 4. Ian Greaves, Keith Porter, Tim Hodgetts, and Malcolm Woollard, Emergency care: a textbook for paramedics, Saunders Ltd, 2nd edition, 19 December 2005. 5. Eddie Chaloner, “Blast Injury in enclosed spaces,” BMJ, 11 July 2005, available at: www.bmj.com/content/331/7509/119.full.pdf (accessed 22 February 2011).6. Richard Moyes, “IEDs and explosive violence: framing the humanitarian problem,” Presentation to the Group of Governmental Experts of Amended Protocol II of the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, Landmine Action, 20 April 2009, www.landmineaction.org/resources/LMA%20presentation%20on%20IEDs%20to%20the%20UN%20CCW.pdf (accessed 17 January 2011).7. Katherine H. Taber, Deborah L. Warden, and Robin A. Hurley, “Blast-related traumatic brain injury: what is known?,” Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Vol. 18:2, Spring 2006.8. Katherine H. Taber, Deborah L. Warden, and Robin A. Hurley, “Blast-related traumatic brain injury: what is known?,” Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Vol. 18:2, Spring 2006.9. Geoff Matthews, “Pregnancy and blast injury,” ADF Health Journal, Vol. 9 December 2008, p. 80, www.defence.gov.au/health/infocentre/journals/ADFHJ_Dec08/ADFHealth_9_2_79.pdf (accessed 28 February 2011).10. Palestinian Center for Human Rights, “PCHR Calls for Investigations into Injury of 58 Palestinians, Including 13 Children, by Explosion in Deir al-Balah,” 3 August 2010, www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6882:pchr-calls-for-investigations-into-injury-of-58-palestinians-including-13-children-by-explosion-in-deir-al-balah-&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194 (accessed 4 August 2010).

Notes

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11. Katherine H. Taber, Deborah L. Warden, and Robin A. Hurley, “Blast-related traumatic brain injury: what is known?,” Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Vol. 18:2, Spring 2006.12. Eddie Chaloner, “Blast Injury in enclosed spaces,” BMJ, 11 July 2005, available at: www.bmj.com/content/331/7509/119.full.pdf (accessed 22 February 2011).13. Lehaz Ali, “Eleven dead as suicide bomb rips through Pakistan luxury hotel,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 9 June 2009, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hp9PwzsG_q6DTSfbg0Ubsptguygw (accessed 3 August 2010).14. Manufactured weapons produce fragmentation on detonation, when the explosive force breaks the casing into small pieces, which are then propelled outwards by the force. Improvised explosives are usually reported as containing fragments of metal, such as ball bearings or nails, creating shrapnel with the same deadly effect as that of conventional explosive weapons.15. “Many foreigners among casualties in Cairo grenade attack,” CBC News, 22 February 2009, www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/02/22/cairo-attack.html (accessed 19 July 2010).16. UNIDIR, “Use of explosive weapons in populated areas, some questions and answers, background paper no.2 in the Discourse on Explosive Weapons background series,” July 2010, www.explosiveweapons.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Explosive-Weapons_QA.pdf (accessed 14 March 2011). The radius of impact depends on the quantity and type of explosives, the type of shrapnel produced, and whether the location of detonation is an enclosed space or not.17. Baghdad market bomb kills scores,” BBC, 25 June 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8117686.stm (accessed 8 July 2010).18. “2 law students lose legs in Bar exam bombing,” ABS-CBN News, 27 September 2010, www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/09/27/10/2-female-law-students-lose-legs-bar-exam-bombing (accessed 12 October 2010).19. “2 law students lose legs in Bar exam bombing,” ABS-CBN News, 27 September 2010, www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/09/27/10/2-female-law-students-lose-legs-bar-exam-bombing (accessed 12 October 2010).20. AOAV interview with relative of victim, Maguindanao, Philippines, 17 October 2010.21. Maysa’ a-Samuni, “Testimony: Soldiers Killed and injured dozens of persons from a-Samuni family in a-Zeitun neighborhood, Gaza, Jan. ‘09,” B’tselem (the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights, the Occupied Territories), 7 January 2009, www.btselem.org/english/testimonies/20090104_soldiers_kill_and_wound_members_of_a_samuni_family.asp (accessed 15 February 2011).22. Dr. Pradandan, who treated Mr Semwogerere. See comment posted on: Suubi Trust, “Francis to live on in our memories,” 25 November 2010, www.blog.suubitrust.org.uk/2010/11/25/francis-to-live-on-in-our-memories/ (accessed 22 February 2011).23. AOAV interview with Ailynne Benito, Bangsamoro Center for Justpeace, Cotabato City, Philippines, 17 October 2010.24. Ian Greaves, Keith Porter, Tim Hodgetts, and Malcolm Woollard, “Emergency care: a textbook for paramedics,” Saunders Ltd, 2nd edition, 19 December 2005.25. “Grenade attacks kill two in Burundi market,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 27 December 2009, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jZx7Iwl6MnJJaXNK08wB0smsrSvQ (accessed 8 July 2010).26. Pir Zubair Shah, “Suicide bombers strike refugees in Pakistan,” Reuters, posted by The New York Times, 17 April 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/world/asia/18pstan.html?_r=1 (accessed 16 July 2010).27. Shapoor Saber, Fetrat Zerak & Abaceen Nasimi, “Soul searching following Farah tragedy,” Revolutionary Women of Afghanistan, 5 June 2009, www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2009/06/05/afghanistan-soul-searching-following-farah-tragedy.html (accessed 13 July 2010).28. Testimony of Dr. Anna Neistat, Senior Researcher, Emergencies Division, “Recent Developments in Sri Lanka,” Hearing of the [US] Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Human Rights Watch, 24 February 2009, pp. 4–5, www.omiusajpic.org/files/2009/02/neistattestimony090224p1.pdf (accessed 28 June 2010). 29. Ian Greaves, Keith Porter, Tim Hodgetts, and Malcolm Woollard, Emergency care: a textbook for paramedics, Saunders Ltd, 2nd edition, 19 December 2005.30. Augustine Anthony, “Pakistan government under pressure after deadly attack,” Reuters, 2 January 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE5BU0CQ20100102 (accessed 30 June 2010).31. A Human Rights Watch news release stated that at least 87 civilians were killed, and an Associated Press report cited a local ambulance driver who stated that he had driven at least 120 dead and wounded civilians to hospital. See respectively: Human Rights Watch, “Yemen: Investigate aerial bomb attacks,” 16 September 2009, www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/09/16/yemen-investigate-aerial-bomb-attacks (accessed 18 June 2010); Ahmed Al Haj, “Yemeni airstrike hits camp for displaced,” Associated Press, posted by The Guardian, 16 September 2009, www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8711381 (accessed 30 June 2010).32. Impunity Watch, “Air raid in Yemen kills dozens of civilians,” 18 September 2009, www.impunitywatch.net/impunity_watch_middle_eas/2009/09/page/2/ (accessed 25 June 2010).33. See Chapter 1, “Weapons effects and parachute injuries,” in US Department of Defense, Emergency War Surgery, 3rd revised edition, USA, 2004, www.bordeninstitute.army.mil/other_pub/ews/Chp1WeaponsEffects.pdf (accessed 22 February 2011).

34. Eddie Chaloner, “Blast Injury in enclosed spaces,” BMJ, 11 July 2005, available at: www.bmj.com/content/331/7509/119.full.pdf (accessed 22 February 2011).35. Bharatha Marawarachi, “Sri Lanka suicide blast kills 14,” Associated Press, posted by The Independent, 10 March 2010, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/blast-kills-10-near-sri-lanka-mosque-1641167.html (accessed 27 July 2010).36. Mark Landler & Ismail Khan, “Clinton arrival in Pakistan met by fatal attacks,” New York Times, 28 October 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/world/asia/29pstan.html?partner=rss&emc=rss (accessed 30 June 2010); Nader Buneri, “Monster terror attack in Peshawar,” The Nation, 30 June 2010, www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/29-Oct-2009/Monster-terror-attack-in-Peshawar (accessed 30 June 2010).37. Jon G. Allen, “Coping with trauma,” The Menninger Clinic, 2005, www.menningerclinic.com/printablebro/coping_trauma05.htm (accessed 24 February 2011).38. Esther Giller, “What is psychological trauma?,” The Sidran Institute, 1999, www.sidran.org/sub.cfm?contentID=88&sectionid=4 (accessed 24 February 2011).39. Combat Stress, “Post-traumatic stress disorder,” [undated], www.combatstress.org.uk/pages/what_is_ptsd.html (accessed 11 March 2011).40. American Academy of Experts in Trauma Stress, “Effects of traumatic stress after mass violence, terror or disaster,” [undated], www.aaets.org/article195.htm (accessed 24 February 2011).41. This could be for a number of reasons. For example, for psychological impacts to be properly diagnosed, the problems must first be recognised, and the victims receive proper diagnostic care and treatment. Awareness of mental illness may be low, diagnostic capabilities may be low, and care or treatment may not be available. Furthermore, diagnostic and treatment processes take time, and as most sources on explosive incidents are produced close to the time of an attack, by those who do not have diagnostic capacities, psychological harm is often not described. 42. “Pakistan: Bomb blast victims lack trauma care, counselling,” IRIN, 9 November 2009, www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=86937 (accessed 18 January 2011).43. Chirendra Satyal, “Nepal blast victims forgive the bombers,” Union of Catholic Asian News, 24 May 2010, www.ucanews.com/2010/05/24/bomb-blast-victims-forgive-perpetrators/ (accessed 27 July 2010).44. The Royal College of Psychiatrists, “Post-traumatic stress disorder,” March 2010, www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/ptsd/posttraumaticstressdisorder.aspx (accessed 28 February 2011).45. Somatization can be defined as “somatic complaints arising…for which no organic cause could be established.” See: Daya J. Somasundaram, “Post-traumatic responses to aerial bombing,” Social Science Medicine, Vol. 42, No. 11, 1996, pp. 1465–1471. 46. The Royal College of Psychiatrists, “Post-traumatic stress disorder,” March 2010, www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/ptsd/posttraumaticstressdisorder.aspx (accessed 28 February 2011).47. Said Ghazali and Donald Macintyre, “Even if the Israelis confess, I don’t expect any justice from them,” The Independent, 23 October 2010, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/even-if-the-israelis-confess-i-dont-expect-any-justice-from-them-2114251.html#Scene_1 (accessed 24 February 2011).48. “In pictures: Gaza’s Samouni Street,” BBC, [undated], www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/08/middle_east_gaza0s_samouni_street/html/3.stm (accessed 15 February 2011).49. “In pictures: Gaza’s Samouni Street,” BBC, [undated], www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/08/middle_east_gaza0s_samouni_street/html/3.stm (accessed 15 February 2011).50. US Department of Veterans Affairs, “Effects of traumatic stress after mass violence, terror, or disaster,” updated 6 October 2010, www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/stress-mv-t-dhtml.asp (accessed 21 February 2011).51. “Pakistan: Bomb blast victims lack trauma care, counselling,” IRIN, 9 November 2009, www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=86937 (accessed 18 January 2011).52. Incidents 2, 12, 13, 15, 27, 52, 64, 71, 74, 77, 80, and 100.53. Incidents 22, 32, 33, 63, and 76.54. Data collected by Médecins Sans Frontièrs (MSF) in Somalia showed that, of 2,854 patients treated by MSF at Daynille Hospital, Mogadishu, 64% of the 1,370 war-wounded patients sustained blast injuries “largely consistent with continuous intensive mortar fire in residential areas of the city.” See: Médecins Sans Frontièrs, “Somalia: civilians continue to bear brunt of warfare in Mogadishu,” 3 August 2010, www.doctorswithoutborders.com/news/article.cfm?id=4640&cat=field-news (accessed 18 January 2011). 55. Incidents 12, 13, 15, 27, 52, 64, 71, 76, 77, and 100.56. UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, “Combating discrimination against persons with disabilities,” [undated], www.ohchr.org/EN/ABOUTUS/Pages/DiscriminationAgainstPersonsWithDisabilities.aspx (accessed 17 March 2011).57. Roos Boer, Bart Schuurman, and Miriam Struyk, “Protecting civilians from explosive violence: defining the humanitarian problem,” IKV Pax Christi, February 2011, p. 6 www.ikvpaxchristi.nl/files/Documenten/Veiligheid%20en%20Ontwapening/Explosive%20weapons%20policy%20brief%201%20low%20res.pdf (accessed 2 March 2011).

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011 Pakistan 5 apri l 2009

ied detonates in crowd of 2,000 PeoPle



eventA teenage male carrying an IED detonated it amidst a 2,000 person crowd outside a mosque.

locationMosque, Chakwal town, south of Islamabad.

explosive weaponIED.

reported userFidayeen-e-Islam, a non-state armed group.

010 Pakistan 19 march 2009

warehouse workers hit By mortars



damage to infrastructure• Warehouse in Gagra village damaged. • School, religious school, market and bus damaged in Khargali.

damage to propertyUnspecified number of houses damaged.

eventMortars hit a warehouse, a passenger bus, and various civilian objects located in two nearby villages.

locationWarehouse, Gagra village, and Khargali village, Khyber region, near the Afghan border.

explosive weaponFive rockets or mortars.

reported userUnnamed non-state armed group.

009 yemen 15 march 2009

tourists killed while PosinG for Photos


civilians injured3–4, in addition to an unspecified number of Yemeni civilians.

eventAn IED exploded outside the UNESCO world heritage site of the ancient city of Shibam, where tourists were posing for photographs.

locationShibam town, Hadramut province, southern Yemen.

explosive weaponAn IED, or possibly a roadside bomb detonated by remote control.


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012 tanzania 29 apri l 2009

stockPile exPlosion kills, Blinds, and deafens children

civilians killed20–23.5 More than half the dead were reportedly children.

civilians injured636. Nearby residents were reportedly traumatised.

health impactsThe following month, 462 children were reported as complaining of health problems associated with the incident, including deafness, blindness, and respiratory problems.

displacement20,000 families were left homeless and living in makeshift tents.

damage to property9,519 houses, slum structures and other structures damaged or destroyed.

uxo riskUnexploded ordnance presented additional risk to the local population, causing fatalities up to five months after the incident. Victim assistanceThe Red Cross provided food, medical assistance and psychological counselling to the displaced. The Tanzanian government states that it has spent over TZS 8 billion (USD 5,895,790 at date of incident) on compensation,6 including shelters for the displaced, food supplies, burial costs for the dead, compensation for their families, damages for destroyed or damaged property, and medical attention for those maimed. The compensation process lasted until January 2011.

eventThree explosions of ageing and unstable explosive weapons occurred at a military ammunition storage depot, over a period of two hours. Some bombs landed more than 500 metres from the site, and one person was killed by shrapnel 15km from the storage depot. Some died trying to swim to safety in the Mtoni river.

locationMilitary ammunition storage depot, residential neighbourhood, in the Mbagala suburbs, Dar es Salaam.

explosive weaponBombs, artillery shells, mortars, rockets, and other ammunition.

reported userTanzanian People’s Defence Force.7

5. 29 casualties were reported in a Daily News Online report. However, according to the BBC, six of these were soldiers. 6. According to The Citizen, 285 people whose houses were destroyed would receive TZS 8,666,666.67 (USD 6,387.11 at date of incident); 54 people whose houses were badly damaged would receive TZS 16,777,777 (USD 12,364.80 at date of incident); 8,970 people whose houses were slightly damaged would receive TZS 512,820.51 (USD 377.94 at date of incident); and 186 people whose property (unspecified) was destroyed would receive TZS 275,268.82 (USD 202.87 at date of incident). These figures are based on calculations taking a billion to be 1,000,000,000.7. It is recognised that in the case of a stockpile explosion, the explosive weapons in question have not been ‘used’. The responsible party cannot therefore be considered a ‘user,’ however they are stillrecognised as the party responsible and accountable for the incident.

These three homes were said to have been destroyed or damaged during an aerial bombardment, killing the families inside, Sa’dah, Yemen, March 2010

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013 afGhanistan 4 may 2009

BomBed VillaGe Victims fill mass GraVe

civilians killed76–147.8 According to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, 97 civilians were killed in Ganjabad village, comprising 21 women, 11 men, 31 girls, and 34 boys.


damage to infrastructure• Mosque destroyed.• Shrine damaged.

economic impactLocal shops closed, stating that they would not open until there had been an investigation. Victim assistanceThe Government of Afghanistan paid families AFA 100,000 per person killed, and AFA 50,000 per person injured (equivalent to USD 1,906.51 and USD 953.30 respectively, at date of incident).

8. The low figure is a combination of lower figures reported for Ganjabad civilians killed (50) and Gerani civilians killed (26). The high figure is the highest reported figure for total casualties for all areas hit.

eventBombs were dropped on several village compounds, after dark.

locationGerani, Ganjabad, and Koujaha villages, Bala Baluk district, Farah province.

explosive weaponFive 500-pound bombs and three 2,000-pound bombs dropped from a B-1 “Lancer” bomber plane.

reported userUnited States Armed Forces in Afghanistan (USFOR-A).

“Villagers collected body parts and placed them in one grave, 10 metres long by three metres wide.” Revolutionary Women of Afghanistan

“General eikenberry said he questioned the wisdom of dropping 2,000-pound bombs on houses when it is unknown who might be inside.” The New York Times

Young girl hit by Farah airstrike

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“AIRSTRIKES ON POPULATED

VILLAGES SHOULD BE AVOIDED.”

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch, “US should act to end bombing tragedies”, 14 May 2009, www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/14/afghanistan-us-should-act-end-bombing-tragedies

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26



ied tarGets nato forces: oVer 43 ciVilian casualties



eventAn IED was detonated near some parked NATO patrol vehicles, which were part of a convoy passing through a town. A man carrying the IED drove up to the convoy on a motorcycle, crashed the motorcycle, and then detonated his device.

locationNATO convoy, highway, Gereshk town,9 Nahri Sarraj district, Helmand province.

explosive weaponIED, carried on a motorcycle.


9. The coordinates given in the US military report leaked by Wikileaks correlate to the location of Gereshk town, as shown by the map printed with the Guardian article publishing the report.

015 sri lanka 12 may 2009

shellinG kills Patients, Blocks aid


civilians injuredOver 86. disruption to humanitarian operations• Ships containing aid unable to land at Mullivaikal and distribute their cargo.• ICRC unable to collect patients needing urgent treatment, due to ongoing shelling.

eventA makeshift hospital and surrounding area were shelled, with a shell hitting the admissions ward of the hospital around 07:40.10

locationMullivaikal Hospital, ‘Safe Zone,’ northern Sri Lanka.

explosive weaponArtillery shells.

reported userUnknown.11

10. On 8 May 2009, Human Rights Watch reported six attacks on the same hospital during April and early May.11. According to BBC and The Telegraph reports, the senior doctor at the hospital, Dr T Varatharaja, stated that the shell came from the Puthukkudiyiruppu area, where the Sri Lankan armed forces were based, and the Tamil Tigers stated that Sri Lankan forces were responsible. However, they denied responsibility for this.

“the shells are falling in the hospital area and everywhere, so most of the time me and other staff go to the bunker, where the shell sound is reduced. then we come to work and when the shelling starts again we go back to the bunker. It’s difficult to treat patients and many people are dying because of that.” Dr T Varatharaja, Mullivaikal Hospital, BBC

27



BomBs kill eiGht and destroy harVest

civilians killed8.

civilians injuredNone reported.

damage to property• One compound destroyed.• Around 4,000 square meters of wheat destroyed.12

Victim assistanceCompensation for relatives and the landowner was initiated, according to the U.S. military report made on the day of the incident. The amounts paid and the nation or entity awarding the compensation was not specified.

eventBombs hit and destroyed a compound occupied by civilians.

locationVillage compound, south of Lashkar Gah city, capital of Helmand province.

explosive weaponTwo guided bomb units (GBU); one GBU-12,13 and one GBU-38,14 delivered using a British Harrier jet.15

reported userNATO forces. The airstrike was requested by British forces.

12. This was referred to as two ‘jerabs’ of wheat. One jerab is around 0.4 acres. One acre is equivalent to 4046.87 square meters.13. Described as a 500-pound laser-guided ‘smart’ bomb in the Guardian’s glossary of military terms, printed alongside the leaked reports.14. Described as a 500-pound GPS/laser-guided ‘smart’ bomb in the Guardian’s glossary of military terms, printed alongside the leaked reports.15. Reports of civilian casualties followed the use of the second bomb, the GBU-38. However the U.S. military report also notes that following the dropping of the GBU-12, no ‘BDA’ (battle damage assessment) wasconducted, so whether one or both of the bombs were responsible for killing civilians is unclear.

017 nePal 23 may 2009

BomB exPlodes in church durinG mass

civilians killed3, including a woman and a 15-year-old girl.


Victim assistanceA Christian network raised RP 2,000,000 (equivalent to USD 26,117.80 at date of incident) to help pay for medicine and hospital bills.

event:A bomb exploded in a church filled with 150–500 people attending a Saturday mass at around 09:15.

locationChurch of the Assumption, Dhobigat, Lalitpur district, south Kathmandu.

explosive weaponA bomb hidden in a bag of books.

reported userNational Defence Army, a non-state armed group.

“forgiving is easier than getting over the fear. loud noises still frighten me.” Rakehsh Rai, survivor, four months after incident, Union of Catholic Asian News

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chIlDReN AND exploSIve weApoNS

Children are disproportionately affected by the impacts of explosive weapons. In many of the incidents highlighted in this report, children were killed and injured by explosive weapons, as well as suffering harmful psychological effects, displacement, and the profound distress of losing parents through death or separation, raising concerns about the long-term impact upon them and their communities. A number of incidents involved attacks on schools, causing damage and disruption, denying children access to education, and harming future access to opportunities. The proportion of child deaths and injuries resulting from these incidents suggests that, when used in populated areas, the effects of explosive weapons tend to be indiscriminate.

children are more vulnerable

Children are more vulnerable to the direct physical impacts of explosive weapons, due to the specific anatomical characteristics of their bodies,2 which are still growing and developing. In many of the incidents presented here, children made up a substantial proportion of the casualties. In Yemen (38), 41 people were killed when their village was attacked using cluster bombs. Over 50% of the victims were children, including the sole survivor, a thirteen-year-old girl who was badly injured.3 When the yard of a school housing displaced people was hit by missiles in Gaza (2), a reporter who visited the morgue found that the majority of those killed were children.4 After an aerial bombardment of a village in Afghanistan (13), an NGO report found that 67% of the 97 civilians killed were children, including 31 girls and 34 boys.5

mental health impacts

Mental health problems are common among children who experience traumatic events such as bomb blasts.7 A report describing the aftermath of a car bomb explosion in a market in Pakistan (33) describes children as suffering flashbacks, nightmares and hysterical aphonia, a psychological disorder

in which a person loses the ability to speak following a traumatic event.8 It also describes children in the local Peshawar area, which has been the scene of a large number of bombings, as beginning to “…show little reaction to death and the dead ones.”9

A media report on the aftermath of the market bombing in Pakistan tells the story of an eight-year-old boy, Abid Mehmood, who found a human eyeball while sifting through the blast site searching for metal and plastic pieces. He collected six more and wondered where the eighth one was, saying, “After all, every person has two eyes.”10 Following Operation Cast Lead in Gaza (1, 2), which involved intensive use of explosive weapons in populated areas, a report assessing the damage caused by the conflict noted that children were showing signs of anxiety, aggressive behaviour, bedwetting, and were constantly woken by nightmares.11

Families destroyed

Many children who are not directly hit by a blast may suffer indirect impacts. For example, the loss of their mother or father may affect them for the rest of their lives,13 causing emotional distress or trauma and leaving them more vulnerable to a range of problems. During the bombing of a market in Pakistan (33), described above, 14-year-old Adnan Hussain lost all his immediate family members, including his parents, four sisters and a three-year-old brother. Following the incident, Adnan’s uncle described his behaviour since the blast, saying, “He weeps when he is alone, so we try to keep him busy.”14 In the Philippines (21), when mortars hit a camp for displaced people, a father who tried to save his five-year-old daughter was hit by shrapnel as he carried her to safety. He later died, leaving his daughter in the care of her elderly grandmother. In Gaza (1), the bombing of a residential area killed around 21 members of the a-Samuni family. Sixteen-year-old Ahmad was trapped in the rubble for four days with the bodies of his three brothers, mother, and several other relatives. Mental health workers have reportedly said that while he is able to talk about his experiences, he cannot connect them with his emotions, and may never fully recover.15

there was no water, no bread, nothing to eat…i got up on my own…trying to hide from tanks and planes. i went to our neighbors and called on them until i almost fainted.” Ahmed Ibrahim Samuni, 13, survivor, Gaza12

my mother said we should go to another place because they are bombing here...i heard a very loud noise that went boom and the house crashed down on us. i was hurt.” Nouza, 9, survivor, Afghanistan6

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Attacks on schools

Incidents involving explosive attacks on schools particularly affect children, causing death, injury, trauma, and fear, as well as disruption, sometimes permanently, to education.17 An explosion in a crowded neighbourhood in Gaza (98) hit a school, killing between five and 18 children. Eleven children were killed and injured when an IED exploded outside a school in Pakistan (57), and around 32 children were killed and injured when explosive materials or weapons detonated in a school in Iraq (36). The shelling of a school in Somalia (82) injured between ten and 14 schoolchildren. The father of one of the children described how “[t]he shrapnel penetrated into the school which was made of iron sheets. My sons sustained injuries in the head and hand.”18

When a school in Israel (6) was hit by a rocket, the impact was significant, despite the school being closed at the time. According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, classrooms were destroyed and schools closed across the city, suspending classes.19

Disruption to education was also reported in Senegal (50), when explosive weapons were used on villages. An IRIN report described the situation of a 13-year-old girl attempting to study during ongoing explosive weapons use. Despite measures taken by the principal to send the children home when the situation became dangerous, she said, “…that does not put us in security, because a shell can fall on us at any time.”21

children and explosive weapons: conclusions

Children are more vulnerable to the impacts of explosive weapons, and continue to be killed and injured by these weapons in places like markets, villages, and schools. Such attacks cause long-lasting harm by damaging children’s emotional stability, education, and future opportunities.

There are a number of existing international agreements aimed at protecting children from the impacts of conflict and

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“we’ve had eight schools and kindergartens…hit directly by mortars while they stood empty. i’m not ashamed to say I’m terrified.” Natan, 17, Israel20

other forms of armed violence,22 and the problem of explosive weapons is an increasing humanitarian policy focus. However, the particular impacts on children have received little attention so far,23 and this issue is exacerbated by the lack of age-disaggregated data on armed violence casualties. A report by NGO Save the Children UK on children and explosive weapons is an important contribution, highlighting the impacts on children and calling on the United Nations to take concrete steps to monitor and report on impacts on children of explosive weapons use in populated areas.24

The particular vulnerability of children to the impacts of explosive weapons is an issue of urgent concern, demanding increased policy attention and immediate action to effectively protect children.

Recommendations

• Users of explosive weapons should recognise the particular impacts on children, and should not undertake attacks on schools. States and other actors should protect children from explosive weapons attacks, and should develop risk education to enhance security for children living with this threat.

• States and other relevant actors should review and adapt policies on use, and should take immediate action to provide better protection to children.

• Users of explosive weapons should acknowledge responsibility for any resulting harm caused to children.

• States and other relevant actors should ensure that data recording all explosive weapons victims is age- and gender-disaggregated, with a view to informing policy and practice for the protection of children.

• Victim assistance should be age- and gender- sensitive, informed by the particular needs of children to ensure that services are effective and appropriate.

“i feel i have nobody left from my family. i feel nothing is left for me in this life.” Ahmad, 16, survivor, Gaza16

30


Notes

1. According to Save the Children UK, while there is little age-disaggregated data available on civilian deaths caused by explosive weapons, data on deaths in Gaza, Iraq, and Afghanistan shows that children make up “a substantial proportion of the casualties.” In addition, data produced by the Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights following Operation Cast Lead in Gaza has shown that 83% of the 355 children killed during the operation were killed by explosive weapons (listed as heavy weapon, missile, artillery, flechettes, and explosive device), with the remaining 17% being killed by shooting, gas and ‘other’ weapons. Data from Iraq Body Count on civilian casualties in Iraq for which the weapon type used could be determined indicates that aerial attacks killed a far greater proportion of children among total civilians killed than other types of weapons. See respectively: Kerry Smith, “Devastating impact: explosive weapons and children,” Save the Children UK, 2011, p. 4, www.savethechildren.org.uk/assets/images/Devastating_Impact_low_res_(3).pdf (accessed 16 February 2011); Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, “Cast Lead offensive in numbers,” 2 August 2009, www.mezan.org/upload/8941.pdf (accessed 11 January 2011); Madelyn Hsiao-Rei Hicks, Hamit Dardagan, Gabriela Guerrero Serdán, Peter M. Bagnall, John A. Sloboda, and Michael Spagat, “The weapons that kill civilians – deaths of children and noncombatants in Iraq, 2003–2008,” The New England Medical Journal, 16 April 2009, www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp0807240 (accessed 15 February 2011). It should be noted, that while the potential tendency of the media to report on incidents which kill or injure women and children could inflate such findings, this pattern is nevertheless considered to be significant. See: Madelyn Hsiao-Rei Hicks, Hamit Dardagan, Gabriela Guerrero Serdán, Peter M. Bagnall, John A. Sloboda, and Michael Spagat, “The weapons that kill civilians – deaths of children and noncombatants in Iraq, 2003–2008,” The New England Medical Journal, 16 April 2009, www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp0807240 (accessed 15 February 2011). 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Blast injury fact sheet: paediatrics,” 20 August 2008, www.bt.cdc.gov/masscasualties/blastinjury-pediatrics.asp (accessed 13 January 2011). 3. Amnesty International, “Yemen: Cracking down under pressure,” 2010, p. 31, www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE31/010/2010/en/da8bd0cc-37ab-4472-80b3-bcf8a48fc827/mde310102010en.pdf (accessed 6 September 2010). 4. Chris McGreal and Rory McCarthy, “Israeli shelling kills dozens at UN school in Gaza,” The Guardian, 6 January 2009, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/06/gaza-israel-death-un (accessed 25 June 2010).

5. The 97 civilians consisted of 11 men, 21 women, 31 girls, and 34 boys. Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, “Balabolook incident,” Press release, 26 May 2009, www.aihrc.org.af/2010_eng/Eng_pages/Press_releases/2009/pre_rel_balabluk_eng_26may2009.pdf (accessed 13 July 2010). 6. Jason Motlagh, “Afghanistan: after an airstrike,” Frontline World, posted by The Pulitzer Centre on Crisis Reporting, 29 May 2009, video interview available online at: www.pulitzercenter.org/openitem.cfm?id=1562 (accessed 13 July 2010). 7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Blast injury fact sheet: paediatrics,” 20 August 2008, www.bt.cdc.gov/masscasualties/blastinjury-pediatrics.asp (accessed 13 January 2011). 8. A medical journal article provides the following definition: “Aphonia is defined as the absence of vocalization or phonation and differs from mutism, which is the absence of speech. Hysterical aphonia is characterized by a normal whisper and cough. Examination with a laryngoscope reveals normal vocal cord movement with respiration.” Aziz Shaibani and Marwan N. Sabagh, “Pseudoneurologic syndromes: recognition and diagnosis,” American Academy of Family Physicians, 15 May 1998, www.aafp.org/afp/980515ap/shaibani.html (accessed 10 February 2011). 9. “Suicide bombings cause torment for Pakistani children,” Deutsche Presse-Agentur, posted by The Earth Times, 17 November 2009, www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/295028,suicide-bombings-cause-torment-for-pakistani-children--feature.html (accessed 6 January 2011). 10. “Suicide bombings cause torment for Pakistani children,” Deutsche Presse-Agentur, posted by The Earth Times, 17 November 2009, www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/295028,suicide-bombings-cause-torment-for-pakistani-children--feature.html (accessed 6 January 2011). 11. European Network of Implementing Development Agencies (EUNIDA), “Final report, damage assessment and needs identification in the Gaza Strip,” March 2009, www.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/neighbourhood/country-cooperation/occupied_palestinian_territory/tim/documents/final_report_version6_t1.pdf (accessed 13 January 2011). 12. Alan Cowell, “30 confirmed dead in shelling of Gaza family,” The New York Times, 9 January 2010, www.nytimes.com/2009/01/10/world/middleeast/10zeitoun.html?_r=1 (accessed 25 June 2010). 13. Arshad Mehmud, Executive Director, Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), reported in: Amir Mohammad Khan, “Taliban targeting children,” Central Asia Online, 13 September 2010, www.centralasiaonline.com/cocoon/caii/xhtml/en_GB/features/caii/features/pakistan/2010/09/13/feature-04 (accessed 18 January 2011). 14. “Pakistan: Bomb blast victims lack trauma care, counselling,” IRIN, 9 November 2009, www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=86937 (accessed 18 January 2011). 15. “In pictures: Gaza’s Samouni Street,” BBC, [undated], www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/08/middle_east_gaza0s_samouni_street/html/3.stm (accessed 15 February 2011). 16. “In pictures: Gaza’s Samouni Street,” BBC, [undated], www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/08/middle_east_gaza0s_samouni_street/html/3.stm (accessed 15 February 2011). 17. UNESCO’s “Education under Attack” series discusses some of these impacts in greater depth, calling for investigation into mechanisms to monitor and report on such attacks, as well as for preventive action. See: UNESCO, “Education under Attack 2010,” 2010, www.unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001868/186809e.pdf (accessed 25 November 2010). 18. Abdi Sheik, “Mogadishu fighting kills 52 civilians in a week-group,” Reuters, 20 July 2010, www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE66J1G4.htm (accessed 20 July 2010). 19. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel submits letter of complaint to UN on continuing rocket fire,” 2 March 2009, www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Foreign+Relations/Israel+and+the+UN/Issues/Israel_submits_letter_complaint_UN_continuing_rocket_fire_2-Mar-2009 (accessed 1 July 2010). 20. “Ashkelon empties, trauma teams struggle,” IRIN, 13 January 2009, www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=823388 (accessed 1 July 2010). 21. “Senegal: We are constantly scared,” IRIN, 24 March 2010, www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/ee814c2a5f70bbc41a869d911d7ac053.htm (accessed 20 July 2010). 22. These include: Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989); Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (2000); seven UN Security Council resolutions on children in situations of armed conflict (1261, 1314, 1379, 1460, 1539, 1612, and 1182); and The Rome Statute. The UN Security Council’s monitoring and reporting mechanism on Children and Armed Conflict was established to enhance the protection of children from grave violations, including killing and maiming, attacks on schools, and denial of humanitarian access to children. For a discussion of relevant frameworks see: Kerry Smith, Devastating impact: explosive weapons and children,” Save the Children UK, 2011, pp. 8–9, www.savethechildren.org.uk/assets/images/Devastating_Im-pact_low_res_(3).pdf (accessed 16 February 2011). 23. Kerry Smith, Devastating impact: explosive weapons and children,” Save the Children UK, 2011, p. 2, www.savethechildren.org.uk/assets/images/Devastating_Impact_low_res_(3).pdf (accessed 16 February 2011). 24. Kerry Smith, Devastating impact: explosive weapons and children,” Save the Children UK, 2011, www.savethechildren.org.uk/assets/images/Devastating_Impact_low_res_(3).pdf (accessed 16 February 2011).

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5-year-old displaced girl, whose father was killed by shrapnel

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018 ukraine 2 June 2009

ieds in Bank injure oVer 25

civilians killed0.

civilians injured25–32, including an 18-month-old baby and seven-year-old child.

eventThree IEDs left inside a bank detonated at around 07:40.

locationOschadbank bank, Melitopol town, Zaporozhye region.

explosive weaponThree IEDs.


019 Burma 5 June 2009

shellinG near idP camP disPlaces thousands

civilians killedNone reported.


displacement: 3,400–3,521 refugees fled to Thailand. Many of those displaced were forced over the border into Thailand. Displaced people reportedly faced a range of health problems, including malaria, acute respiratory infections and diarrhea.

Victim assistanceA humanitarian NGO, Free Burma Rangers, provided the displaced with food, clothes, plastic, tarpaulins and mosquito repellent.

eventInternally displaced people (IDPs) in Ler Per Her camp began leaving the camp throughout 5 June 2009, in anticipation of shelling in the vicinity of their camp, as well as the possibility of being subject to forced labour to support armed units carrying out attacks. On 7 June 2009 the camp itself was shelled. Shelling continued until around 10 June 2009.

locationLer Per Her camp for displaced people, Dta Greh township, Pa’an district, on Thai border.

explosive weapon81mm mortar shells.

reported userMyanmar Armed Forces.

“last week government troops attacked our camp. they were shelling every day... it became a dangerous place, so we decided to leave.” Rainbow, Karen refugee

32


021 PhiliPPines 15 June 2009

shells strike idP camP

civilians killed1.

civilians injured3, including a seven-year-old girl and a teenager

eventA shell hit a camp for displaced civilians between 22:00 and 23:30.

locationMaahad Evacuation Center (a former school and camp for internally displaced people [IDPs]), Libutan village, Mamasapano town, Mindanao province.

explosive weapon105mm howitzer shell.

reported userArmed Forces of the Philippines.16

16. The Mindanao Examiner reported that the Philippines Armed Forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front both accused each other of bearing responsibility for the incident. An independent investigation by the Philippines Coalition to Protect Children involved in Armed Conflict determined that shrapnel from a Philippines Armed Forces 105mm howitzer shell was responsible for the casualties.

“while the family were sleeping in a small tent, suddenly a mortar shell exploded near the tents. the father grabs his daughter and runs out. as he is carrying his daughter, he was hit in the back by shrapnel...the father died in the hospital and the child was left with her grandmother. She was five years old.” Local NGO worker, Cotabato City

020 Pakistan 9 June 2009

truck BomB Blasts hotel causinG oVer 60 casualties



damage to infrastructureProvincial Assembly and Peshawar High Court building windows shattered.

damage to property• Five stories of the hotel destroyed, other parts thought to be unsafe.• Dozens of cars burned.

eventA truck containing explosives detonated when it was driven into a luxury hotel, by a team of two to three men.

locationPearl Continental Hotel, Peshawar Cantonment area, Peshawar.

explosive weaponTruck bomb containing over 500kg of explosives.

reported userAbdullah Azzam Shaheed Brigade, a non-state armed group.

“the blast was so huge that i thought my ear drums were damaged forever. i fell from the chair and saw others also falling and the glass shards scattered in the meeting room.” Zarshaid Khan, hotel guest, AFP

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022 iraq 24 June 2009

market BomBinG causes oVer 160 casualties



damage to property• Cars damaged.• Market stalls burned.

eventBombing of a crowded market in Baghdad.

locationMraidi bird market, Sadr City, eastern Baghdad.

explosive weaponBomb on a trailer attached to a motorbike, hidden among fruit and vegetables.


“I heard a boom and saw a ball of fire...I saw cars flying in the air because of the force of the explosion.” Najim Ali, survivor, AFP, reported in BBC

Abdulbayan Tunagin, hit by a 105 howitzer shell, who later died of his injuries

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023 PhiliPPines 5 July 2009

church BomBed usinG recycled mortar shell

civilians killed2–5, including a woman and a three-year-old boy.

civilians injured8–51, including women and children.

damage to infrastructureChurch damaged.

damage to property• Five vehicles damaged.• Restaurant heavily damaged.

disruption to humanitarian operationsFollowing this incident and two other bombings, on 7 July around 10 UN agencies imposed a travel ban on staff in the area for a week.

Victim assistance• The local government allocated a budget of PHP 830,000 for the blast victims. Bereaved families were reportedly promised PHP 40,000 each (equivalent to USD 17,767.70 and USD 856.27 respectively at date of incident).• The entire student body of the Notre Dame of Cotabato School were given a stress debriefing.

eventAn IED exploded near a shop outside a cathedral at around 08:30, during a mass attended by at least 800 students.

locationElsie Omega Lechon House, in front of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Cotabato city.

explosive weaponIED made from an 81mm mortar shell, containing two inch nails, remotely detonated using a mobile phone.


17. A Philippines National Disaster Coordinating Council report dated 6 July 2009 states that according to Cotabato Police investigations, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Special Operations Group were responsible, adding that an MILF spokesman has denied this. According to a local journalist interviewed by AOAV, as at 20 October 2010, the identity of the attacker or group responsible had yet to be established.

“i could suddenly feel that my back was bleeding. it was a splinter…they removed it and the stitches were very many. it hurt a lot…” Notre Dame School student, 15

Survivor of bombing, 15, tells her story

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025 yemen 14 august 2009

BomBs droPPed on market, 15 killed

civilians killed15.


eventAerial bombing of a popular market.

locationHaidan market, Haidan, Sa’ada governorate.

explosive weaponAir-dropped bombs.

reported userYemeni Armed Forces.

024 indonesia 17 July 2009

hotel Guests hit By ied attacks

civilians killed7.


damage to propertyHotels damaged.

eventA man carrying an IED detonated it at the restaurant of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Almost simultaneously, another man carrying an IED detonated it in the car park of the J.W. Marriot Hotel.

locationRitz-Carlton and Marriot hotels, Kuningan, Jakarta city centre.

explosive weaponIEDs.


“The explosion was really hard. The floor was shaking... i saw people coming out from the syailendra restaurant, bleeding, tottering, their clothes torn.” Akhbar Nusa Bhakti, hotel guest

36


When used in populated areas such as town centres, villages, markets, and schools, explosive weapons can cause significant damage to the physical environment.

many of the incidents in this report show that the combination of blast and fragmentation can destroy buildings and damage infrastructure, disrupting services and harming the communities which they support. For example, where healthcare facilities are damaged, explosive weapons serve to degrade healthcare provision at the very time when healthcare needs are increasing. The issue of disruption to humanitarian operations is also reflected, with operations suffering temporary interruption or in some cases total suspension following explosive weapons incidents.1 At the local level, damage to private property and markets can have long-term impacts on individuals and communities, damaging homes, livelihoods, trade, and blocking access to basic necessities. The costs of damage caused by explosive weapons use in populated areas are likely to be significant, both to governments and to the individuals and communities they serve. All of these factors increase civilian vulnerability, and are likely to cause further deaths and morbidity in the long-term.2 General infrastructure

For the purposes of this report, infrastructure is considered to comprise public utilities, such as water mains and electricity networks; school and kindergarten buildings;3 national and local government buildings; government vehicles; hospital or health clinic buildings; public transport infrastructure, such as airports, metro stations, bridges, and public transport vehicles; buildings used as places of worship; banks; and warehouses.4 Where infrastructure is damaged, disrupted, or destroyed, this has direct impacts on the local population in the affected area. Aspects of the suffering resulting from damage and disruption to infrastructure are particularly demonstrated by information on incidents in Iraq, Gaza, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A car bomb explosion in central Baghdad (32) caused severe damage to the Ministry of Justice, its courtroom, the Baghdad Governorate building, and the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works,5 which is itself responsible for infrastructure in Iraq.6 Several weeks after the blast, an Associated Press report clearly outlined some of the impacts on the lives of Iraqis. The Ministry of Justice was reportedly experiencing an increasing backlog of cases which could not be processed, as the courtroom was destroyed. While some Ministry of Justice staff attempted to continue working among the rubble of their former workplace, 90% of staff had not reported for duty two weeks after the incident. The Baghdad Governorate building was described as “almost uninhabitable,” with no phones, floors, or walls in the parts close to the explosion.7 For one particular woman, the destruction of this building meant the denial of badly needed government funds. Having been previously displaced by fighting, on returning to her damaged home she was entitled to USD 850 compensation for subsistence and rebuilding. Needing a stamp from the Baghdad Governorate building to qualify, the process stalled, as following the bombing there was nobody there. In addition to destroying large government buildings, the force of the blast burst a water main, flooding surrounding streets with around a foot of water, posing a public health risk.8 This undermined humanitarian assistance provided by UNICEF to repair pipes damaged by bombings in previous years.9

In Gaza (98), explosions in a crowded neighbourhood reportedly caused damage to the electricity network. While the extent and impact of this damage was not reported, an Oxfam article has described how, as generators and fuel are scarce in Gaza, the health and livelihoods of the local population are damaged by breaks to the electricity supply.11 The massive damage to infrastructure which was caused by explosive weapons used in populated areas during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza (1, 2) has been well documented, with widespread destruction of housing, schools, energy, water, sanitation, telecommunications, transport, agricultural, and

DAmAGe To INFRASTRucTuRe, pRopeRTy, AND SeRvIceS

“the blasts…had a wider effect: slowing down the government services iraqis use on a daily basis.” Associated Press, Iraq10

37


industrial infrastructure, as well as previous humanitarian projects. The detrimental socio-economic impacts of damage to infrastructure such as health hazards created by destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure have also been well documented.12

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (53), the use of multiple explosive weapons around a provincial airport resulted in closure of the airport for several months to allow for UXO clearance (see Harm caused by ERW).13 This affected trade by blocking access for goods in the region, hitting the local population with a 25–100% increase in food prices.14

health services hit hardest

In a number of incidents, hospitals and clinics in areas hit by explosive weapons were physically damaged, obstructed by insecurity, and overwhelmed by high levels of civilian casualties. Some health facilities were struck directly by explosive weapons, which damaged buildings and killed or injured patients and staff. In Yemen (30), one of the last functioning hospitals in Sa’ada governorate was hit by a rocket and forced to close.16 In Somalia (72), one of the few functioning hospitals in Mogadishu was hit by shelling, damaging the triage unit where war-wounded patients were awaiting treatment.17 In addition to direct attacks, explosive weapons use created insecurity so severe that some health services were cut off from essential supplies, inaccessible to patients, or unable to reach out to patients. For example, a senior doctor in Sri Lanka (15) described the difficulty of treating patients during the shelling of a hospital and the surrounding area. With the clinic cut off by shelling, 20 of the 49 total deaths recorded by the clinic following shelling were reportedly preventable, caused by lack of surgical equipment and blood.18 Continued shelling prevented ICRC relief vessels from delivering medical supplies or evacuating and treating patients.19 In some incidents, reports indicated that the number and severity of injuries placed significant strain on medical services (see Health impacts). In Iraq (65), a car bomb at a football match caused so many casualties that local hospitals were overwhelmed, with many of the injured being driven 60 miles for treatment.20 In Buenaventura, Colombia (51), the local hospital declared a “state of emergency” as it struggled to cope with the high numbers of simultaneous casualties.21

Disruption to humanitarian operations

UN services were affected when the bombing of an IDP camp in Pakistan (56) lead to the suspension of assistance to displaced people for two and a half weeks following the explosions.23 A volunteer working with IDPs in the area said that he feared that the suspension of relief work by the UN and possibly other agencies “would worsen the plight of IDPs,” who, as he pointed out, were already vulnerable (See Displacement and explosive weapons).24 An IED attack on a UN World Food Programme building in Pakistan (29) left the offices unusable, requiring temporary offices to be set up at other locations in Islamabad.25 The incidents resulted in the temporary closure of UN offices across the country, and a travel ban, which impeded normal operation of all UN agencies for the duration of the ban.26 Similarly, following an IED attack in the Philippines (23), the UN imposed a temporary travel ban on all UN agencies in the area.27 This reportedly prevented the World Food Programme from continuing normal food distributions for almost a week.28

places of worship

Some incidents of explosive weapons use in populated areas specifically target places of worship,29 such as the attack on a mosque in Pakistan (100) which killed and injured up to 182 people. Such attacks are likely to cause particularly large numbers of casualties, as when explosive weapons are used in enclosed spaces containing concentrations of people, the impacts are more deadly (see Health impacts). Such incidents are likely to increase sectarian tensions where these are a component in local patterns of armed violence. In broader terms, as places of worship are often a focal point for faith-based provision of community services, attacks may in some contexts cause wider socio-economic disruption. The psychological impacts of explosive attacks on places of worship are likely to be significant, particularly as these are traditional considered as safe places of refuge, and several incidents presented in the report describe increased security measures following attacks (17, 100).

Damage to property

Explosive weapons use in populated areas can cause extensive damage to private property. Damage to residential housing, shops, vehicles, land, and livestock can have a devastating impact on the security and livelihoods of the

“all of this increases the number of hungry people and people who can’t access essential items.” Christine Walo, Equateur civil society representative, Democratic Republicof Congo15

“…no hospital in the world is equipped to deal with the kind of situation you see when over 300 seriously injured people are suddenly brought to a hospital.” Hamid Afridi, Head of Lady Reading Hospital, Pakistan, following incident 3322

38


local population. In a public hearing for the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, Mr. Wail El Samuni described a missile strike on his residential housing block in Gaza (1). In addition to killing and injuring many civilians, the missiles destroyed a residential building which Mr. El Samuni said he had built from his own savings.

In Indian Kashmir (47), the use of mortars and grenades in a populated village destroyed or heavily damaged 12 houses, affecting 24 families. A visiting New Internationalist reporter described finding residents sitting on the rubble that had once been their homes; many of them were facing homelessness.31 In addition to being left homeless, villagers were reportedly afraid to start rebuilding their homes, for fear of disturbing UXO among the debris (see Harm caused by ERW).32

In Iraq’s Irbil province (69), a Human Rights Watch investigation found that the shelling of villages had destroyed agricultural land and farm buildings.33 While information about the impacts of this on the local population was limited, it can be inferred that such attacks damaged their livelihoods and future food security.

economic impacts

Damage to civilian property, marketplaces, and insecurity following explosive attacks can cause significant economic loss to civilians. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (53), over a week after the use of explosive weapons in populated areas was reported, a local resident stated that hunger was on the rise, the market had not returned to its normal functioning, and fishermen had been unable to go out for over a week.35 Food shortages were reported, and five months after the incident, the UN reported continued scarcities of staple foods in markets and the doubling of prices of certain basic foods, raising particular concerns over child nutrition.36

Many of the incidents presented in this report occurred in or affected markets.37 These incidents reportedly damaged stalls and shops, and several incidents in restaurants and hotels reportedly caused damage to commercial properties (20, 23, 24, 43). Such incidents are likely to have severe financial implications for surviving owners of the properties, and may damage their future livelihoods. Damage to shops and market stalls is likely to have a negative impact on local economies, by affecting the ability of the local population to trade and access basic necessities. In Somalia (82, 84, 88, 91), sustained use of mortars and artillery in the city centre was reported as having a detrimental effect on the local

economy. According to a local businessman, “Our shops have been closed and most of the traders have moved their stalls out of the market because of the endless shelling.”38 Damage to vehicles and transport infrastructure is also likely to have negative economic impacts on local populations, by restricting access to trade routes. However, the cost to civilians of rebuilding or replacing property, and any associated loss of revenue, is difficult to assess as it is not usually reported by media or aid agencies.

When government property or infrastructure is damaged, governments can incur huge economic losses, which may indirectly harm civilians by diverting funds away from development. Following a car bombing in central Baghdad (32), the Iraqi government reported the cost of rebuilding the Baghdad Governorate building alone at around USD 14,000,000.39 Economic losses are also incurred when explosive incidents deter tourist travel to a region, affecting the broader economy and those working in the service and tourist industries. In one such incident in Egypt (5), a crowded market was bombed, injuring a number of foreign tourists, and was widely predicted as likely to harm the tourist industry.40

conclusions

Explosive weapons use in populated areas can cause severe damage to physical infrastructure and property, as well as seriously disrupting social, economic, and health services, and humanitarian operations which support vulnerable populations. While the extent of the damage caused depends on the pattern and nature of the explosive weapons use,41 incidents involving heavy explosive weapons or sustained explosive weapons use may be particularly likely to cause severe damage and service disruption. While the long-term impacts of damage to infrastructure, property, and services are rarely reported, the effect and associated economic costs are likely to be significant, and may increase civilian vulnerability to disease, poverty, and other related insecurity.

“they levelled my house to ashes. our life is unbearable…” Wail El Samuni, survivor, Gaza30

39


Recommendations

• States and users of explosive weapons should recognise the long-term harm caused to populations by damage to infrastructure, property, and services, and review and strengthen policies on use of explosive weapons in populated areas. States and other relevant actors should take these long-term impacts into consideration in the provision of timely and adequate victim assistance.

• Users of explosive weapons should take this wide-ranging and long-term humanitarian harm into account when considering means and methods of attack.

• Users of explosive weapons should not undertake any attacks on hospitals or in areas where humanitarian assistance is being provided.

• Organisations providing humanitarian services should document and report any disruption to services caused by explosive weapons incidents.

• States and other relevant actors should develop and implement systematic data collection on the humanitarian harm caused by explosive weapons incidents, including long-term impacts, with a view to informing policy and practice for the protection of civilians.

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Notes

1. Madelyn Hsiao-Rei Hicks, Hamit Dardagan, Gabriela Guerrero Serdán, Peter M. Bagnall, John A. Sloboda, and Michael Spagat, “The weapons that kill civilians – deaths of children and noncombatants in Iraq, 2003–2008,” The New England Medical Journal, 16 April 2009, www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp0807240 (accessed 15 February 2011). 2. R. Muggah “Measuring the true costs of war: consensus and controversy,” PLoS Med 8(2), 5 February 2011. 3. Damage to schools is addressed in Children and explosive weapons. 4. While buildings such as schools, hospitals, banks, and warehouses may be privately or publically owned, in many places, both privately and publically owned buildings are very much needed for the operation of a society. For the purposes of this report, both privately and publically owned schools, hospitals, banks and warehouses are considered to be infrastructure. 5. Rebecca Santana, “Suicide bombings shatter lull in Baghdad,” Associated Press, posted by The Star, 26 October 2010, www.thestar.com/news/world/iraq/article/716130--suicide-bombings-shatter-lull-in-iraq (accessed 16 July 2010). 6. Global Security.org, “Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works,” [undated], www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/public_works.htm (accessed 7 February 2011). 7. Bosho Ibrahim, Ministry of Justice Undersecretary, reported in: Barbara Surk, “Lingering effects of Baghdad blasts on Iraqis,” Associated Press, posted by The Free Library, 17 November 2009, www.thefreelibrary.com/Lingering+effects+of+Baghdad+blasts+on+Iraqis-a01612061373 (accessed 6 January 2011). 8. Timothy Williams, “Bombings in Iraq, deadliest since 2007, raise security issue,” The New York Times, 25 October 2010, www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/world/middleeast/26iraq.html (accessed 16 July 2010). 9. A UNICEF survey of Baghdad’s water distribution network in 2003 had already found extensive damage to the system, some of which was attributed directly to explosive weapons use: “…the shocks that the bombing sent through the ground caused the pipes to burst in weak spots.” Prior wear and tear, as well as looting, were additional factors linked to the damage. UNICEF has funded extensive projects funding repair of the network. See: UNICEF, News Release, “IRAQ: Cleaning up neglected, damaged water system, clearing away garbage,” 27 May 2003, www.unicef.org/media/media_6998.html (accessed 12 January 2011). 10. Barbara Surk, “Lingering effects of Baghdad blasts on Iraqis,” Associated Press, posted by The Free Library, 17 November 2009, www.thefreelibrary.com/Lingering+effects+of+Baghdad+blasts+on+Iraqis-a01612061373 (accessed 6 January 2011). 11. Karl Schembri, “Gaza unplugged,” Oxfam blog, 12 March 2010, www.oxfam.org.uk/applications/blogs/pressoffice/2010/03/12/gaza-unplugged/ (accessed 26 January 2011). 12. See for example: European Network of Implementing Development Agencies (EUNIDA), “Damage assessment and needs identification in the Gaza Strip,” March 2009, www.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/neighbourhood/country-cooperation/occupied_palestinian_territory/tim/documents/final_report_version6_t1.pdf (accessed 17 January 2011); Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, “Cast Lead offensive in numbers,” 2 August 2009, www.mezan.org/upload/8941.pdf (accessed 11 January 2011). 13. Mines Advisory Group (MAG), News Release, “D.R. Congo: emergency clearance of Mbandaka airport,” 28 June 2010, www.maginternational.org/news/dr-congo-emergency-clearance-of-mbandaka-airport/ (accessed 15 July 2010). 14. MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabalization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), News Release, “Equateur province: MONUC force commander in Mbandaka,” 6 April 2010, www.monuc.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=932&ctl=Details&mid=1096&ItemID=8466 (accessed 15 July 2010); Mwamba Mangueza, Equateur Health Minister, reported in: “DRC: Doctors fear drug shortages after clashes,” IRIN, 7 April 2010, www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=88722 (accessed 15 July 2010). 15. Emmanuel Chaco, “DR Congo: Humanitarian situation worsens,” Global Geopolitics & Political Economy, 15 April 2010, www.globalgeopolitics.net/wordpress/2010/04/15/dr-congo-humanitarian-situation-worsens/ (accessed 31 January 2011). 16. Médecins Sans Frontièrs, “Yemen: Razeh hospital hit by rocket fire,” 20 October 2009, www.doctorswithoutborders.org/press/release.cfm?id=4015&cat=press-release (accessed 13 July 2010). 17. ICRC, News Release, “Somalia: shelling of Mogadishu’s Keysaney hospital results in death of patient,” 30 June 2010, www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/somalia-news-300610 (accessed 15 July 2010). 18. Dr. T. Varatharaja, Mullivaikal Hospital, reported in: “Sri Lankan doctor describes shelling,” BBC, 12 May 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8046744.stm (accessed 6 September 2010). 19. “Sri Lanka war zone hospital hit,” BBC, 12 May 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8045135.stm (accessed 6 September 2010). 20. “Suicide car bomb kills 10 in north Iraq,” Associated Press News, 14 May 2010, www.wire.antiwar.com/2010/05/14/suicide-car-bomb-kills-10-in-north-iraq-4/ (accessed 16 July 2010). 21. “Car bomb kills 6 in Colombia,” CNN, 24 March 2010, www.edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/24/colombia.car.bomb/index.html (accessed 5 July). 22. “Pakistan: Bomb blast victims lack trauma care, counselling,” IRIN, 9 November 2009, www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=86937 (accessed 18 January 2011). 23. UNOCHA, “Pakistan Humanitarian Update,” Issue 14, 14 May 2010, www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2010.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/MUMA-85J9R3-full_report.pdf/$File/

full_report.pdf (accessed 2 March 2011). 24. “PAKISTAN: Relief work suspended after dozens killed in IDP camp attack,” IRIN, 18 April 2010, www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=88847 (accessed 2 March 2011). 25. Rob Buurveld, Senior Specialist, WFP Fast IT and Telecommunications Emergency and Support Team, “It ain’t perfect but hey; it works,” World Food Programme, www.home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/ercb_content/documents/forms/wfp209860.pdf (accessed 2 March 2011). 26. The duration of the ban was unspecified. See: UNICEF, “UNICEF Peshawar, Pakistan - Weekly IDPs Situation Report No. 39,” 9 October 2009. 27. “Police search for suspect in Cotabato bombing,” Philippines News Agency, posted by Sun Star, 13 July 2009, www.archives.sunstar.com.ph/network/police-search-suspect-cotabato-bombing (accessed 25 August 2010). 28. “Police search for suspect in Cotabato bombing,” Philippines News Agency, posted by Sun Star, 13 July 2009, www.archives.sunstar.com.ph/network/police-search-suspect-cotabato-bombing (accessed 25 August 2010); Manny Mogato, “UN agency resumes food rations in Philippines south,” Reuters, 13 July 2009, www.reuters.com/article/idUS-MAN503394 (accessed 25 August 2010). 29. The targeting of places of worship by explosive weapons is often a feature in conflicts with a religious/political dimension. Attacks on places of worship in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been documented by a Sarajevo Research and Documentation Center. See: Sarajevo Research and Documentation Center, “Bosnian Atlas of War Crimes,” [viewing ‘religious facilities only,’] available at: www.idc.org.ba/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=112&Itemid=144&lang=bs (accessed 27 January 2011). 30. UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, UN Human Rights Council, Public hearings, Gaza City, Afternoon Session, 28 June 2009, link available at: www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/FactFindingMission.htm (accessed 25 June 2010). 31. Dilnaz Boga, “Bringing the house down,” New Internationalist, March 2010, www.newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2010/03/24/bringing-the-house-down/ (accessed 2 July 2010). 32. “Chinkipora residents fear un-exploded shells under rubbles,” Kashmir Media Service, 16 March 2010, www.kmsnews.org/news/chinkipora-residents-fear-un-exploded-shells-under-rubbles (accessed 2 July 2010). 33. Human Rights Watch, News Release, “Iran/Iraq: Iranian attacks should not target Iraqi civilians,” 12 July 2010, www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/07/12/iraniraq-iranian-attacks-should-not-target-iraqi-civilians (accessed 14 July 2010). 34. Dilnaz Boga, “Bringing the house down,” New Internationalist, March 2010, www.newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2010/03/24/bringing-the-house-down/ (accessed 2 July 2010). 35. Emmanuel Chaco, “DR Congo: Humanitarian situation worsens,” Global Geopolitics & Political Economy, 15 April 2010, www.globalgeopolitics.net/wordpress/2010/04/15/dr-congo-humanitarian-situation-worsens/ (accessed 31 January 2011). 36. UNOCHA, “Humanitarian Situation in Equateur Province, Snapshot report,” 6 October 2010, www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2010.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/MMAH-8AAB52-full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf (accessed 31 January 2011). 37. Incidents 5, 10, 22, 25, 30, 31, 33, 37, 39, 58, 60, 61, 65, 66, 67, 75, 76, 84, 87, 88, 89, and 91. 38. Ismail Dahir, reported in: Mohammed Olad Hassan, “‘Slow genocide’ in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu,” BBC, 8 September 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11216325 (accessed 3 January 2010). 39. The costs of rebuilding other structures and ministries were not reported. See: Baghdad Governorate, “The new Baghdad governorate building project,” 2010, www.baghdad.gov.iq/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104:the-new-baghdad-governorate-building-project-&catid=25:the-project&Itemid=95 (accessed 8 December 2010). 40. See: “Bombs threaten Egypt tourist industry anew,” AFP News, 23 February 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hFQqiyfibcQ1IR7mh-uTdfGs7bzA (accessed 19 July 2010); “Cairo bombing kills French teenager, wounds 24, strains tourism,” Bloomberg, 23 February 2009, www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aOchvAolTBy0&refer=home (accessed 11 March 2011). 41. Such as the type of weapon used, and the type and quantity of explosives it contains.

41


026 india 13 september 2009

children killed and injured as shell exPlodes in slum

civilians killed3 children aged eight, 14 and 18.

civilians injured5–12, including eight children.

Victim assistanceThe district administration awarded compensation to families at RP 100,000 per person killed and RP 50,000 per person injured (equivalent to USD 2,033.76 and USD 1,016.88 respectively, at date of incident).

eventChildren collecting scrap metal found an unexploded shell. Thinking it was a piece of scrap metal that they could sell, the shell exploded when they tried to break it open with a rock. The shell was thought to have floated down the canal from a nearby army cantonment.

locationAmbedkar colony slum, Sector 21, near Chandimandir cantonment, Chandigarh, Panchkula city, Haryana state, two km from the Indian Army’s Western Command Headquarters.

explosive weaponUnexploded shell.

reported userThe shell was originally used by Indian Armed Forces.

“the majority of the victims were children, who were playing marbles at the open space in front of the shop…” Munna, survivor, 18

027 yemen 16 september 2009

tractors Pull dead from the ruBBle

civilians killed87, including women, children and the elderly.

civilians injured33, including women, children and the elderly.18

damage to infrastructureBridge/overpass damaged.

event:A makeshift camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) was attacked four times at around noon by Yemeni airstrikes.

locationMakeshift IDP camp, near a school, in Adi, near Harf Sufyan town, Amran governorate, north Yemen.



18. A Human Rights Watch news release stated that at least 87 civilians were killed, and an Associated Pressreport cited a local ambulance driver who stated that he had driven at least 120 dead and wounded civilians tohospital.

“the area turned into a pool of blood. i saw body parts and charred bodies.” Ali, aid worker, Associated Press

42


028 afGhanistan 30 september 2009

BomB destroys house, killinG ciVilians

civilians killed5–11.19

civilians injured1–“a number,”20 including at least one woman.

damage to propertyHouse/compound damaged, some parts destroyed.

eventA bomb was dropped on a civilian house.

locationA civilian house, or compound,21 in a “light urban” area,22 in Nad Ali, Helmand.

explosive weaponOne guided bomb unit (GBU), and one 66mm light anti-structures missile (LASM) rocket.23

reported userNATO forces.

19. According to a CNN report, 11 is the figure that local civilians reported.20. As reported in an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) statement printed by CNN.21. Described as a ‘compound’ in the U.S. military report, obtained by Wikileaks and printed in The Guardian.22. As defined by a U.S. military report, obtained by Wikileaks and published by The Guardian.23. According to a U.S. military report, obtained by Wikileaks and published by The Guardian, both weaponswere used, however the civilian casualties and damage appear to be linked directly to the bomb which wasdropped, rather than the rocket fired. An ISAF statement reported in The New York Times also refers only tothe bomb used, and not the rocket noted in the U.S. military report.

029 Pakistan 5 october 2009

ciVilians dead and injured, un BuildinG damaGed in exPlosiVe attack

“a heinous crime.” Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General, UN Dispatch

civilians killed5.


disruption to humanitarian operations• First floor of UN World Food Programme building destroyed, windows and doors destroyed.• UN World Food Programme offices no longer useable, requiring alternative offices to be set up.• UN offices across Pakistan temporarily closed.

eventA man carrying an IED detonated it at a UN World Food Programme building in the city centre.

locationWorld Food Programme compound, F-8/3 residential sector, Islamabad.

explosive weaponIED containing 5–8kg of explosives.

reported userPakistani Taliban group, a non-state armed group.

43


030 yemen 15 october 2009

clinic shelled: medical relief susPended

civilians killed5, including four adults and one baby from the same family.


damage to servicesClinic evacuated by staff and patients, despite the admission of war-wounded patients on the previous day.

disruption to humanitarian operationsMédicins Sans Frontiers (MSF) services suspended in Razeh.

eventBombs were dropped on a market on the morning of 15 October, resulting in casualties which were brought to the local health clinic. Later that night a bomb, shell, or rocket hit the clinic, resulting in evacuation of the clinic on 16 October.

locationRazeh market and Razeh Ministry of Health Medical Clinic.

explosive weaponAir-dropped bombs (market); bomb/shell/rocket (clinic).

reported userYemeni Armed Forces (bombs); unknown (bomb/shell/rocket).

031 somalia 22 october 2009

ciVilians unaBle to Protect themselVes from shellinG



damage to propertyHouse in Bakara market “demolished.”

eventMortar bombs were fired at the presidential plane from Bakara market, to which the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces responded with shelling. One shell was reported as killing six civilians at Bakara market.

locationBakara market and Howlwadag, Hodan and Wardhigley areas, south Mogadishu.

explosive weapon35 or more BM-21 rockets and mortar shells.

reported usersThe African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

“they were taking cover in a concrete building, but such big shells can penetrate the strongest house...we can’t go out to count how many more are dead. Bombs are raining on us.” Farah Olow, Bakara market resident, Elman Peace Centre News

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032 iraq 25 october 2009

car BomBs in city centre cause hundreds of casualties



damage to infrastructure• Ministry of Justice building destroyed.• Baghdad governorate building badly damaged.• Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works building severely damaged.• Water main damaged, causing flooding.

damage to property• 156 cars damaged or destroyed.• Shops destroyed.

damage to servicesNational services severely disrupted by damage to infrastructure.

eventwo car bombs were detonated in Baghdad city centre.

locationCentral Baghdad.

explosive weaponTwo car bombs, each containing over 680kg of explosives.

reported userThe Islamic State of Iraq, a non-state armed group.

“i saw bodies sprawled over the broken panes of the justice ministry. they were mostly women…when i regained consciousness there was a woman’s leg next to me in my shop.” Mohammad Falah, shopowner, The Guardian

“...outrageous attacks on the iraqi people.” Barack Obama, President of the United States, Reuters

45


The terrible aftermath of a huge bomb blast in the western Pakistani city of Peshawar on 29 October which left 117 people dead

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033 Pakistan 28 october 2009

car BomB kills and injures women and children at market


civilians injured200–213. The majority of victims were women and children.

damage to infrastructureUmme Habiba mosque destroyed.

damage to property• Nearby houses damaged.• 30–40 shops damaged.

event:Car bombing of a crowded market used mainly by women.

locationNarrow lane between Meena Bazaar and Kochi Bazaar, Peshawar.

explosive weaponCar bomb containing 150kg of high-intensity explosives, remotely detonated.


24. According to BBC and The New York Times reports, the Taliban were accused of the bombing but denied responsibility.“we only saw a red blaze and nothing else...

My friends and I fell from the second floor. we didn’t know where we were.” Fareed Ullah, survivor, CNN

033

46


034 Pakistan 18 november 2009

women and children killed as VillaGe shelled

civilians killed6, including three women, two children and one man.

civilians injured6.

damage to property• Houses damaged.• Shops damaged.

eventA shell hit houses and a shop in a village.

locationShahukhel village, Hangu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

explosive weaponShell.

reported userPakistani Armed Forces.

035 somalia 3 december 2009

newly qualified doctors killed in Graduation BomBinG

civilians killed23.


eventA man carrying an IED detonated it at a ceremony in Mogadishu, where hundreds were gathered to witness the graduation of a group of medical students.

locationShamo Hotel, Mogadishu.



“Mohamed was in his fifth year of medical school...one minute he was there, the next he was gone. he did not do anything wrong. why would anyone kill innocent students?” Hawad Siyaad, mother of victim, IRIN

036 iraq 7 december 2009

exPlosiVes in school kill and injure children

civilians killed7–8 children.

civilians injured41–42, including 25 children, aged between six and 12.

damage to infrastructureSchool windows blown out, part of school collapsed.

eventExplosive weapons or an unexploded shell, hidden in a school, detonated when a fire was made to burn rubbish which was concealing the explosives.

locationAbaa Dhar School for boys, Sadr City, Baghdad.

explosive weaponIEDs or an unexploded shell.


47


037 thailand 7 december 2009

ied exPlodes in crowded market


civilians injured8.

damage to property15 motorcycles damaged.

eventAn IED hidden in the fuel tank of a motorcycle exploded in a market at around 18:00, the market’s busiest time of day.

locationMarket in Muang district, Narathiwat province, southern Thailand.

explosive weaponIED containing 8–10kg of explosives, hidden in the fuel tank of a motorcycle, detonated remotely via a mobile phone.


038 yemen 17 december 2009

cluster munitions hit VillaGe leaVinG only one surViVorcivilians killed41, including 14 women and 21 children.

civilians injured1 thirteen-year-old girl.

damage to propertyHouses and contents destroyed.

uxo riskUnexploded cluster submunitions remained in the area following the attack.

eventCruise missiles containing submunitions were fired at a village.25

locationAl Ma’jalah area, Al Mahfad district, Abyan province.

explosive weaponFive BGM-109D Tomahawk cruise missiles, containing BLU 97 A/B submunitions.

reported usersUnited States Armed Forces,26 and/or Yemeni Armed Forces.27

25. According to an Amnesty International report, a parliamentary committee investigation found no evidenceto support initial Yemeni government allegations that the village was an Al Qaeda training camp.26. While the United States has not acknowledged responsibility, according to an Amnesty International report,the missile remnants found at the scene were those known to have been in U.S. possession. These missiles canreportedly only be launched from a warship or submarine with precision guidance capabilities.27. According to the Yemen Post, Yemeni forces claimed that they were solely responsible for the attack.

48


“we heard a big explosion around 11:00 am and rushed to the scene, where we found bodies torn apart.” Pierre Ndikuriyo, market trader, AFP

“… any grenade can injure you…usually tearing wounds, bits of flesh, a foot can be ripped off. in fact there is nothing more disgusting as a weapon because it doesn’t discriminate between anything, not a single thing.” Dr. Réginald Moreels, former war surgeon, MSF, Burundi, “Bang for your buck”, Seth Chase & Brice Blondel

039 Burundi 27 december 2009

market Grenade tears Bodies aPart

civilians killed2.


eventA grenade hidden in a package exploded at a market in the capital city.

locationCentral market, Bujumbura city.

explosive weaponGrenade.


040 Pakistan 1 January 2010

VolleyBall match BomBed causinG oVer 100 casualties



damage to infrastructureMosque roof collapsed.

damage to propertyMore than 20 houses destroyed.

eventA truck containing explosives detonated when a man drove it into a sports field during a volleyball match between local teams.

locationShah Hassan Khel village, Lakki Marwat City, near South Waziristan.

explosive weapon250kg of high-intensity explosives, placed in a truck.


“we still believe there are more bodies buried in the rubble and the death toll may go up...People are digging through the rubble with their hands and spades and there is no heavy machinery to help us. it is just pathetic.” Zahid Mohammed, villager, Reuters

49


041 colomBia 13 January 201028

exPlosiVe weaPons kill ciVilians in town centre

civilians killed6, including one woman and three children, aged eight, eleven and twelve.


eventExplosive weapons struck a town centre.

locationRoberto Payan town, Narino department.

explosive weaponImprovised mortars or explosive devices.

reported userRevolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC).

28. All sources report the date as 13 January 2010, with the exception of Colombia Reports, which states thatthe date was 12 January 2010.

042 somalia 13 January 2010

mortars hit children PlayinG footBall in caPitalcivilians killed9–10, including seven children.


eventMortars hit children as they were playing football in a residential area.

locationVillage football ground, Wardighley district, Mogadishu.

explosive weaponMortar shells.

reported userSomali Armed Forces, backed by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

50


The incidents compiled in this report suggest a link between the pattern of humanitarian harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and displacement.1

Specific instances of explosive weapons use in populated areas can directly cause displacement, or be a factor that indirectly contributes to displacement in conflict situations. In a number of incidents documented in this report, explosive weapons have been used amongst displaced populations with severe humanitarian consequences.

The use of explosive weapons in populated areas contributes to displacement as civilians fear death or injury from bombs, mortars, artillery, IEDs, and other explosive weapons at the time of use, or find their homes and property damaged or destroyed completely after explosive weapons have been used. Further contributing factors to displacement are loss of livelihood after businesses, crops, or livestock have been destroyed, and fear of ERW in homes or communities.

civilians displaced by explosive weapons use

Displacement carries with it many serious risks for civilians, and is often accompanied by disease, malnutrition, and the threat of extreme poverty.2 It is difficult to determine the extent of displacement directly caused solely by explosive weapons use, as displacement is often attributable to multiple factors of insecurity in situations where armed violence and human rights abuses are present.3 However, a number of incidents portrayed in this report show a direct link between the use of explosive weapons and displacement.4

In Burma (19), mortar shelling by the of the Ler Per Her camp for internally displaced persons near the Thai border was reported to have caused the further displacement of 3,400–3,521 civilians who were forced to flee across the border into Thailand. As refugees in Thailand, the displaced Karen population were reportedly fearful of problems with the Thai authorities. In South Darfur, Sudan (4), aerial bombing reportedly caused the displacement of 1,000 civilians.5 After two air-dropped bombs landed near to a settlement for refugees and the African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) compound, killing one child, injuring a civilian, and destroying eight to 13 houses, the UN reported four days later that continued fighting in the town had forced nearly 3,000 people to seek shelter in camps near the UNAMID base.6 In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (53), heavy artillery, rockets, grenades, and mortars used in

several neighbourhoods of Equateur province’s largest city, Mbandaka, caused “mass” displacement, with a number of the displaced seeking refuge in neighbouring Republic of Congo.7 A number of people reportedly drowned trying to cross the river that separates the two Congos.8

Displaced persons more vulnerable to explosive weapons

Several incidents demonstrate a particularly egregious pattern of harm when persons already displaced by armed violence were hit by explosive weapons. Already extremely vulnerable, living in temporary shelters, the casualty figures in a number of incidents where explosive weapons were used amongst displaced populations were strikingly high. In Yemen (27), bombs were dropped on a makeshift camp for internally displaced persons during four airstrikes in the middle of the day, killing 87 people and injuring 33 others, including women, children, and the elderly. Many of the victims had taken shelter under an overpass that was then also bombed and were crushed to death in the debris. Tractors were needed to pull the dead from the rubble.9 In a statement condemning the incident, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights raised human rights concerns over the situation of the displaced, including access to food, water, medical treatment, access to hospitals, the protection of humanitarian workers, and freedom of the press to report from the conflict. At the time of the incident, reports estimated that at least 150,000 people had been displaced by the fighting in Northern Yemen,10 which featured heavy use of airstrikes.11

In Pakistan (56), up to 41 civilians were killed and up to 65 injured when a man detonated an IED in Kacha Pukha camp amidst a crowd of 300 internally displaced persons queuing for registration, in the hope of obtaining food. As more people gathered to assist the wounded, a second man detonated a second IED. The Kacha Pukha camp was set up by the government for civilians fleeing heavy fighting in the Orakzai district, at a time when the UN estimated that 1.3 million Pakistani people were displaced.12 As a result of the incident, more displaced persons suffered as UN programmes assisting the displaced were temporarily suspended in Kohat city and neighbouring Hangu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan condemned the attacks, saying “These were people who had fled their homes. They had suffered displacement; they’d suffered losing their homes. They’d come to the registration point considering it a safe haven. They’d come for help. They’d come for sanctuary.”13

In Sri Lanka (3), the shelling of a UN food distribution centre in a ‘no-fire zone,’ where many internally displaced persons had gathered, killed 19 internally displaced persons, including women and children, and injured 52 others. Many

DISplAcemeNT AND exploSIve weApoNS

51


were killed and injured as they queued for food, unable to provide for themselves due to the conflict. Three days before the incident, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces unilaterally declared the existence of the ‘no-fire zone’ in Mullativu district and encouraged displaced civilians to move to the safe zone as soon as possible.15 Several thousand displaced people crowded into the area, which was set up as a temporary UN distribution centre in a large open playground area. Following the attack, civilians panicked and many fled further north. An NGO report noted that “the concentration of civilians greatly increased resulting casualties.”16

In the Philippines (21), a 105mm howitzer shell hit internally displaced civilians sleeping in tents at the Maahad Evacuation Centre in Mindanao province on 15 June 2009, killing one person and injuring three others, including a seven-year-old girl and a teenager. In 2009, the conflict in Mindanao was reported as having the highest number of newly internally displaced persons in the world and as having “the most neglected displacement situation” over the previous year.18 Amnesty International reported that the situation in Mindanao one month after the incident was still dire for many, and that many of the displaced were still unable to return home.19

In Senegal (50), displacement was reported after rockets, heavy artillery shells, and bombs dropped from a helicopter were fired on two villages. A local resident, Jean Maxime Sagma, displaced as a result of the incident reported that “Even here [location after displacement] we feel unsafe, because the military fires rockets over the neighbourhood…”20

health impacts of displacement

The health impacts of disease documented among populations displaced by conflict are disproportionately high. Displaced persons are at an increased risk of death and illness caused by infectious diseases, measles, malaria, waterborne diseases, diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, and at a greater risk of experiencing mental health problems, in particular Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Malnutrition often exacerbates the vulnerability of the displaced to disease. Sadly, many of these prevalent health impacts are both highly treatable and preventable.21

In the incident in Burma (19) described above, while a relief organisation endeavoured to provide food, clothes, plastic tarpaulins, and mosquito repellent to the thousands of displaced Karen population in Thailand, the displaced suffered from health problems associated with malaria, acute respiratory infections, and diarrhoea.22

women and children especially vulnerable

Women and children are particularly vulnerable as displaced persons, and gender-based discrimination and violence is often replicated or exacerbated in situations of displacement.24 Rape and sexual violence, including risks of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and forced prostitution, can be significant threats to women and girls in displaced situations.25 Displaced children are also especially vulnerable to risks of forced recruitment into armed groups, physical and psychosocial trauma, separation from their families, abduction, and often have limited or no access to education or basic needs such as shelter, nutrition, medical care.26

Six months after an incident in the Democratic Republic of Congo (53) where the firing of heavy artillery, mortars, shells, and grenades in residential areas reportedly caused displacement, the UN stated that almost 200,000 people were displaced due to continuing violence, with nearly 114,000 people living as refugees in neighbouring Republic of Congo and 86,000 internally displaced. Approximately 80% were women and children. The UN raised humanitarian concerns on the status of the displaced women and children, highlighting the risk of sexual violence for women and girls, and the vulnerability of unaccompanied children who had lost their parents in the displacement. Humanitarian access, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and disruption to children’s education were also raised as further issues of serious concern.27

“we are not safe. at home we face death and when we try to find safety by leaving our homes, we confront death here too,” Kharan Khan, displaced person, aged 60, Pakistan14

“there are more than 1,000 of us in this village. we are being taken care of for now, but it’s really difficult as there are too many people and not enough accommodation. it’s very crowded and it’s constantly raining.” Karen refugee, Burma23

“one mortar shell came in, close. i heard the whirling sound…i saw the mangled body of a young woman by the entrance. i had never seen that before. i couldn’t believe that it was a person. there was a huge amount of screaming immediately after the impact. more mortar shells started coming in…there were lots of people in bits and pieces lying around.” Survivor and displaced person, Sri Lanka17

52


In another incident in Yemen (27), UNICEF called the use of explosive weapons in an air raid on a makeshift camp of displaced persons, where mainly women and children had sought refuge from heavy fighting in the area, “a tragic development in an already alarming situation.” UNICEF condemned the situation for children as “unacceptable,” noting that “more than a month after the latest escalation of fighting, children affected by the conflict still have no access to safe water, adequate sanitation, health care, and protection. Their lives are threatened by disease and violence.”28

economic impacts

The systemic impacts of displacement associated with the use of explosive weapons in populated areas can be significant, ranging from political destabilisation if population displacement crosses state borders, to the economic and social costs of providing assistance, such as temporary accommodation, food and water, medical care, and psychological support. The social and economic costs of a population often unable to work, tend crops or livestock, or in the case of children, continue education can have long-term and severe repercussions. The dire economic situation in which many displaced persons find themselves can contribute to persons being forced to take dangerous, underpaid, or exploitative jobs in the hopes of becoming self-sufficient. Many displaced persons and communities also suffer discrimination.29

The direct economic impacts of displacement caused by the use of explosive weapons on individuals and their communities are illustrated in a number of incidents

compiled in this report, however the indirect and longer-term economic consequences of such displacement are often not reported on, making it difficult to ascertain the full extent of economic and social impacts.

In Iraq (69), artillery shelling by the Iranian Armed Forces of a village in north-east Irbil province from 29–30 May 2010 caused the displacement of 30 families.30 By 3 June 2010, up to 250 families had been displaced from the area due to the campaign. Since the attack, only a few families remained in the village, in an effort to save their crops. The shelling damaged agricultural land, farms, and buildings and caused displacement at a critical time for planting and tending crops during a short planting season, with lasting economic repercussions likely for the families.31

In the Democratic Republic of Congo incident described above (53), the displacement occurred during harvest time, forcing civilians to abandon their crops, leaving maize, rice, and peanuts to rot in their fields.33 Additionally, the majority of families that fled from the violence lost most or all of their possessions as their homes were burnt or looted. Five months after the incident, the UN reported continued scarcities of staple foods in markets and the doubling of prices of certain basic foods, raising concerns in particular over child nutrition.34

conclusions

When explosive weapons are used in populated areas, they produce a number of devastating humanitarian impacts which can cause displacement. Where this occurs, displacement in turn exacerbates civilian vulnerability, and prolongs the humanitarian harm caused by the use of explosive weapons and their indirect effects. Use of explosive weapons amongst displaced populations creates severe suffering amongst a population that is already vulnerable. The use of heavy explosive weapons and their sustained use in populated areas can increase the likelihood of displacement occurring and its ensuing humanitarian impacts.

A number of international treaties and agreements have been created as a response to the humanitarian suffering endured by refugees and the displaced.35 These agreements aim to provide legal protection and realisation of the rights and dignities of displaced persons and the prevention of future abuses. In joining these agreements, states affirm their duties to protect and assist those already vulnerable and to prevent displacement.

“locals said there was a pattern of shells striking increasingly close to their gardens and homes until they felt they had to leave for fear of being wounded or killed.” Human Rights Watch, Iraq 32

fr

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019

Villagers fleeing Ler Per Her refugee camp

53


Notes

1. Persons can become either refugees, if they leave their country of origin, or internally displaced persons within their country of origin. Displacement can be on a large or small scale, ranging from millions displaced to a small number of families after their village is destroyed. The period of displacement can be relatively short or last many years and in some cases, multiple displacements are common, as conflicts continue or the threat or presence of mines, submunitions, or other ERW prevents the return of civilians to their homes until mine action operations have been carried out. 2. A global report on internally displaced persons reported that at the end of 2009, an estimated 2.7 million persons were displaced in 54 countries due to “armed conflict, generalized violence or human rights violations.” Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, “Internal Displacement: Global Overview of Trends and Developments in 2009,” Norwegian Refugee Council, May 2010, p. 13, www.internal-displacement.org/idmc/website/resources.nsf/(httpPublications)/54C1580B097E58BAC12577250071030F?OpenDocument (accessed 17 February 2011). 3. As noted by the ICRC, “the causes of displacement…are of course manifold and complex. Quite apart from natural disasters or development-induced displacement, in most cases the root causes of displacement are those that have triggered, or at least contributed to, armed conflict or situations of violence in the first place. Poverty, the effects of climate change, scarcity of resources, political instability, and weak governance and justice systems may all be catalysts for conflict-induced displacement. These same factors often hamper the end of displacement and make the task of rebuilding lives and restoring the livelihoods of people affected by displacement all the more difficult.” Statement by Jakob Kellenberger, President , ICRC, “Root causes and prevention of internal displacement: the ICRC perspective,” Special summit on refugees, returnees and IDPs in Africa, Kampala, Uganda, 23 October 2009, www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/statement/displacement-statement-231009.htm (accessed 17 February 2011). 4. Explosive weapons use in other incidents not mentioned here may have also caused displacement, however displacement was not explicitly reported by sources selected in the research process. 5. “Sudan’s government bombs rebel-held town in Darfur,” Associated Press Cairo, posted by The New York Times, 25 January 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/world/africa/26sudan.html (accessed 8 July 2010). 6. “Darfur suffers worst violence in a year,” IRIN, 28 January 2009, www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=82616 (accessed 8 July 2010). 7. Emmanuel Chaco, “DR Congo: Humanitarian situation worsens,” Global Geopolitics & Political Economy, 15 April 2010, www.globalgeopolitics.net/wordpress/2010/04/15/dr-congo-humanitarian-situation-worsens/ (accessed 31 January 2011). 8. UNOCHA, “Humanitarian Situation in Equateur Province, Snapshot report,” 6 October 2010, www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2010.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/MMAH-8AAB52-full_re-port.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf (accessed 31 January 2011). 9. “Air raid in Yemen kills dozens of civilians,” Impunity Watch, 18 September 2009, www.impunitywatch.net/impunity_watch_middle_eas/2009/09/page/2/ (accessed 25 June 2010). 10. Human Rights Watch, “All Quiet on the Northern Front? Uninvestigated laws of war violations in Yemen’s war with Huthi rebels,” March 2010, www.hrw.org/en/node/89288/section/1 (Accessed 14 March 2011). 11. Amnesty International, “Exclusive: images reveal devastation: Yemen’s hidden conflict in the north,” 6 April 2010, www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/exclusive-images-reveal-devastation-yemen%E2%80%99s-hidden-conflict-north-2010-04-0 (accessed 2 March 2011.) 12. Katie Cassidy, “Twin explosions at Pakistan displaced camp,” Sky News Online, 18 April 2010, www.news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Pakistan-Suicide-Bombers-Set-Off-

Explosives-At-Displaced-People-Camp/Article/201004315606884?lpos=World_News_Top_Sto-ries_Header_1&lid=ARTICLE_15606884_Pakistan%3A_Suicide_Bombers_Set_Off_Explo-sives_At_Displaced_People_Camp (accessed 16 July 2010). 13. “PAKISTAN: Relief work suspended after dozens killed in IDP camp attack,” IRIN, 18 April 2010, www.irinnews.org/PrintReport.aspx?ReportID=88847 (accessed 17 February 2011). 14. “PAKISTAN: Relief work suspended after dozens killed in IDP camp attack,” IRIN, 18 April 2010, www.irinnews.org/PrintReport.aspx?ReportID=88847 (accessed 17 February 2011). 15. Testimony of Dr. Anna Neistat, Senior Researcher, Emergencies Division, “Recent Developments in Sri Lanka,” Hearing of the [US] Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Human Rights Watch, 24 February 2009, pp.4–5, www.omiusajpic.org/files/2009/02/neistattestimon-y090224p1.pdf (accessed 28 June 2010). 16. International Crisis Group, “War Crimes in Sri Lanka,” Asia Report N°191, 17 May 2010, www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/191-war-crimes-in-sri-lanka.aspx (accessed 14 March 2011). 17. Testimony of Dr. Anna Neistat, Senior Researcher, Emergencies Division, “Recent Developments in Sri Lanka,” Hearing of the [US] Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Human Rights Watch, 24 February 2009, pp.4–5, www.omiusajpic.org/files/2009/02/neistattestimon-y090224p1.pdf (accessed 28 June 2010). 18. Amnesty International, “Shattered lives. Beyond the 2008–2009 Mindanao armed conflict,” 25 August 2009, p.1, www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA35/006/2009 (accessed 10 August 2010). 19. Amnesty International, “Shattered lives. Beyond the 2008–2009 Mindanao armed conflict,” 25 August 2009, p.1, www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA35/006/2009 (accessed 10 August 2010). 20. “Senegal: Jean Maxime Sagma ‘We are getting by alone’,” IRIN, 23 March 2010, www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/514f27c984f42d7fa48f8441f36fed4e.htm (accessed 20 July 2010). 21. Samantha L. Thomas and Stuart DM Thomas, “Displacement and Health,” British Medical Bulletin, vol. 69, 2004, pp. 115-127, www.bmb.oxfordjournals.org/content/69/1/115.abstract (accessed 26 February 2011). 22. Free Burma Rangers, “FBR report: DKBA troops threaten to shell Thai villagers if they do not supply food in support of attack on refugees,” Karen State, Burma, 10 June 2009, www.freeburmarangers.org/Reports/2009/20090610.html (accessed 3 August 2010). 23. “Burma’s Karen unable to return home,” BBC News, 11 June 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8095137.stm (accessed 26 February 2011). 24. Forced Migration Online, “Conflict Induced Displacement,” undated, http://www.forcedmigration.org/guides/fmo007/fmo007-3.htm, (accessed 17 February 2011). 25. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, “Internal Displacement: Global Overview of Trends and Developments in 2009,” Norwegian Refugee Council, May 2010, p. 18, www.internal-displacement.org/idmc/website/resources.nsf/(httpPublications)/54C1580B097E58BAC12577250071030F?OpenDocument (accessed 17 February 2011). 26. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, “Internal Displacement: Global Overview of Trends and Developments in 2009,” Norwegian Refugee Council, May 2010, pp. 18-19, www.internal-displacement.org/idmc/website/resources.nsf/(httpPublications)/54C1580B097E58BAC12577250071030F?OpenDocument (accessed 17 February 2011) and UNICEF, “Displaced Children,” undated, www.unicef.org/emerg/index_displacedchildren.html (accessed 17 February 2011). 27. UNOCHA, “Humanitarian Situation in Equateur Province, Snapshot report,” 6 October 2010, www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2010.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/MMAH-8AAB52-full_re-port.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf (accessed 31 January 2011). 28. “UNICEF sounds alarm in Yemen after deadly air raid on camp for displaced,” UN News Service, 17 September 2009, www.un.org/apps/news/printnewsAr/asp?nid=32098 (accessed 17 February 2011). 29. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, “Internal Displacement: Global Overview of Trends and Developments in 2009,” Norwegian Refugee Council, May 2010, p. 19, www.internal-displacement.org/idmc/website/resources.nsf/(httpPublications)/54C1580B097E58BAC12577250071030F?OpenDocument (accessed 17 February 2011). 30. “Iran artillery fire kills 1 in Iraq’s north,” Associated Press, posted by The Jordan Times, 31 May 2010, www.jordantimes.com/?news=27034 (accessed 25 June 2010). 31. Human Rights Watch, News Release, “Iran/Iraq: Iranian attacks should not target Iraqi civilians,” 12 July 2010, www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/07/12/iraniraq-iranian-attacks-should-not-target-iraqi-civilians (accessed 14 July 2010). 32. Human Rights Watch, News Release, “Iran/Iraq: Iranian attacks should not target Iraqi civilians,” 12 July 2010, www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/07/12/iraniraq-iranian-attacks-should-not-target-iraqi-civilians (accessed 14 July 2010). 33. UNOCHA, “Humanitarian Situation in Equateur Province, Snapshot report,” 6 October 2010, www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2010.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/MMAH-8AAB52-full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf (accessed 31 January 2011). 34. UNOCHA, “Humanitarian Situation in Equateur Province, Snapshot report,”6 October 2010, www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2010.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/MMAH-8AAB52-full_re-port.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf (accessed 31 January 2011). 35. See for example: Fourth Geneva Convention, 1949 – art. 44, 45, 49, 70; Protocol I additional to the Geneva Conventions, 1977 – art. 73, 85; Protocol II additional to the Geneva Conventions, 1977 – art. 17; Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1998 – art. 8(2)(b)(viii), 8(2)(e)(viii); Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951 and 1967; Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa, 1974; Guiding principles on internal displacement; and Kampala Convention on Internally Displaced Persons.

Recommendations

• States and other relevant actors who have assumed existing legal obligations and responsibilities regarding refugees and displacement, should consider the relationship between explosive weapons and their effect on displacement, with an emphasis on prevention.

• States and other actors should protect displaced populations from explosive weapons attacks.

• States and other actors should take into account the effects of explosive weapons use on displacement when considering means and methods of attacks.

• States and other actors should collect data to better understand the connection between explosive weapons and displacement, with a view to informing policy and practice with regard to assisting the displaced and ensuring that their needs are fulfilled and their rights are realised.

54


043 india 13 february 2010

BomB seVers limBs in crowded restaurant



damage to propertyBakery and adjacent shops damaged.

eventA bomb exploded at a crowded restaurant at around 19:00.

locationGerman Bakery, Koregaon Park, Pune, Maharastra state.

explosive weaponIED, battery-operated.

reported userLashkar-e-Taiba al-Almi, a non-state armed group.

“the impact was so great that there were body parts everywhere.” Vinod Dhale, restaurant worker, Reuters, reported in BBC

044 afGhanistan 14 february 2010

rockets kill children and seVer woman’s limB

civilians killed12, ten of whom were from the same family, including five children.

civilians injuredUnclear.29

eventRockets hit a house in a residential area on the outskirts of the town.

locationResidential area, outskirts of Marjah town.

explosive weaponTwo rockets.

reported userU.S. Marines, fighting as part of NATO forces.

Victim assistanceCompensation payments were made to the families of the 12 civilians who were killed.

29. A Guardian report suggested that there had been injuries, but was not able to obtain specific figures relatingto civilian injuries, saying: “A spokesman for the Red Cross said medics at a first aid post in Marjah had treated30 people. He could not give a breakdown between civilian and military casualties.”

“there is still sporadic Taliban firing from residential areas in the north of the town, but we are not using air power or heavy bombardments to dislodge them because we want to avoid civilian casualties.” Dawud Ahmadi, spokesperson for Helmand Governor Gulab Mangal

55


045 Burma 19 february 2010

mortar hits school durinG exam

civilians killed1 fifteen-year-old boy.

civilians injured2 eight-year-old boys.

eventA mortar was fired at a school at 09:47, during the school’s exam period. Students were taking an exam at the time the mortar landed.

locationTemporary school, T’yu Khee village for internally displaced people (IDPs), inhabited by 353 civilians, in Lu Thaw township, Papun district.

explosive weapon81mm mortar.

reported userMyanmar Armed Forces.30

30. The Karen Human Rights Group describes the explosive weapons users as: “…soldiers from State Peace andDevelopment Council (SPDC) Military Operation Command (MOC) #7 based in Hsar Law Kyoh, Lu ThawTownship.” The Karen Teacher Working Group describes the explosive weapons users as: “Burma Army Tactical OperationCommand (TOC) #2, Military Operation Command (MOC) #21 and Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #387 encampedon T’ro Kyoe mountain.”

“Burma army encamped their troops near idP villages and they discharge mortars once or twice every day.” Karen Teacher Working Group.

Saw Eh Kaw Taw and Saw Ree Re, wounded in SPDC (Burma Army) attack

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56


046 lao Pdr 22 february 2010

cluster munition remnant kills and injures children PlayinG

civilians killed5; three boys, all aged 12, and two girls, aged 10 and 14.

civilians injured1 nine-year-old boy.

eventAn unexploded submunition was accidentally detonated by children as they watched over the village’s water buffalo and played in a rice paddy. It reportedly distributed around 200 steel ball-bearings within a radius of about 30m when it exploded.

locationBan Noundeng Nue, Soukhouma district, Champasak province.

explosive weaponBLU-3 submunition.

reported userUnited States Armed Forces, during bombing missions in Lao PDR from 1964 to 1973.

047 india 23–26 february 2010

families destitute after mortars destroy VillaGe



displacement24 families became homeless, their houses and belongings destroyed.

damage to property12–16 houses partially destroyed.

uxo riskResidents feared that they would encounter UXO among the rubble while trying to clear the debris and rebuild their homes.

Victim assistanceSome compensation was paid by the government. In one case, a man whose house was destroyed reported receiving USD 3,000, whereas others reportedly did not receive any compensation.

eventMortars and grenades were fired in and around a village housing 50 families in Kashmir, without prior warning and evacuation, causing “massive damage” to “most homes” in the village. As attacks began, some evacuated the village and others remained trapped in their homes.

locationChinkipora village, Sopore, Kashmir.

explosive weaponMortars and grenades.

reported userIndian Armed Forces and non-state actors.

“the residents were not given any prior intimation to evacuate the densely-populated area, which housed around 50 families.” New Internationalist

57


048 sudan 1 march 2010

children killed as Grenade exPlodes

civilians killed5 children; two girls and three boys, aged four to 11 years.

civilians injured0.

eventA grenade exploded as children were playing with it and placed it in a cooking fire. The children had found the grenade on the banks of the river and brought it home to play with.

locationKodok town, Fashoda county, Upper Nile State.



049 afGhanistan 13–14 march 2010

exPlosiVe weaPons in city centre kill and injure oVer 68

civilians killed22–33, including four women and four children.


damage to propertyNearby buildings badly damaged.

eventSeven people carrying IEDs by car, motorbike and bicycle detonated them at various locations across the city. The explosions took place through the night of 13 March and early morning of 14 March.

locationKandahar prison; a police headquarters where a wedding celebration was taking place nearby; close to the home of a local official; and close to a police vehicle. All the locations were in Kandahar city.

explosive weaponTwo car bombs and six IEDs carried on bicycles and motorbikes.

reported userThe Taliban, a non-state armed group.

“Bombings and assassinations have left the government largely isolated behind concrete barricades and blast walls.” Washington Post correspondent

58


58


“THE REASON FOR THE HIGH NUMBER

OF CASUALTIES WAS THAT THE

BOMBERS DETONATED THEMSELVES IN

HEAVILY POPULATEDAREAS…”

Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission

Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, Press Release, “Kandahar attacks are crime against humanity,” 14 March 2010, www.aihrc.org.af/English/Eng_pages/Press_re-leases_eng/2010/Pre_14_Mar_2010.pdf

049

59


050 seneGal 16–23 march 2010

education disruPted as school children fear shellinG



displacementSome displacement was reported.31

damage to servicesDisruption to education.

eventFrom around 06:00 on 16 March, shells and bombs were fired/dropped on two villages, continuing until around 23 March.

locationKassana and Mamatorro villages, 10 km from Ziguinchor, capital of Casamance province.

explosive weaponRockets, heavy artillery shells,32 and bombs dropped from a helicopter.33

reported userSenegalese Armed Forces.

31. Displacement was reported by AlertNet, Voice of America News, Politico and IRIN news reports. However,it should be noted that according to a UNICEF email in May 2010, obtained by the Internal DisplacementMonitoring Centre, displacement “on a large scale” was not reported.32. Specifically stated as on 18 March 2010, according to AFP and Politico reports.33. Specifically stated as on 18 March 2010, according to AFP and Politico reports

“our principal asked us to go home whenever the situation becomes dangerous, but that does not put us in security because a shell can fall on us at any time.” Pape Mar Ndao, 13 years old, resident, IRIN

“even here [location after displacement] we feel unsafe, because the military fires rockets over the neighbourhood...” Jean Maxime Sagma, displaced person, IRIN

051 colomBia 24 march 2010

car BomB injures 50: hosPital oVerwhelmed

civilians killed6–9, including one policeman.


damage to infrastructureLocal District Attorney’s office partially destroyed.

damage to property• Vehicles destroyed.• Shop fronts destroyed.

damage to servicesLocal hospital declared a state of emergency.

eventCar bomb explodes in town centre.

locationBuenaventura town centre, near mayor’s office and District Attorney’s office.

explosive weaponCar bomb.


34. According to Reuters, while the Colombian military stated that they suspect the Revolutionary Armed Forcesof Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC), no confirmation of this was reported.

60


052 russia 29 march 2010

ieds detonate on trains at rush hour

civilians killed38.


damage to infrastructureDamage to metro stations and trains.

eventA women carrying an IED detonated it on a train at Lubyanka metro station. Forty minutes later, another woman carrying an IED detonated it on a train at Park Kultury metro station.

locationLubyanka and Park Kultury metro stations, central Moscow.

explosive weaponTwo IEDs, filled with chipped iron rods and screws to produce shrapnel.

reported userA Chechen man reportedly claimed responsibility for ordering the attacks. His affiliation to a particular group was not reported.

“i was moving up on the escalator when i heard a loud bang, a blast. a door near the passageway arched, was ripped out and a cloud of dust came down on the escalator.” Alexei, eyewitness, Rossiya 24 TV channel, reported by the BBC

A makeshift market by the remains of shops and homes, Sa’dah, Yemen, March 2010.

© P

rIv

at

e

61


While explosive weapons cause a distinct pattern of humanitarian harm in populated areas at the time of their use, they continue to cause humanitarian harm long after they have been deployed. A common characteristic inherent across all types of explosive weapons is their capacity to produce unexploded ordnance (uxo) when they fail to function as intended.1 explosive weapons can also become abandoned ordnance (Axo), which present risks to populations. In international law and policy, the term explosive remnants of war (eRw) encompasses both uxo and Axo from explosive weapons.2

ERW contamination can cause serious humanitarian suffering for decades. From risks of death and injury, to economic and social impacts such as loss of livelihood, land denial and agricultural destruction, impeded access to vital infrastructure, blocked access for goods and relief, and environmental damage, the impact of ERW on individuals and communities can be devastating. ERW can also prevent the return of displaced populations, or present life-threatening risks for those who remain. The presence of ERW hinders efforts to rebuild communities following conflicts, and often requires costly clearance operations, risk education programs, and long-term assistance to victims. Children are known to be particularly at risk from ERW.3

A number of incidents in this report illustrate aspects of the pattern of harm caused by ERW, including risks to children, and economic impacts through land and infrastructure denial. The incidents collected in this report provide just a snapshot of this issue, which has been well documented elsewhere. ERW may likely have been created in other incidents compiled in this report, however, the presence or suspected presence of ERW was not reported in media or other available sources. The Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor and global survey reports on ERW provide a comprehensive picture of the threat posed to civilians worldwide, the number of casualties recorded annually, and the amount of contaminated land.4

harm to children

In one incident in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (46), eight children were playing in a rice field when they found a BLU-3 submunition, dropped from an American cluster

munition more than four decades earlier. The children picked up the submunition and it exploded, killing five and severely injuring another child, who survived. There had been no UXO risk education in their village.5 From 1964–1973, the US dropped more than two million tons of explosive weapons, including nearly 270 million submunitions, on to the Lao PDR countryside. Research has documented that children are at significantly high risk of death and injury from ERW, particularly submunitions.6 In Lao PDR, between 1963 and 2008, 26% of the total recorded casualties of ERW were children, or approximately 13,035 child victims. The actual numbers are likely to be significantly higher, as many casualties were not officially recorded.7 For children who survive such incidents, the impacts are usually severe and life-long, due to the typical blast and fragmentation injuries. If amputations occur, treatment for children is an intensive process, as prostheses need to be fitted multiple times as children grow and develop.8

In a town in Sudan (48), a group of five children found an unexploded grenade on the banks of a river and brought it home to play with it. The grenade exploded when the children placed it in a cooking fire, killing all of them, two girls and three boys, aged four to 11 years. Raising concerns about ERW across the county, which included ERW from other types of explosive weapons, a police director reported that “there are some areas in Kodok payam [township] where land mines are just lying on the surface…it would be easy for kids to pick them up and play with them.”9 According to a United Nation Mine Action Office in Sudan (UNMAO) official, Kodok was one of UNMAO’s “top priorities” due to ERW in the area; however, a lack of access to the town was hampering demining efforts.10

economic impacts, land, and infrastructure denial

Economic hardship is often linked to the presence of ERW. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (53), after sustained firing of heavy artillery, rockets, grenades, and mortars in several residential neighbourhoods and in and around the airport of Mbandaka city, a number of unexploded shells, mortars, and grenades were discovered, presenting a risk to the civilian population in surrounding areas. Humanitarian demining organisation Mines Advisory Group (MAG) reported a “high scale of contamination” within meters of residential areas and along the runway of the airport.11 The presence of UXO forced the closure of the airport during MAG’s clearance operation, impacting access to the area and the availability of goods (see Damage to infrastructure, property, and services). In other countries, high levels of contamination can destroy vital infrastructure and impede reconstruction efforts, or cause large-scale land denial, preventing farmers from using their land and putting livestock at risk.

hARm cAuSeD By exploSIve RemNANTS oF wAR

62


land denial and displacement

The presence or suspected presence of ERW can deny civilians access to their homes or use of their land, and prevents displaced persons from returning to their places of origin. In Indian Kashmir (47), after the homes of 24 families were demolished by mortars and grenades, three weeks after the incident villagers were afraid to return to begin the process of rebuilding due to their fears of UXO left in the rubble of their homes, after residents found UXO while digging through debris. Four months earlier, a UXO incident had occurred in the area after previous fighting was reported.12

conclusions

Explosive weapons that fail to function or are left abandoned can present a long-term threat to civilians and an impediment to post-conflict recovery. Prohibitions on anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions, as well as obligations on the users of explosive weapons to record details of their use and to assist in eradicating any residual threats, indicate a developing legal standard against this aspect of harm caused by explosive weapons.13 However, the continued use of explosive weapons in populated areas will only serve to perpetuate the problems associated with ERW.

While the harm caused to civilians from ERW has been debated extensively, and has been subject to new international law, it is likely relatively modest compared with the civilian harm caused by explosive weapons when they function as intended. By treating explosive weapons as a coherent category with respect to the longer-term risks that they pose, a basis is provided for a categorical consideration of the threat they pose to civilians at the time of their use. Recommendations

• States which have not yet done so should accede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Mine Ban Treaty, and CCW Protocol V on ERW, and join other States Parties in implementing their obligations aimed at removing the threat from cluster munitions, anti-personnel mines, and mitigating the risks of ERW.

• States and other actors should urgently clear contaminated land, provide risk education, and assist victims of ERW.

• Users of explosive weapons should as a minimum collect and rapidly provide robust data on any use of explosive weapons, including the type, quantity, and intended targets of weapons deployed, to assist in the rapid and effective clearance of potential ERW.

Notes

1. The likelihood of explosive weapons causing unexploded ordnance varies across types of explosive weapons, and is influenced by the manner in which they are used, but when they are used in populated areas, the risk posed to civilians by the presence of unexploded ordnance increases significantly. The presence of unexploded ordnance in rural areas however is not insig-nificant, such as instances where persons entered forests to collect wood, go to pastures to graze livestock, or as demands on land change over time, causing persons to enter or inhabit areas previously unused. See International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBL-CMC), Landmine Monitor Report 2010, preface. 2. A legal definition of ERW is contained in Article 2 of the 2003 CCW Protocol V on ERW. Proto-col V applies to all explosive ordnance, meaning “conventional munitions containing explosives,” with the exception of mines, booby traps and other devices, as these are considered covered under in Amended Protocol II of the CCW. 3. See ICBL-CMC, Landmine Monitor Report 2010 and Cluster Munition Monitor Report 2010, www.the-monitor.org/; Richard Moyes, Markus Nitschke, Thomas Nash, “Explosive remnants of war and mines other than antipersonnel mines: A Global Survey, 2003-2004,” Landmine Action, Actiongroup Landmine.de, Mines Action Canada, March 2005, www.landmineaction.org/resources/ERW%20Global%20impact%20survey%2020034.pdf; and John Borrie, “Explosive Remnants of War: A Global Survey,” Landmine Action, June 2003, www.landmineaction.org/resources/ERW%20Global%20survey%202003.pdf (accessed 15 March 2011). 4. See ICBL-CMC, Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor Reports, www.the-monitor.org/; Rich-ard Moyes, Markus Nitschke, Thomas Nash, “Explosive remnants of war and mines other than antipersonnel mines: A Global Survey, 2003-2004,” Landmine Action, Actiongroup Landmine.de, Mines Action Canada, March 2005, www.landmineaction.org/resources/ERW%20Global%20impact%20survey%2020034.pdf; and John Borrie, “Explosive Remnants of War: A Global Survey,” Landmine Action, June 2003, www.landmineaction.org/resources/ERW%20Global%20survey%202003.pdf (accessed 15 March 2011). 5. Cluster Munition Coalition, Press Release, “Lao PDR: Five Children Killed in Cluster Bomb Blast,” 11 March 2010, http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/news/?id=2072 (accessed 10 March 2011). 6. Richard Moyes, “Explosive remnants of war: Unexploded ordnance and post-conflict com-munities,” Landmine Action, March 2002, p. 44, http://www.landmineaction.org/resources/resource.asp?resID=1051 (accessed 15 March 2011); Handicap International, “Circle of Impact: The Fatal Footprint of Cluster Munitions on People and Communities,” May 2007, p. 2, http://en.handicapinternational.be/downloads/files/47273/ (accessed 15 March 2011); and ICRC, Factsheet, “Cluster Munition Victims: What is known and what is needed,” February 2008. 7. According to the CMC, a nationwide survey recorded 50,136 UXO casualties between 1963 and 2008, 40% of which occurred after the bombing ceased, and 26% of which were children. In the period of 2004-2007, cluster submunitions were the largest cause of civilian casualties. CMC, Press Release, “Lao PDR: Five Children Killed in Cluster Bomb Blast,” 11 March 2010, http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/news/?id=2072 (accessed 10 March 2011). 8. Children victims injured by landmines and other types of unexploded ordnance that produce blast impacts often suffer similar injuries and the life-long consequences of amputations occurring an early age. 9. UN Missions in Sudan (UNMIS), “Five children killed in grenade explosion,” ReliefWeb, 11 March 2010, www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EGUA-83FT4Y?OpenDocument (accessed 14 March 2011); “SUDAN: Urgent cash needed for demining,” IRIN via ReliefWeb, 11 May 2010, www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/DNEO-85CJ7C?OpenDocument (accessed 14 March 2011). 10. UNMIS, “Five children killed in grenade explosion,” ReliefWeb, 11 March 2010, www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EGUA-83FT4Y?OpenDocument and “SUDAN: Urgent cash needed for demining,” IRIN via ReliefWeb, 11 May 2010, http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/DNEO-85CJ7C?OpenDocument http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/DNEO-85CJ7C?OpenDocument (accessed 14 March 2011). 11. MAG, News Release, “D.R. Congo: emergency clearance of Mbandaka airport,” 28 June 2010, www.maginternational.org/news/dr-congo-emergency-clearance-of-mbandaka-airport/ (accessed 15 July 2010). 12. “Chinkipora residents fear un-exploded shells under rubbles,” Kashmir Media Service, 16 March 2010, www.kmsnews.org/news/chinkipora-residents-fear-un-exploded-shells-under-rubbles (accessed 2 July 2010). 13. Antipersonnel mines and cluster munitions were categorically prohibited under the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty and the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. For States Parties to these conventions, a complete prohibition on the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of these two weapons was considered to be the only acceptable solution to address the humanitarian harm caused by the weapons and to prevent future suffering. That explosive weapons categorically create risks for civilians is also recognised in the 2003 CCW Protocol V on ERW, which contains regulations on the use of all explosive weapons and seeks to minimise the occurrence of all types of explosive remnants of war, covering both UXO and AXO. Protocol V codifies the principle of user-responsibility in relation to explosive weapons, with obligations placed on the users to provide assistance to facilitate marking, removal, and destruction of explosive remnants of war, and to record and make available data on their use of explosive weapons to facilitate clearance and risk education. Protocol V also contains voluntary generic preventive measures aimed at minimising the occurrence of ERW, with provisions addressing the entire life cycle of explosive weapons, from production, manufacturing, management, training, transfer, and stockpiling. The Protocol also contains many vaguely constructed provisions and possible loopholes that present challenges for its implementation in practice and furthermore only applies to ERW created after the entry into force of the protocol for each High Contracting Party. For a commentary on Protocol V, see Katherine Harrison and Richard Moyes, “Ambiguity in Practice: Benchmarks for the implementa-tion of CCW Protocol V,” Landmine Action, 2009, http://www.landmineaction.org/resources/UKWGLM_21503%281%29.pdf (accessed 17 February 2011).

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053 democratic rePuBlic of conGo 4–5 apri l 2010

exPlosiVe attack leaVes uxo BlockinG airPortcivilians killedUnclear.35

civilians injuredUnclear.36

displacement“Mass” displacement was reported, with some of the displaced seeking refuge in the Republic of Congo.

damage to infrastructure• Airport closed for several months during UXO clearance operations.• Electricity network damaged.

damage to services• Hospital drug supplies ran low and morgue facilities were overwhelmed, due to the large number of casualties.• Shortage of drugs in the local medical clinic.

disruption to humanitarian operationsOxfam suspended operations in the northwest of the country.

economic impact• Shops closed for several days due to insecurity.• Disruption to local fishing activities.• Access for goods blocked during airport closure.• Food prices increased.37

uxo riskPresence of UXO presented additional risk to the local population for several months, necessitating mine risk education and a clearance operation.

eventArtillery, rockets, mortars, and grenades were used around the airport and in several neighbourhoods across the province’s largest city. Many of the munitions failed to explode, causing high levels of UXO contamination at the airport and “within metres of residential areas.”

locationAir Congo square, near Mbandaka city airport, and Camp Bokala in Mbandaka II, both in Equateur province.

explosive weaponRockets, grenades, mortars and heavy artillery.

reported userEnyele rebel group, a non-state armed group, and Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo, FARDC), with possible support from the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democractic Republic of Congo (MONUC ).38

35. 26 corpses and at least 30 injured are mentioned in an IRIN report, the BBC reported 11 civilian deaths, and an AFP article cites Caritas as stating that 12 civilians were killed. AOAV has received confirmation from local sources that 14 FARDC were killed, three peacekeepers from the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democractic Republic of Congo (MONUC ), and more than 50 bodies of unknown identity (civilians, FARDC or MONUC) were buried along roadsides and thrown into the river. However, it is impossible to determine which casualties resulted from the use of explosive weapons, as firearms may also have been involved. While the death of a peacekeeper was reported as caused by shrapnel, MONUC stated that: “The total death toll among the population and the attackers remains unknown,” and later reports do not attempt to clarify the matter.36. See above.37. The period during which prices were inflated was not specified in reports.38. Local sources in Mbandaka state that the Enyele rebels used mortars, small arms and light weapons, and stated that FARDC forces used heavy artillery in retaliation. However, they were unable to confirm whether MONUC also used explosive weapons in support of FARDC.

64


“we were about to pull out a lady from the rubble when another jet came and bombed us. then i lost consciousness.” Dilla Baz Khan, survivor, Associated Press

“the bombing continued as people were busy in relief work...there is not a single taleban in our area. the military was given wrong information.” Kashmalo Khan, 63, resident who lost 11 family members, The Times

054 Pakistan 10–11 apri l 2010

BomBs droPPed on VillaGe kill women and children

civilians killed45–75, including women and children.


damage to propertyHouse destroyed.

eventTwo bombs were dropped on a village. The first hit a house, and the second was dropped twenty minutes later, while people were assisting the initial casualties.

locationSera Vela village, Khyber region.

explosive weaponAir-dropped bombs.39

reported userPakistani Armed Forces.

39. Described as ‘airstrikes’ by The Guardian and The New York Times, and ‘bombings’ by Associated Press.

055 Burma 15 apri l 2010

crowded festiVal BomBed

civilians killed8–10, including three women.

civilians injured75–170, including at least 16 women.

eventThree explosive devices were detonated at around 15:00 at a pavilion by a lake in Yangon city, where hundreds of people were celebrating the Thingyan New Year water festival.

locationFestival pavilion, Kandawgyi Lake, Yangon (Rangoon) city.

explosive weaponThree bombs or grenades.


65



idPs BomBed, relatiVes search for limBs



disruption to humanitarian operationsUN programmes assisting displaced people were temporarily suspended in Kohat and neighbouring Hangu.

eventA man detonated an IED as 300 internally displaced people (IDPs) were lining up to register, hoping to obtain food. As people gathered to help the wounded, another man detonated an IED.

locationKacha Pukha camp, outskirts of Kohat city, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

explosive weaponTwo IEDs.

reported userLashkar-e-Jhangvi, a non-state armed group.


school BomBinG kills and injures children

civilians killed1 eight-year-old boy.

civilians injured10 children.

damage to property• Two vehicles destroyed.• One shop partially damaged.

eventAn IED exploded outside the main gate of a high school.

locationShop outside a high school, Jamrud Road, near Peshawar.

explosive weaponTimed or remote-controlled IED containing 2kg of explosives, steel and ball bearings.


“the blasts were so powerful that the limbs of people scattered throughout the area. People are searching limbs of their dear ones in nearby crop fields.” Mohammed Qasim, resident, Reuters


dozens killed By ied in crowded market

civilians killed22–25, including a police official.


eventAn IED was detonated in a crowded market during a protest, at around 18:30.

locationQizza Khawani (‘Storytellers’) Bazaar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

explosive weaponIED containing 6–8kg of explosives, steel pellets, and ball bearings.


66


059 thailand 22 apri l 2010

Grenades kill and injure oVer 76 in city centre

civilians killed1–3, including one woman.


eventGrenades detonated in Bangkok city centre.

locationBangkok’s business district, near a hotel and bank.

explosive weaponM-79 grenades.


060 ethioPia 24 apri l 2010

café BomB kills 5, injures 20

civilians killed5.


eventBombs were detonated in a café, on market day.

locationCafé, Adi Daero town, Tigray region.

explosive weaponBombs, described as “very powerful.”


061 somalia 25 apri l 2010

10 dead, 40 wounded By market shellinG

civilians killed10, including women and children.

civilians injured40, including women and children.

eventShells were fired at the Bakara market area, following attacks on the presidential palace.

locationBakara market area, Sinay market, Biyomalow mosque.


reported userThe African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

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062 sudan 29 apri l 2010

Girl killed in BomBinG of VillaGe water source

civilians killed8–9, including a nine-year-old girl.


damage to propertyLivestock killed.

eventBombs were dropped on a village water source where girls were collecting water.

locationAn oasis in Girgigirgi village, near Jebel Mun, Darfur.


reported userSudanese Armed Forces.40

40. Human Rights Watch and Radio Dbanga both state that Sudanese warplanes were responsible, however aSudanese Armed Forces spokesperson, Al Sawarmi Sa’ad “denied that any attack had taken place”, accordingto Radio Dbanga.

“i saw smoke coming from the water point following the bombing. i knew that my daughters, zainab, age 13, and magbula, age 9, were at the pump to collect water for the day. i ran to the pump and saw zeinab [sic] was bleeding from several places in her body and magbula was already dead. i could not even look at her burned body. i sat on the ground trying to hold my tears.” Father of two of the victims, Human Rights Watch

063 iraq 10 may 2010

textile factory workers hit By exPlosiVe weaPons



eventTwo cars parked outside the factory and containing explosives were detonated by remote-control as workers were leaving the factory at around 13:30. As media and rescue workers arrived to help the wounded, a person carrying an IED detonated it at the scene.

locationOutside a textile factory, Hila, capital of Babil province.

explosive weaponTwo cars filled with explosives, and one IED.


“Terrified people were running in different directions. i saw dead people, some burned and crying…dozens of wounded people asking for help were lying on the ground.” Jassim Znad Abid, taxi driver, Associated Press

“witnesses said they saw blood pooled and pieces of flesh on the ground outside the factory.” Associated Press

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064 iraq 14 may 2010

exPlosiVe weaPons at footBall match cause scores of casualties



eventA person drove a car containing explosives into a football match, detonating it amidst supporters and the players. Two more people carrying IEDs then detonated them amidst the crowd of around 250 people who were watching the match.

locationTal Afar town, between Mosul city and the Syrian border.

explosive weaponCar bomb and two IEDs.


“many of the wounded were taken by ambulance to dahuk, some 60 miles [95 kilometers] away because local hospitals were overburdened.” Associated Press

065 rwanda 15 may 2010

exPlosions cause Panic in crowded market

civilians killed2.


eventA grenade exploded in a crowded market at around 19:30, followed minutes later by a grenade explosion at a busy bus station.

locationCrowded market in Kiyovu, central Kigali, and the city’s busiest bus station, in Nyabugogo, Kigali.

explosive weaponTwo grenades.


“everybody was busy selling or buying when we suddenly heard an explosion. with the recent explosions still in everyone’s memory, everyone bolted straight away.” Meriam Nyarasafari, trader, AFP

69


In addition to the humanitarian harm caused by explosive weapons at the time of use or the lingering impacts from ERW after use, the mere presence of explosive weapons in populated areas can create risks of harm for those nearby.

Accidents in weapons storage facilities, caused by inadequate stockpile management and surplus munitions, compounded by factors such as the location of stockpiles in dangerous proximity to populated areas, pose unnecessary risks to civilians and endanger public safety.1 Furthermore, poorly managed, unsecured, or abandoned stockpiles of explosive weapons, along with eRw, are a prime source of materials for the creation of IeDs.2 The likelihood of stockpile accidents or diversion of stockpiled explosive weapons is significantly higher in post-conflict environments, where a lack of implementation of safety and security standards can serve to greatly increase the risk of accident or incident.3

Stockpile explosions in populated areas

Explosive detonations in stockpiles can cause high numbers of casualties, widespread destruction of infrastructure, disruption of livelihood, and economic harm to entire communities, along with serious environmental damage and high costs of clearance and risk of ERW.5

In Tanzania (12), a series of explosions in the Mbagala ammunition storage depot located in a densely populated residential suburb of the capital Dar-es-Salaam tore through neighbourhoods over several hours, killing over 20 and injuring over 600 others. Munitions ignited and were strewn across a large radius from the blast site, and one person was killed by fragmentation 15 kilometres from the storage depot.6 Two children were killed by unexploded ordnance from the incident nearly five months later.7 Up to 20,000 families were left homeless after the incident, living temporarily in makeshift tents in camps set up by the Red Cross.8

According to a Tanzanian solider, “the incident occurred accidentally…the deaths and some of the losses

could not have occurred at all if residential areas were distant enough. Most of the 29 people who died in the tragedy were civilians who could have survived if they were far enough from the military base.”10

Many citizens were reported to have lost confidence in the Tanzanian government, which they blamed for allowing civilians to build housing too close to a military armoury.11 A national NGO condemned the government for failing to meet their obligations to protect the population,12 and called on the government to move the Mbagala Army Base away from the residential neighbourhood, at least five kilometres from civilian houses.13

The consequences for failing to take urgent and significant action can be severe. Nearly one year later, in February 2011, another catastrophic incident occurred in a separate explosive weapons stockpile, also located in a heavily populated area on the outskirts of Dar-es-Salaam. Multiple explosions over several hours at the Gongola Mboto storage facility killed over 20 persons and injured at least 100 others,14 causing thousands to flee in panic.15

In another incident in Gaza (98), what was thought to be a stockpile explosion caused by a fire in a Hamas security compound located in a densely crowded residential neighbourhood injured up to 26 persons, including three women and up to 18 schoolchildren. The three successive explosions caused severe damage to dozens of houses, three schools, a United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNWRA) health centre, and the community’s electricity network.16 The schools were located within a UNRWA housing project to shelter people whose homes had previously been destroyed by the Israeli Defence Forces. 17

“ammunition stockpiles...can form a double problem. where researched, it has been demonstrated that much of the ammunition circulating among armed non-state actors has been illicitly diverted from state security forces. and warehouses of ammunition, sometimes placed in densely populated areas, have recently exploded in a number of countries, causing thousands of casualties.” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon4

hARm FRom exploSIoNS IN STockpIleS

70


The Gaza-based Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) had made multiple calls on the territory’s Hamas leaders not to store explosive materials in civilian areas. A few months earlier, a similar explosion in Gaza (85) was reported to have wounded 58 people and destroyed seven houses. The PCHR stated that the incident “points to the seriousness of the continued storage of explosives by the Palestinian resistance groups in civilian-populated areas, which poses a constant threat to the lives of civilians, and constitutes a violation of human rights and international humanitarian law; accordingly such behaviour must be banned.”18 According to the PCHR, a further risk of storing explosive weapons in such a manner is that it increases the likelihood of humanitarian harm due to the Israel Defense Forces’ public and continued threats to attack such sites.19

In 2010, the US Bureau of Political-Military Affairs reported that since 1995 there have been 218 known incidents involving stockpiles of ammunition, causing over 4,700 deaths and nearly 5,700 injuries. Humanitarian harm resulting from stockpile events is likely to increase in coming years as munitions already sitting in stockpiles for decades continue to age and deteriorate further, increasing their volatility and the likelihood of further harmful explosive events.21

Safe management practices in explosive weapons stockpiles and ensuring the location of stockpiles at safe distances from populated areas are critical to reduce the risks of humanitarian harm. While a logical conclusion would be to locate stockpiles as far from populated areas as possible, there are often ties between stockpiles and communities, as stockpiles can actually have a positive economic impact on communities by providing employment and service industry opportunities.22 Further complicating factors include the need for rapid and easy access to stockpiles by military units, along with increasing civilian demands for land use, causing encroachment on formerly unpopulated areas.23 The costs of clean-up after a stockpile explosion however can be far greater than the costs associated with the relocation of part or all of stockpiles away from populated areas, or improving management, storage facility conditions, and destroying surplus or aging munitions.24

Risks of theft and diversion

Surplus and poorly managed stockpiles can lead to diversion into illicit use and trade, meaning that explosive weapons often find their way back into conflicts and insurgencies, and/or fuel terrorism, crime, and other types of armed violence, with long term impacts for national and regional security and stability.25

A number of other incidents document the use of grenades in populated areas, on a global scale. Incidents occurring in Burundi (39), Rwanda (65), Kenya (71), Thailand (59), Mexico (95), the Philippines (93), and Kosovo (72), where grenades were used by individuals or non-state armed groups against local populations, reflect the humanitarian harm caused by explosive weapons no longer in possession of state militaries. This supports the link between weakened state control over explosive weapons stockpiles, increased weapons proliferation, and subsequent humanitarian harm. In one such incident in Kenya (71), three grenades were thrown into the midst of a crowded rally at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park, killing four persons and injuring 131 others. An investigation into the source of the grenades ensued, as they were suspected to have come from a military armoury at Isiolo, as inventory numbers believed to be associated with the Kenyan Armed Forces were reportedly found on the firing pins. The incident sparked a government investigation and political condemnation from Members of Parliament,26 as well as the Kenyan National Council of Churches, who criticised the government over the issue, saying, “Who else in this country holds explosive devices?”27

Source for IeDs

Many of the incidents compiled in this report show a range of humanitarian harm caused by the use of IEDs in populated areas on nearly every continent. Many such incidents occur in Iraq and Afghanistan, where lack of state control over explosive weapons, massive quantities of poorly stockpiled and abandoned explosive weapons,28 and ERW have been widely documented as serious causes of concern. The use of formerly state-owned explosive weapons to manufacture IEDs has become a large-scale phenomenon in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The humanitarian harm caused by the use of IEDs is diverse and often severe. A survey of explosive weapons use over a six-month period in 2006, by Landmine Action, revealed that IED incidents had occurred in 38 countries, with 90% of casualties reported as civilians when IEDs were used in populated areas.29 The impacts of such use, as demonstrated by incidents in this report and occurring

“the blast shook through a densely crowded neighbourhood in rafah.” AP, Gaza20

“these explosives are not bought in shops.” MP, Martha Karua

“i had started doing petty business selling food but the bombs destroyed everything, including my house. i now live in a tent with no hope of economic recovery.” Mwanaeli Hamisi, survivor, Tanzania9

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across countries including Sri Lanka, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Ukraine, Iraq, the Philippines, Indonesia, Somalia, Thailand, Burundi, Colombia, India, Russia, Burma, Ethiopia, Uganda, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and Algeria, share certain similarities including large numbers of casualties due to use in crowds or densely populated areas, overburdening the capacity of medical infrastructure to treat complex injuries and multiple traumas, and demonstrate the long-term costs associated with rehabilitation of victims and serious damage to infrastructure. The use of IEDs in markets is a particular pattern reflected in this report in incidents occurring in Thailand, Burundi, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Iraq,30 which displays the manifold humanitarian impacts, including economic and social harm (see Damage to infrastructure, property, and services). Alongside these impacts, the communicative nature of IED attacks can lead to political destabilization and further insecurity.31

conclusions

The availability of and access to explosive weapons through poor stockpile management, diversion, corruption, and other forms of illicit transfer exacerbates humanitarian harm from both conflict and non-conflict violence.32 Addressing unsecured and poorly managed stockpiles of explosive weapons, abandoned explosive weapons, and ERW, can serve to reduce the supply of materials available for IEDs.33 Additionally, taking measures to prevent accidental stockpile explosions are of urgent importance, especially in light of indications that the risk of further humanitarian harm from stockpile explosions is likely to increase in the future.

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IED made from an 81mm mortar, containing nails to create shrapnel

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Notes

1. “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus: Report of the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 61/72 to consider further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus,” UN General Assembly, A/63/182, 28 July 2008, p. 2, www.un-casa.org/CASAUpload/ELibrary/A-63-182.pdf (accessed 14 March 2011). 2. “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus: Report of the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 61/72 to consider further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus,” UN General Assembly, A/63/182, 28 July 2008, p. 3, www.un-casa.org/CASAUpload/ELibrary/A-63-182.pdf (accessed 14 March 2011); and Owen Greene, Sally Holt, and Adrian Wilkinson, “Ammunition Stocks: Promoting Safe and Secure Storage and Disposal,” Biting the Bullet Briefing 18, September 2005, p. 8. MANPADS, detonators, bulk explosives, anti-tank mines, anti-personnel mines, small arms ammunitions, high explosive hand/rifle grenades, anti-tank missiles, and anti-tank rockets, along with ammunition for artillery, mortars and tanks, are some of the most sought after types of munitions by illegal groups and should be considered a priority for ensuring stockpile security and or destruction. 3. Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), “Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) Undesired Explosive Events in Ammunition Storage Areas,” Geneva, November 2002, pp. 4-12. 4. “Report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council on Small Arms,” UN Security Council, S/2008/258, 17 April 2008, http://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/SALW/Docs/SGReportonSmallArms2008.pdf (accessed 14 March 2011). 5. “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus: Report of the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 61/72 to consider further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus,” UN General Assembly, A/63/182, 28 July 2008, p. 3. 6. “Tanzania armoury blasts toll rises to 11,” AFP, posted by IOL News, 30 April 2009, www.iol.co.za/news/africa/tanzania-armoury-blasts-toll-rises-to-11-1.441939 (accessed 31 January 2011); and “Hundreds hurt by Tanzania blast,” BBC, 30 April 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8026929.stm (accessed 14 July 2010). 7. UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, “Tanzania travel advice,” 17 January 2011, www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/sub-saharan-africa/tanzania (accessed 4 February 2011). 8. Howard Lesser, “Tanzanian blast victims seek urgent resettlement aid,” Voice of America News, posted by ReliefWeb, 26 May 2009, www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JBRN-7SEJB8?OpenDocument (accessed 4 February 2010). 9. “Mbagala blasts: a bitter lesson for all,” Daily News Online, Tanzania, 12 June 2009, www.dailynews.co.tz/feature/?n=2504&cat=feature (accessed 14 July 2010). 10. “Mbagala blasts: a bitter lesson for all,” Daily News Online, Tanzania, 12 June 2009, www.dailynews.co.tz/feature/?n=2504&cat=feature (accessed 14 July 2010). 11. “Mbagala blasts: a bitter lesson for all,” Daily News Online, Tanzania, 12 June 2009, www.dailynews.co.tz/feature/?n=2504&cat=feature (accessed 14 July 2010).

12. Specifically, for failing to implement agreed measures during the UN Biennial Meeting of States Parties on the Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons. 13. IANSA, “Hundreds hurt in Tanzanian armoury blast,” [undated], www.iansa.org/regions/cafrica/armoury_blast_tanza09.htm (accessed 14 July 2010). 14. This incident occurred outside of the reporting period covered in this report. According to an ISS article, the number injured was 300. Institute for Security Studies, “Weapons Stockpiles a Threat,” 28 February 2011, www.issafrica.org/iss_today.php?ID=1240 (accessed 1 March 2011). 15. At least 4,000 people took shelter in a stadium, searching for loved ones separated in the chaos. According to the Tanzanian Red Cross, over 200 unaccompanied children arrived at the stadium, some only months old. By the following morning, 23 depots had been destroyed, along with numerous houses, and a school in the area, with debris scattered over a 15km radius. Ali Sultan and Jason Straziuso, “Tanzania Explosion Kills At Least 20,” AP, via The Huffington Post, 17 February 2011, www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/17/tanzania-explosion-kills-_n_824394.html (accessed 1 March 2011); and “Tanzania blast: At least 20 dead in Dar es Salaam,” BBC, 17 February 2011, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12490089 (accessed 1 March 2011). 16. UNOCHA, “Protection of civilians: 20-26 October 2010,” Occupied Palestinian Territory, 26 October 2010, www.unispal.un.org/pdfs/WBN378.pdf (accessed 8 November 2010); and Palestinian Center for Human Rights, “PCHR calls for seriously investigating the circumstances of the internal explosion in Rafah in which 26 persons were wounded, including 17 children,” 21 October 2010, www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7084:pchr-calls-for-seriously-investigating-the-circumstances-of-internal-explosion-in-rafah-in-which-26-persons-were-wounded-including-17-children-&catid=131:new&Itemid=183 (accessed 8 November 2010). The reports differ on the number of schools destroyed; PCHR claims three and OCHA states four. 17. Palestinian Center for Human Rights, “PCHR calls for seriously investigating the circumstances of the internal explosion in Rafah in which 26 persons were wounded, including 17 children,” 21 October 2010, www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7084:pchr-calls-for-seriously-investigating-the-circumstances-of-internal-explosion-in-rafah-in-which-26-persons-were-wounded-including-17-children-&catid=131:new&Itemid=183 (accessed 8 November 2010). 18. Ibrahim Barzak, “Blast in Hamas compound in Gaza wounds children,” Associated Press, posted by Sign on San Diego, 20 October 2010, www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/oct/20/blast-in-hamas-compound-in-gaza-wounds-children/ (accessed 8 October 2010). 19. Palestinian Center for Human Rights, “PCHR calls for seriously investigating the circumstances of the internal explosion in Rafah in which 26 persons were wounded, including 17 children,” 21 October 2010, www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7084:pchr-calls-for-seriously-investigating-the-circumstances-of-internal-explosion-in-rafah-in-which-26-persons-were-wounded-including-17-children-&catid=131:new&Itemid=183 (accessed 8 November 2010). 20. Ibrahim Barzak, “Blast in Hamas compound in Gaza wounds children,” Associated Press, posted by Sign on San Diego, 20 October 2010, www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/oct/20/blast-in-hamas-compound-in-gaza-wounds-children/ (accessed 8 October 2010). 21. Since 2001, recorded explosive events appear to be occurring at an increasing frequency and worsening in the size and scale of their effects. Explosive events in stockpiles of explosive weapons have occurred across the globe, in countries including Russia, Kazakhstan, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, Albania, Colombia, Mozambique, Syria, DRC, Sudan, Serbia, Afghanistan, Ukraine, India, Ecuador, Peru, Thailand, Nigeria, Vietnam, Yemen, Guinea, and Brazil. US Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, “Dangerous Depots,” 19 May 2010, www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/141988.htm (accessed 1 March 2011). 22. Michael Ashkenazi, “Chapter 18: Ammunition Stockpiles and Communities,” in Bevan, James (ed.) Conventional Ammunition in Surplus: A Reference Guide, January 2008, pp. 166, 170. 23. The placement of stockpiles is often determined in relation to four factors: “in wide open spaces to ensure security and minimize the impact of potential explosions; close to transportation nexuses to ensure ease of access; and close to the security forces that use them to ensure uninterrupted supply,” and for countries which have military doctrines based on the use of paramilitary forces, a wider dispersal of stockpiles may be put in place to enable access to local militias or units. Michael Ashkenazi, “Chapter 18: Ammunition Stockpiles and Communities,” in Bevan, James (ed.) Conventional Ammunition in Surplus: A Reference Guide, January 2008, p. 166. 24. “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus : Report of the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 61/72 to consider further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus,” UN General Assembly, A/63/182, 28 July 2008, p. 17. The UN report notes that a cost-benefit analysis should be employed to estimate the real costs of storage and security, including staff salaries, capital depreciation of infrastructure and assets, operating costs and fuel and electricity charges over the identified storage period, recommending that in many cases surplus disposal rather than retention is often the most cost effective and safe choice. See also, GICHD, “Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) Undesired Explosive Events in Ammunition Storage Areas,” Geneva, November 2002, p. 10; SEESAC Activity Reports – report AR/071, “Cost Benefit Analysis of SALW Storage versus Destruction,” 22 June 2006; and GICHD, “Guide to

Recommendations

• States and other relevant actors should make greater efforts to ensure safe stockpiling practices are implemented to reduce the risk of humanitarian harm from stockpile explosions and the risk of theft and diversion as a source of materials for IEDs. States and other relevant actors should destroy all surplus or unstable stocks of explosive weapons. In doing so, states and other relevant actors should accede to and implement existing regional and best practice standards for the storage, management, and destruction of stockpiles of explosive weapons. 34

• States and donors should promote greater international cooperation on stockpile management, and make available assistance for stockpile management and destruction programs to reduce risk of future harm.

• States should consider the development of comprehensive and rigorous international standards governing munitions storage, management, and destruction.

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Ammunition Storage,” p. 40. For example, In India, on 28 April 2000, an explosion in the Bharatpur ammunition storage area resulted in five deaths, the evacuation of 10,000 people and destroyed USD 90 million worth of stockpiled munitions. The incident was intensified by the fact that vegetation surrounding the facility had not been cut back and as a result, the fire that spread through the vegetation triggered subsequent explosions in the area. Ironically, the grass around the facility had not been cut for two years in an effort to save costs. GICHD, “Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) Undesired Explosive Events in Ammuni-tion Storage Areas,” Geneva, November 2002, p. 12. Source: Bharatnet News and Current Affairs, 6 July 2000. 25. “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus : Report of the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 61/72 to consider further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus,” UN General Assembly, 28 July 2008, A/63/182, p. 3. In many instances presented in this report, both the type of weapon used and its source were not reported. However, several incidents reflect aspects of this relationship. For example, in the aftermath of the stockpile explosion incident in Tanzania in 2009 discussed above, two men were arrested and found to be in possession of 10 live explosive devices, showing that the risk of theft or diversion, can occur on a small, as well as large scale, during explosive events in stockpiles or at times when security protocols are not properly in place. The risk of diversion through lack of adequate security and oversight, including corruption in armed forces is another source of explosive material and weapons. In two incidents in the Philippines (23, 99), it was unclear whether the 81mm mortars used to make the IEDs were recovered as ERW or appropriated by illicit transfer. In either case, the mortars most likely were once property of the Philippines Armed Forces. Johanna Camille Sisante & Howie Severino, “AFP: Bombers used rogue MILF’s signature,” GMANews.TV, 8 July 2009, www.gmanews.tv/story/166934/AFP-Bombers-used-rogue-MILFs-signature# (accessed 14 July 2010). 26. “Saitoti faces hostile MPs after park blast,” Daily Nation, 16 June 2010, www.nation.co.ke/News/Saitoti%20faces%20hostile%20MPs%20over%20park%20blast/-/1056/940592/-/4213ub/-/index.html (accessed 5 July 2010). 27. “Kenya Churches blame government for grenade attacks,” BBC, 14 June 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/10311179.stm (accessed 5 July 2010). 28. Iraq was estimated to have a stockpile of 650,000 tons of munitions prior to the US and coalition invasion. In 2004, it was reported that the US military had secured 400,000 tons, but an estimated 250,000 tons remained unaccounted for. At the end of 2005, it was estimated that stocks of abandoned ammunition in Afghanistan totalled between 55,000–110,000 tons. See Owen Greene, Sally Holt, and Adrian Wilkinson, “Ammunition Stocks: Promoting Safe and Secure Storage and Disposal,” Biting the Bullet Briefing 18, September 2005, p. 8; Erik K. Lauritzen, Mogens Staarup, Inés García Sánchez, “Industrial Ammunition Stockpile Recovery: Saving Energy and Resources and Protecting the Environment,” Jour-nal of Mine Action, Winter 2006, www.maic.jmu.edu/journal/10.2/focus/lauritzen/lauritzen.htm (accessed 1 March 2011); and Human Rights Watch, “Iraq: Coalition Ignored Warnings on Weapons Stocks,” 24 October 2004, www.hrw.org/en/news/2004/10/29/iraq-coalition-ignored-warnings-weapons-stocksl; (accessed 3 March 2011). 29. Presentation by Richard Moyes, Landmine Action, “IEDs and explosive violence – fram-ing the humanitarian problem,” Group of Governmental Experts of Amended Protocol II to the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, 20 April 2009, www.landmineaction.org/resources/LMA%20presentation%20on%20IEDs%20to%20the%20UN%20CCW.pdf, (accessed 1 March 2011). 30. Other incidents involving state use of explosive weapons or the use of non-improvised explosive weapons by unknown actors in markets occurred in Somalia, Rwanda, Afghani-stan, Egypt, and Yemen. 31. Presentation by Richard Moyes, Landmine Action, “IEDs and explosive violence – fram-ing the humanitarian problem,” Group of Governmental Experts of Amended Protocol II to the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, 20 April 2009, www.landmineaction.org/resources/LMA%20presentation%20on%20IEDs%20to%20the%20UN%20CCW.pdf (accessed 1 March 2011). 32. “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus: Report of the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to General As-sembly resolution 61/72 to consider further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus,” UN General Assembly, A/63/182, 28 July 2008, p. 7. 33. Other factors such as the availability of commercial materials commonly used in IED construction and networks also play a role. See presentation by Richard Moyes, Landmine Action, “IEDs and explosive violence – framing the humanitarian problem,” Group of Govern-mental Experts of Amended Protocol II to the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, 20 April 2009, www.landmineaction.org/resources/LMA%20presentation%20on%20IEDs%20to%20the%20UN%20CCW.pdf (accessed 1 March 2011). 34. See for example NATO standards for stockpile management and destruction; OSCE, South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC); and Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional standards. Katherine Harrison and Richard Moyes, “Ambiguity in Practice: Benchmarks for the implementation of CCW Protocol V,” Landmine Action, 2009, p. 44, fn. 166, www.land-mineaction.org/resources/UKWGLM_21503%281%29.pdf (accessed 17 February 2011).

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066 somalia 16 may 2010

heaVy casualties as shellinG hits market

civilians killed20–24. civilians injured58–60.

eventDuring the opening session of parliament, Al Shabaab fired mortars, to which the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) peacekeepers responded with heavy artillery and mortars. The parliament building was left undamaged, and most casualties were in the Bakara market area.

locationMogadishu parliament and Bakara market area.

explosive weaponMortars.

reported userThe African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), or Al Shabaab, a non-state armed group.41

41. Reports state that the two groups were exchanging shell fire, but which group was responsible for firing themortars which killed and injured civilians was not reported.

067 iraq 21 may 2010

car BomB hits coffee shoP, oVer 70 dead and injured



damage to propertyMany shops destroyed, roof of coffee shop collapsed.

eventA car bomb was detonated in an open-air market in front of a coffee shop.

locationOpen-air market, Khalis town, Diyala province.

explosive weaponCar bomb.


“the blast was severe. many shops were destroyed and the roofs collapsed… the roof of the coffee shop, which was full of people, also collapsed.” Abdul Jabar Ihmoid, Police lieutenant, Reuters

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068 russia 26 may 2010

BomB kills and injures theatre-Goers

civilians killed7, including five women and a 12-year-old girl.


eventA bomb exploded outside a theatre, 15 minutes before the dance performance was due to begin.

locationOutside a theatre in Stavropol city.

explosive weaponAn IED disguised as a carton of juice, packed with small metal objects to create a shrapnel effect, remote-detonated.


“about 15–20 minutes before the start of the concert we heard an explosion. we saw the blast had practically flung aside the crowd that had gathered outside...about 100–150 people.” Rustam, eyewitness, Reuters

069 iraq 29–30 may 2010

VillaGes shelled causinG mass disPlacement

civilians killed1 fourteen-year-old girl.


displacement30 families were displaced.

damage to infrastructureFarm buildings damaged.

damage to propertyAgricultural land damaged by shelling.

economic impactVillagers were displaced during a short planting season, meaning they were absent at a crucial time for planting and tending crops.

eventVillages were shelled.

locationVillage in Wenza, Choman district, Balakiyaki area, northeast of Irbil province.


reported userArmed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“i cried because i was afraid as the shelling came closer. But when i heard the crying of my neighbors, i forgot everything. ‘oh my Basoz,’ i heard them say. i couldn’t stand it anymore. when the shelling died down, we saw the bloody body of Basoz.” Shanaz Qadr, 13 years old, best friend of victim, Human Rights Watch

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071 kenya 13 June 2010

Grenades injure oVer 100 at rally in stadium

civilians killed4.42


eventGrenades were detonated at a crowded religious/political rally43 at 18:30.

locationA crowded stadium, Uhuru Park, Nairobi.

explosive weaponThree grenades, including one stun grenade, which was detonated first.


072 somalia 29 June – 1 July 2010

shells hit hosPital

civilians killed1.

civilians injured1.

damage to infrastructure Hospital triage building roof destroyed and walls damaged.

eventThree shells hit the triage building of a hospital in Mogadishu, where war-wounded patients were waiting for treatment.

locationKeysaney Hospital, northern Mogadishu.

explosive weaponThree shells.


42. According to Daily Nation reports, six people were reportedly killed, however it was noted that up to two of the dead were possibly responsible for detonating the grenades.43. The rally was being held by the ‘No’ campaign, staged by Christian leaders campaigning for a ‘No’ vote in the forthcoming referendum on the proposed constitution.44. As opposing sides campaigned to affect the outcome of the forthcoming referendum, the explosions occurred at a religious rally staged by ‘No’ campaigners, who then blamed the government for the attacks, saying: “Who else in this country holds explosive devices?” Others placed the blame on the side of the ‘No’ campaign. See BBC and Reuters reports.

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070 yemen 7 June 2010

artillery shells destroy homes, kill and injure ciVilians


civilians injured11–17, including six women.

damage to property• 14–27 houses damaged.• Shops damaged.

eventShelling of a town.

locationDaleh town, southern Yemen.



Inside a building that took a direct hit, Sa’dah, Yemen, March 2010

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074 iraq 7 July 2010

ied attack on PilGrims leaVes dozens dead and oVer 80 injured



eventA person detonated an IED amidst a large gathering of pilgrims in north Baghdad.

locationBridge near to Kadhimiya shrine, Adhamiya neighbourhood, north Baghdad.



“we heard a big explosion and everybody rushed to the site to see bodies and hear wounded people, screaming for help.” Saif al-Azami, eyewitness, Associated Press, reported in Al Jazeera

073 kosoVo 2 July 2010

Grenade exPlodes in crowd of 600 Protestors

civilians killed1.


event:Explosive device detonated at a protest gathering in a town centre.

locationProtest gathering of 600 people, Mitrovica town centre.


reported userUnknown.“we were just standing

there and all of a sudden we heard and felt the explosion...i was standing with my wife and felt the pain in my hand.” Zoran Rakic, injured bystander, BBC

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076 Pakistan 9 July 2010

BomBinG of VillaGe kills women and children

civilians killed65–105, including women, five children, and people with disabilities who were queuing to receive wheelchairs.

civilians injured100–115, including displaced people collecting relief nearby.

damage to infrastructurePrison wall damaged.

damage to property• 30–80 shops damaged.• Cars damaged.

Victim assistanceCompensation was paid to families of victims at a rate of PKR 100,000 per person killed and PKR 50,000 per person injured (equivalent to USD 1,159.46 and USD 579.72 respectively at date of incident).

eventAn IED detonated at an administrative office at around 09:30, followed by an IED detonation at a nearby crowded market.

locationEkkaghund bazaar and nearby administrative office, Yakaghund village, Mohmand agency, 15 miles from Peshawar.

explosive weaponAn IED and a truck filled with explosives.

reported userTehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a non-state armed group.

“we have recovered more bodies from the debris of dozens of shops that were razed to the ground by the blast…the number of dead has increased.” Rasool Khan, local political official, Al Jazeera

075 afGhanistan 8 July 2010

“errant” artillery hits market


civilians injured7, or more.

eventAt around 10:00, stray artillery fire hit a market.

locationMarket,45 Jani Khel district, Paktia province.


reported userInternational Security Assistance Force (ISAF) unit, NATO forces.

45. AFP and Xinhua reports explained that the civilian casualties were initially attributed to a rocket attack on abazaar in Jani Khel. However, later reports which state that NATO forces were responsible for the casualties donot specify exactly where they occurred, nor clarify whether the shells hit the market referred to, or a differentlocation.

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The impact of explosive weapons on the civilian population is wide-ranging and indiscriminate, affecting many areas of victims’ lives.

Traumatic injuries, psychological, and psychosocial trauma are some of the direct effects of the use of explosive weapons on individuals, including men, women, children and the elderly. victims may suffer physical and psychological impairments, which require long-term medical care and assistance. moreover, in the immediate aftermath of an explosive weapons incident, victims may lack access to food, shelter, and basic livelihood.

Beyond the direct and immediate effects, survivors of armed violence often face lack of access to education, employment and income generation opportunities, and other obstacles in society that prevent them from effective recovery, rehabilitation, and enjoyment of their rights. As persons with disabilities, they also experience exclusion and discrimination, which worsens in times of humanitarian emergencies.1 Moreover, it is not only persons directly injured that are victimised by explosive weapons. Family members and entire communities can suffer as a result of incidents of use of explosive weapons as well as from the continuing long-term insecurity that they pose.2

The incidents reported here reflect the negative impact of explosive weapons, including direct deaths and injuries, as well as the long-term health and socio-economic consequences associated with their use. They also show prominently the extent of the need for immediate and long-term assistance to individual victims and survivors,3 and the difficulties that the governments face in trying to meet these needs, especially where damage to infrastructure renders provision of the medical, rehabilitation, and other services impossible.

While the incidents reported do not always indicate whether assistance was provided to victims, incidents in Gaza (1), Tanzania (12), Afghanistan (13, 16, 44), Nepal (17), the Philippines (23), India (26, 47), Pakistan (76), and Uganda (77), demonstrate the growing recognition by the governments and users of explosive weapons that assistance should be provided. These incidents help draw attention to the fact that short-term emergency support must be complemented by long-term efforts to ensure access to health services,

education, livelihood and income-generation opportunities, as well as timely access to justice.

State responsibility

Humanitarian organisations and NGOs are often first on the scene and provide invaluable emergency assistance to victims, including medical care, provision of shelter, and supplies to alleviate immediate suffering. Following a stockpile explosion in a residential area of Tanzania (12), the Red Cross provided medical assistance to the victims, as well as food and counselling.4 When a church was bombed in Nepal (17) killing three churchgoers and injuring up to 15, a Christian network reportedly raised over USD 26,000 to help pay for medicine and hospital bills for survivors.5 In the Philippines (23), an international foundation committed to providing prosthetic limbs to one of the victims following an IED explosion outside a church.6 In Burma (19), when 3,500 displaced people were displaced again by shelling, they were assisted by a humanitarian NGO, which provided them with food, clothes, plastic tarpaulins, and mosquito repellent.7

It is important that the humanitarian organisations acting in these situations are aware of the rights and the specific needs that victims have, to ensure appropriate intervention, and to provide assistance in a way that is respectful of people’s dignity.8

At the same time, it must be recognised that governments bear primary responsibility to ensure their citizens receive assistance and can access the services they need for the full realisation of their fundamental human rights.

emergency medical care/assistance

The nature of the injuries caused by explosive weapons use makes urgent medical care essential for recovery. Large numbers of simultaneous victims, a lack of resources in hospitals, and insecurity following an explosive incident often result in large numbers of casualties, and compromise the recovery of those injured (see Health impacts).

In some cases, severe insecurity caused by explosive weapons use in populated areas may prevent victims from obtaining life-saving treatments, resulting in greater loss of life. In an incident in Sri Lanka (15), shelling of the hospital and surrounding area meant that medics were unable to save 20 patients, who otherwise would have lived, due to lack of blood and medical supplies.9 When medical facilities themselves are targeted, such as in Yemen (30) and Somalia (72), such problems are compounded, as these attacks

vIcTIm ASSISTANce

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endanger, kill, or injure existing patients, and further make care for the injured impossible.

psychological support

The psychological impact of the use of explosive weapons on the affected population is diverse, and can happen through direct injury, but also through witnessing an attack, having to look for the bodies of family members, or never finding them, and more broadly, as a result of fear of further attack. The nature of explosive violence makes psychological trauma more prevalent than in other disasters (see Health impacts).10

The size of the affected population can place a strain on local services, which are often unable to provide adequate support in a timely manner. Here again, international humanitarian organisations often fill the gap to ensure assistance is provided. In Kampala, (77), due to limited resources and a large number of victims, the Red Cross sent in psychologists to assist in providing care for the large number of people needing support.11 In Tanzania (12) when a stockpile exploded in a populated area, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies had to provide specific training in psycho-social and post-traumatic counselling to local Red Cross volunteers.12

Victims suffering psychological trauma require long-term sustained support, and sometimes the symptoms of trauma do not surface until some time has passed. This speaks strongly to the need to ensure that local capacities are developed and ongoing efforts take place to provide the support needed to address the psychological impacts of explosive weapons incidents. Moreover, it is important to combat the stigma and lack of awareness associated with mental health more generally, which may prevent victims from seeking treatment. Following a car bomb explosion in a market in Pakistan (33), a local psychologist commented on this lack of awareness.13

monetary assistance

A number of reports reflect recognition of the obligation to provide assistance to victims on the part of states and users of explosive weapons in populated areas. One form of assistance often reported is monetary compensation to families for the family members killed, as well as to those who are injured.

While such assistance helps to alleviate some of the costs associated with the injuries, and offers recognition to the

families of the victims, it can never fully compensate for the loss of life, as was noted by the survivor of a missile attack on a residential area in Gaza (1), who lost many family members in the incident.14 Moreover, the funds provided are often insufficient to cover the costs associated with the injuries and loss incurred, and are sometimes promised but not received.

Monetary support, while helpful, often varies from incident to incident, and where monetary payments to victims are reported, the rates are not always specified (16, 44). However, following an incident in Afghanistan (13), payments made by the Government of Afghanistan were reported as AFA 100,000 per person killed, and AFA 50,000 per person injured (equivalent to USD 1,906.51 and USD 953.30 respectively, at date of incident). In India (26), payments to those killed and injured by the detonation of an unexploded shell were made by the district government, and were set at a similar rate of RP 100,000 per person killed and RP 50,000 per person injured (equivalent to USD 2,033.76 and USD 1,016.88 respectively, at date of incident). These incidents reflect payments made both by the state and the user of the explosive weapons respectively, and show an important acknowledgment of all parties’ responsibility toward the victims.

conclusions

Explosive weapons use victimises individuals, families, and communities at the time of the incident and long thereafter. States and other relevant actors should acknowledge and act upon their responsibility to assist victims of explosive weapons in ensuring timely and adequate recovery, rehabilitation and enjoyment of their rights.

“the survivors of such incidents need counselling, but there is not much awareness of the need.” Asif Khan, psychologist, Pakistan

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Recommendations

• States and users of explosive weapons should take into account the immediate and longer-term impacts of the use of explosive weapons on victims, their families, and communities likely to be affected, in choosing the means and methods of combat, and should adopt a precautionary approach.

• States should accede to and implement victim assistance provisions under the Mine Ban Treaty, Convention on Cluster Munitions, and the Protocol V Plan of Action on Victim Assistance, as well as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ensuring a rights-based approach to victim assistance. States and other relevant actors should ensure the provision of comprehensive, non-discriminatory, age- and gender-sensitive victim assistance programs, and should include victims in victim assistance programming and decision-making processes affecting their lives.

• States and donors should provide international cooperation and assistance for victim assistance and build local and national capacity to address the needs of victims in a comprehensive and long-term approach.

• States and other relevant actors should strive towards the realisation of all rights of victims of explosive weapons and all forms of armed violence, including persons with disabilities more broadly.

“money can’t compensate what i had lost.” Maysa’ a-Samuni, survivor, Gaza

Notes

1. “Background Paper, Article 11 – Situation of risk and humanitarian emergencies,” Third Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, New York, 1-3 September 2010, CRPD/CSP/2010/CRP.5, www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1532 (accessed 28 February 2011). 2. The Convention on Cluster Munitions recognized this and accordingly defines victims in Article 2 to include families and affected communities. 3. The term “survivor” refers to the individual directly injured or affected by the explosive weapons incident. The term “victim” refers to those killed or injured, as well as the broader category of those affected, including the families and communities. 4. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies “Final report: Tanzania explosion,” 2 February 2010, http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/09/MDRTZ009fr.pdf (ac-cessed 15 March 2011). 5. Chirendra Satyal, “Nepal blast victims forgive the bombers,” Union of Catholic Asian News, 24 May 2010, www.ucanews.com/2010/05/24/bomb-blast-victims-forgive-perpetra-tors/ (accessed 27 July 2010). 6. “Explosion victim to get prosthetic legs,” The Philippine Star, 19 October 2010, www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=622174&publicationSubCategoryId=65 (accessed 22 February 2010) 7. AOAV interview with local journalist, Philippines, 20 October 2010. 8. “Background Paper, Article 11 – Situation of risk and humanitarian emergencies,” Third Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, New York, 1-3 September 2010, CRPD/CSP/2010/CRP.5, www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1532 (accessed 28 February 2011). 9. Dr. T. Varatharaja, Mullivaikal Hospital, reported in: “Sri Lankan doctor describes shelling,” BBC, 12 May 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8046744.stm (accessed 6 September 2010). 10. American Academy of Experts in Trauma Stress, “Effects of traumatic stress after mass violence, terror or disaster,” [undated], www.aaets.org/article195.htm (accessed 24 February 2011). 11. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies “Uganda bomb blast,” 22 July 2010, www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/10/MDRUG017.pdf (accessed 22 Febru-ary 2011). 12. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies “Final report: Tanzania explosion,” 2 February 2010, http://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/09/MDRTZ009fr.pdf (accessed 15 March 2011). 13. “Pakistan: Bomb blast victims lack trauma care, counselling,” IRIN, 9 November 2009, www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=86937 (accessed 7 September 2010). 14. “Even if the Israeli confess, I don’t expect any justice from them,” The Independent, 23 October 2010. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/even-if-the-israelis-confess-i-dont-expect-any-justice-from-them-2114251.html#Scene_1 (accessed February 27, 2011).

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077 uGanda 11 July 2010

multiPle exPlosions hit world cuP fans in city centre



damage to servicesHospitals reportedly struggled to cope with the high number of casualties.

Victim assistance• The government approved the payment of UGX 5,000,000 for the families of the dead and UGX 3,000,000 for medical expenses for the injured (equivalent to USD 2,173.54 and USD 1,304.12 respectively, at date of incident).• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IRFC)’s Disaster Relief and Emergency Fund allocated USD 96,948 to the Uganda Red Cross Society to assist in the provision of medical relief.• ICRC donated medical supplies to Mulgao Hospital.• Kenya Red Cross society provided two psychologists for one week to assist with psychosocial support.• AMREF, an African relief organisation, provided expert medical assistance.• Psychosocial support services were provided.

eventAn IED exploded at an Ethiopian-themed restaurant in Kampala, followed by two IEDs exploding at rugby club around 50 minutes later. Both were crowded with people watching the FIFA World Cup final.

locationA rugby club and an Ethiopian restaurant in Kampala.

explosive weaponThree IEDs.

reported userAl Shabaab, a non-state armed group.

“...i just remember running and stepping over the bodies that had blood spilling from their bodies. it was so terrible. it was so noisy and full of crying. i can’t even explain the sound.” Andinda Moses, student, BBC

Below: Francis Semwogerere, on arrival at the hospital after the blasts.

Left: Francis Semwogerere, after two months in hospital. He later died of his injuries.

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84


079 Gaza 13 July 2010

family hit By artillery shells while sittinG outside house

civilians killed1 woman.

civilians injured2–5, including two women and an elderly man.

damage to propertyHouse damaged.

eventArtillery shells hit a family in central Gaza as they were sitting outside their house at around 20:30.

locationJohar-a-Deek village, central Gaza Strip.

explosive weaponTwo artillery shells.

reported userIsrael Defense Forces.“the house...was riddled with shrapnel damage

from tuesday’s shelling, and dried blood still lay in the sand where ne’ema had been killed.” The Guardian

078 PhiliPPines 12 July 2010

Boy killed By exPlosion in town centre

civilians killed1 seven-year-old boy.

civilians injured3–5, including two children.

damage to propertyHouses damaged.

eventAn IED was detonated outside a town hall at around 20:00.

locationMunicipal town hall, near a police post, Datu Piang town, Maguindanao province.



“the intestines were chopped into three. the left hand was cut, not detached because of the skin.” Relative of victim, Datu Piang

“across from the police station is a big park so that’s like a playground and they have social events there…that’s…the main street where you go to the shops and the market.” NGO worker, Datu Piang

Flip flops of boy, 7 years old, killed by IED

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85


080 iran 15 July 2010

ieds at mosque kill and injure hundreds

civilians killed20–28, including “several” Revolutionary Guards.

civilians injured100–308, including “a number” of Revolutionary Guards.

eventA man detonated an IED outside a mosque during a celebration of the prophet’s grandson. As people gathered at the scene, a second man detonated an IED.

locationOutside the Grand Mosque, Zahedan city.

explosive weaponIEDs.

reported userJundollah, a non-state armed group.

081 mexico 15 July 2010

Police: exPlosiVe weaPons escalate Violence

civilians killed3–4, including one to two policemen, a doctor, and one to two rescue workers.


damage to infrastructureTwo police vehicles destroyed.

eventA car bomb exploded at a busy intersection at around 20:00, after police arrived in the area in response to a call saying a police officer had been killed.

locationMajor intersection, Ciudad Juarez, near Texas border.

explosive weaponCar bomb containing 10kg of C4 plastic explosives, detonated via mobile phone.

reported userUnknown.“...the car bomb was

a clear escalation of the violence, a u.s. law enforcement source told reuters. ‘what you are seeing now is a whole new level of violence. it’s a vehicle-born improvised explosive device.’” United States law enforcement source, Reuters

86


082 somalia 18 July 2010

school shelled while children study


civilians injured10–40, including 10 to 14 children.

damage to infrastructureSchool damaged.

eventA shell hit a school where children were studying, towards the end of the school day. The shell was fired during an exchange of fire involving the Somali Armed Forces, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Al Shabaab.

locationA Koranic school, Hamaraweyne district, Mogadishu.

explosive weaponMortar shell.

reported userEither the Somali Armed Forces, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), or Al Shabaab.

“we kept hiding under the concrete buildings in our village for several hours because the shelling was untargeted and rained on to the residential areas.” Dahabo Nurre, resident, BBC

“...the shelling seems to be part of the constant heavy weapons that often causes the civilian casualties of deaths and injuries in mogadishu.”

Hassan Osman, Mogadishu, AllVoices

083 afGhanistan 23 July 2010

rocket kills women and children in VillaGe

civilians killed1–52,46 including women and children.

civilians injured4.

eventA rocket hit a house where villagers were sheltering from fighting.

locationRegey village, Sangin district, Helmand province.

explosive weaponRocket.


46. Casualty figures remain disputed. The government of Afghanistan initially reported 52 civilians killed, which it later revised to 39. An investigation by Brave New Foundation’s ‘Rethink Afghanistan Project,’ which sent a reporter to the location of the incident, alleges that a “massive civilian casualty” had occurred, although they state that they were not able to establish exact figures. The only official ISAF press release on the incident states: “We have no operational reporting that correlates to this alleged incident.” ISAF statements to media confirmed an investigation was being carried out, and various officials have reportedly suggested that “one to three civilians” and “six civilians” may have been killed in the attack. However, an official statement has not yet been published on the outcomes of the investigation, or ISAF’s official position on the incident.47. NATO forces have been widely reported as bearing responsibility for the attack. However, as at 1 January 2011, there has been no official communication either acknowledging or denying responsibility.

“i tried to pull my daughter from the rubble but i couldn’t. i heard her calling for help but i couldn’t reach her.” Abdul Zahar, Sangin resident, Brave New Foundation

“almost every family in the village was placing at least a couple of their loved ones in a bag.” Abdul Barg, Sangin resident, Brave New Foundation

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084 somalia 27 July 2010

mortar shraPnel hits ciVilians in market

civilians killed13–17, including one child.


damage to propertySeveral houses destroyed.

eventMortars struck a market and residential area.

locationBakara market and Taleh district, Mogadishu.


reported userSomali Armed Forces and Al Shabaab, a non-state armed group.

“most victims were killed or wounded by mortar shrapnel in the area of Bakara, while others have been caught in the crossfire.” Ali Muse, Head of Mogadishu’s Ambulance Service, AFP, reported in Ennahar Online

085 Gaza 2 august 2010

PreGnant woman miscarries after exPlosion in refuGee camP

civilians killed0.

civilians injured58, including nine women (one of whom was pregnant and miscarried), and 14 children.

damage to property30 houses damaged, seven houses completely destroyed.

eventExplosion at a refugee camp, at around 01:20.

locationUninhabited house, Deir al-Balah refugee camp, central Gaza Strip.

explosive weaponExplosive materials or weapons.


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087 iraq 3 august 2010

market car BomBinG kills women and children



damage to property• Shops badly damaged.• Many cars destroyed.

086 jordan 2 august 2010

residents killed as hotel hit By rocket

civilians killed1.


damage to propertyThree vehicles destroyed.

eventA rocket hit a resort hotel.

locationIntercontinental Hotel, Aqaba city.

explosive weapon122mm ‘Grad’ rocket.


eventCar bombs exploded at a crowded shopping area selling food and clothes, at around 18:00.

locationCommercial centre, near a gold market, Kut city, Wasit province.

explosive weaponTwo car bombs.


“i saw with my own eyes women and children lying dead and wounded on the ground.” Nasir Salman, local shopkeeper, BBC

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couNTING exploSIve weApoNS cASuAlTIeS

Monitoring and recording the humanitarian harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas is both possible and necessary. States are increasingly recognising that the impacts of armed violence upon civilians, including deaths and injuries, should be systematically recorded, in the same way that many countries record data on crime, or the uk and uS for example have documented and published data on military casualties during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

The 2006 Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, endorsed by over 100 states,1 commits those states to support “initiatives to measure the human, social, and economic costs of armed violence,”2 establishing a broad recognition that the impacts of armed violence extend beyond direct deaths and injuries. Four years later, in endorsing the 2010 Oslo Commitments on Armed Violence, 63 states committed to measure and monitor armed violence.3 Regarding specific explosive weapons casualties, an April 2010 UNIDIR paper on explosive weapons underlined the need for better data collection and analysis on the problem of explosive weapons in populated areas, noting the primary responsibility of states in this regard.4 In a November 2010 meeting of the UN Security Council, states debated a recommendation made by the UN Secretary-General for more systematic data collection on the human costs of explosive weapons use.5 Systematic collection of data on explosive weapons incidents is essential not only in order to hold users accountable; it enables the recognition of victims, the realisation of their rights, and enables users to accurately assess the legitimacy of their actions. There is a range of approaches to data-gathering in contexts of armed violence – from counting individual casualties and incident reporting, through injury surveillance typically under the aegis of the health or justice systems, to large-scale mortality surveys and retrospective domestic and international investigations. Each of these approaches has advantages and disadvantages, with regard to primary access, potential for bias and under- or over-reporting, and timeliness in terms of supporting effective protection and justice for victims. Combining methods can provide the best flexibility, allowing adaptation to best fit what are often challenging circumstances on the ground.

There are, for example, immediate and short-term obstacles to gathering information on the impacts of explosive

weapons, including the sheer number of civilians affected and the particular pattern of damage caused by explosive weapons in populated areas. The severe nature of the impacts can also spark moral outrage, politicising perceptions of civilian casualty figures and obstructing or discouraging efforts to determine the numbers of those killed and injured. These short-term difficulties in counting explosive weapons casualties should be recognised, as some could be mitigated or avoided, thereby facilitating better data collection. In addition to difficulties in ascertaining numbers of direct deaths and injuries, it should also be noted that as explosive weapons incidents can cause a far broader range of humanitarian harm than that caused by for example a gun battle, the nature of explosive weapons incidents means that ‘counting casualties’ is in itself not adequate to capture the full range of impacts suffered by local populations.

It should be recognised that obstacles to data collection are often only short-term in nature. Surveys and retrospective studies, particularly where combined with other methodologies, can be used to accurately document total scale as well as the individual circumstances of casualties caused by armed violence, whether involving explosive weapons or other types of weapons. Such methods are especially important where state capacity for institutional monitoring of violence is weak or substantially depleted. There is a strong argument in favour of supporting and strengthening capacity for monitoring systems in countries affected by armed violence, including monitoring the use and impacts of explosive weapons in a more systematic fashion.

practical obstacles

The obstacles to counting explosive weapons casualties relate in part to the particular impacts of explosive weapons on the body and on structures, particularly when they detonate in populated areas. For a more detailed discussion of these, see Health impacts and Damage to infrastructure, property, and services. It should be recognised that the process of counting explosive weapons casualties may differ significantly from counting casualties of a gun battle or machete attacks. Access to the scene of an incident may be difficult, due to insecurity, collapsed buildings and debris, unstable structures, or ERW. These factors may also hinder the counting process, as described by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) following the intensive use of explosive weapons in the Gaza Strip (1,2), which obstructed evacuation and estimation of casualties.6

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Collapsed buildings can trap bodies or body parts under rubble, as in the instance of a car bomb attack on a volleyball match in Pakistan (40), when a villager described the difficulty of reaching the bodies, stating that heavy machinery would be needed.7

One of the features of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas is that it has the potential to kill or injure scores or even hundreds of people. For first responders to the scene, counting large numbers of bodies can be challenging, and this is particularly likely in populated areas, where fallen buildings and debris add to the chaos following an explosion. As a former ICRC war surgeon has stated, “[c]ounting bodies on the ground is an extremely difficult thing to do. I stopped at 30 once.”8 Following incidents causing large numbers of casualties, patients are likely to be transferred to various different hospitals for treatment, as in the case of an incident in the Philippines (23) and Uganda (77), further complicating efforts to gather essential data.

The blast and fragmentation effects of explosive weapons inflict severe harm to the body, causing traumatic amputations, mutilation, crush injuries, and burns. This presents first responders with further challenges in counting the numbers of people killed. When a car bomb exploded near government buildings in central Baghdad (32), a news report described how paramedics wearing plastic gloves “scooped body parts into plastic bags.”9 The bodies and body parts of those close to the detonation of a powerful explosive weapon may not be recoverable, requiring forensic processes to determine the numbers of dead. In the event that bodies are badly burned or severely mutilated, this may present additional obstacles to distinguishing civilians from combatants.

Relatives sometimes remove bodies or body parts for burial before the counting process has been completed, a situation that was described following the bombing of a mosque in Pakistan (100) and IED attacks in Kampala, Uganda (77).10

The severe and often complex nature of the injuries sustained means that the injured may later succumb to their wounds, changing the relative numbers of those killed and wounded. When a hospital was shelled in Sri Lanka (15), the presiding doctor stated that “…the death toll [is expected] to rise because many of the scores of injured had bad head and stomach wounds.”11 One of the victims of an IED explosion in a church in Nepal (17), Buddha Laxmi, lived for eight days after the explosion, before dying of an internal haemorrhage.12

politicisation

Civilian casualties caused by explosive weapons incidents in populated areas are particularly likely to be politicised, for a number of reasons. The resulting elevated civilian casualties, violent deaths, and severe and complex injuries (see Health impacts) often provoke moral outrage at the local, national, and international levels. This outrage can play a pivotal role in either establishing or questioning the moral authority of a particular group. It can also strengthen calls for accountability, and lead to legal processes. Users of explosive weapons may therefore deliberately contribute to uncertainty about casualty figures in order to avoid or diminish responsibility. This may be done by withholding information,13 exploiting existing uncertainty,14 seeking to inflate figures of casualties caused by their enemies, or accusing victims of inflating casualty numbers in order to gain access to socio-economic support.15

Airstrike on Afghan villages

These dynamics are well represented by information relating to the bombing of villages in Afghanistan’s Farah province (13), on 4 May 2009. This incident caused a large number of civilian casualties (although the circumstances are disputed), and the bodies of those killed by the bombs, whether civilian or combatant, were so degraded that they were buried in mass graves. Reports of civilian casualties varied from zero to 147, and the incident was the subject of extensive media coverage and protests by Afghan civilians. The initial US military field report, which contains updates dated 4, 5, and 6 May 2009, initially lists no civilians killed, then after updates, appears to list up to one civilian killed and up to nine wounded.16 On 6 May 2009, the report notes that the ICRC would verify civilian casualties. The ICRC’s investigation report, handed to General Eikenberry, the US Ambassador at the time, stated that, following a 13-day investigation, the ICRC believed 89 civilians to have been killed.17 The ICRC’s public news release did not give an exact figure, saying instead that “dozens” had been killed.18 On 8 May 2009, local official Abdul Basir Khan stated that 147 civilians had been killed.19 On 20 May 2009, the US Central Command published a statement saying that its investigations had found that 20–35 civilians had been killed,20 and then released a report on 18 June 2009 stating that 26 civilians and 78 combatants had been killed.21 Meanwhile, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), which conducted its own investigation, found that up to 97 civilians had died.22 Some of the reported casualty figures relating to this incident are shown in the graph overleaf.

“the danger to medical staff and the difficulty of extracting the injured from collapsed buildings makes proper evacuation and estimation of casualties difficult.” UNOCHA, Gaza

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By studying the relevant sources, it becomes evident that the US military, the ICRC, and the AIHRC were relatively close in their assessments of the total number of people killed in the incident.23 However, the disputed civilian status of those killed leads to a significant variation in reported civilian casualty figures, shown in the graph above. Such uncertainty about the numbers and status of people killed and injured by an explosive incident can hinder efforts to hold users of explosive weapons accountable for their actions.

overcoming obstacles

Organisations which are independent from users of explosive weapons, including international organisations and NGOs, play an important role in countering such uncertainty by monitoring, recording, or investigating incidents, conducting studies and surveys, and providing independent assessments of casualty figures. However, they often face challenges of resourcing, insecurity, access, and political space. While civil society contributions are important in augmenting or monitoring national capacities, states and users of explosive weapons are primarily responsible for the transparent recording and reporting of civilian casualties of all types of armed violence. Those states who have endorsed the Geneva Declaration and/or signed the Oslo Commitments have explicitly accepted this responsibility.

If explosive weapons are used in populated areas, then short-term uncertainty around casualty figures may be difficult to avoid, particularly in situations of armed conflict. However, in the medium- to long-term these obstacles can be overcome, and incident monitoring, complemented by studies and surveys, can be used to determine casualties. For example, a field survey by the Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights study following Operation Cast Lead in Gaza (1, 2) conducted and published a comprehensive study of not only numbers of the dead and injured, but their civilian/combatant status, sex, age, the weapon that killed them, the part of the body where fatal injuries were sustained, and other variables. This study was begun three days after the temporary ceasefire, and published seven months after the offensive.24 Even without the capability to conduct surveys in the location of the

incident, data produced by Iraq Body Count demonstrates that monitoring of armed violence can be done even with limited resources, producing data which can be used to recognise victims and promote accountability.25 In recent years, large-scale mortality surveys – while often contentious from the point of view of methodology – have been applied in a number of contexts of ongoing armed violence, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan’s Darfur region, and Iraq.26 More broadly, recognition of the need for states to take greater responsibility to ensure systematic monitoring of armed violence should strengthen the norm and practice among users of explosive weapons, as amongst states affected by their use.

conclusions

Responses to the airstrike on Afghan villages discussed above, and the many similar incidents which continue to occur, reflect the “habitual reluctance” of states to share data on victimisation from explosive weapon use.27 The lack of national mechanisms for overall monitoring and recording of armed violence28 mean that following the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, casualties are often not systematically recorded. The resulting uncertainty contributes to politicisation and impedes accountability. Effective, accurate, and independent processes to establish who has been killed and injured by explosive weapons are essential in order to recognise and assist victims, and to develop policies and practices which can more effectively protect civilians from this violence.29

Widespread adoption of transparent methodologies for monitoring casualties caused by armed violence is needed to reduce impunity for attacks, improve access to justice, and facilitate the realisation of the rights of victims and survivors.30 Such methodologies already exist, showing that it is possible to collect such data, even in difficult circumstances.

US Military field data

04.05.2009

Afghan Provincial government 08.05.2009

US CentralCommand statement

20.05.2009

Resident’s reports,New York Times

21.05.2009

Afganistan IndependentHuman Rights Commission

26.05.2009

ICRC13.06.2009

US CentralCommand report

18.06.2009

incident 013, civilians reported killed by various sources

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Notes

1. “What is the declaration?,” Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development website, www.genevadeclaration.org/the-geneva-declaration/what-is-the-declaration.html (accessed 14 March 2011). 2. The Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, Geneva, 7 June 2006, www.genevadeclaration.org/fileadmin/docs/Geneva-Declaration-Armed-Violence-Development-091020-EN.pdf (accessed 14 March 2011). 3. The Oslo Commitments on Armed Violence: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals, Geneva, 12 May 2010, www.osloconferencearmedviolence.no/pop.cfm?FuseAction=Doc&pAction=View&pDocumentId=24790 (accessed 11 March 2011). 4. UNIDIR, “Explosive weapons: framing the problem,” April 2010, www.unidir.org/pdf/activites/pdf2-act527.pdf (accessed 14 July 2010). 5. United Nations Security Council 6427th meeting, 22 November 2010, 15:05, New York, S/PV.6427 (Resumption 1), available at: www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/POC%20SPV%206427.pdf (accessed 13 March 2011). 6. UNOCHA, “Field Update on Gaza from the Humanitarian Coordinator,” 12 January 2009, www.unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/242DAAD0E16F25F88525753C0064E4EF 7. Augustine Anthony, “Pakistan government under pressure after deadly attack,” Reuters, 2 January 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE5BU0CQ20100102 (accessed 30 June 2010). 8. Dr. Robin Coupland, ‘The Solferino cycle’ and documenting the humanitarian effects of explosive weapons,” ICRC, 29 April 2010, available at: UNIDIR, “Explosive weapons – framing the problem (Geneva, 29 Apr 2010), 1st Discourse on Explosive Weapons (DEW) project symposium,” www.explosiveweapons.info/events0/events/ (accessed 17 January 2011). 9. Timothy Williams, “Bombings in Iraq, deadliest since 2007, raise security issue,” The New York Times, 25 October 2010, www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/world/middleeast/26iraq.html (accessed 16 July 2010). 10. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, “Uganda bomb blast,” DREF Operation, 22 July 2010, www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/10/MDRUG017.pdf (accessed 22 February 2011). 11. Dr. T. Varatharaja, Mullivaikal Hospital, reported in: “Sri Lankan doctor describes shelling,” BBC, 12 May 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8046744.stm (accessed 6 September 2010). 12. “Mastermind of church bombing in Nepal arrested,” Compass Direct News, 10 September 2009, www.compassdirect.org/english/country/nepal/9216/ (accessed 27 July 2010). 13. US military documents leaked by Wikileaks and published by The Guardian in October 2010 show that, according to Iraq Body Count’s analysis, the US withheld details of “thousands” of Iraqi civilian deaths. See: Hamit Dardagan and John Sloboda, “Wikileaks Iraq war logs: why Iraq has the right to know the full toll,” The Guardian, ‘Comment is free’ section, 23 October 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/oct/23/iraq-war-logs-right-to-know (accessed 17 January 2011). 14. An AOAV report on UK government attitudes to civilian casualties in Iraq provides an in-depth discussion of this issue. The report publishes UK government documents obtained using Freedom of Information requests, which demonstrate the UK government’s efforts to discredit surveys on Iraqi civilian casualties, apparently in order to avoid accountability. See: Brian Rappert, “A state of ignorance,” Action on Armed Violence, July 2010, www.aoav.org.uk/docs/A%20State%20of%20Ignorance.pdf (accessed 17 January 2011). 15. For example, in a leaked US cable relating to incident 13, Ambassador Eikenberry notes that “The attraction of solatia payments for the deaths of family members could not be ignored as another incentive for higher alleged civilian casualty figures.” See: “ICRC report on Farah civcas

incident states 89 civilians were killed,” Classified US cable, leaked to Wikileaks, published by Aftenposten, 18 February 2011, www.aftenposten.no/spesial/wikileaksdokumenter/article4034434.ece (accessed 1 March 2011). It should be recognised that while this possibility cannot be discounted, the situation for the overwhelming majority of victims of explosive violence is a long struggle for justice. 16. “(ENEMY ACTION) DIRECT FIRE RPT PRT FARAH: 3 HNSF WIA 9 CIV WIA,” US military report, 4 May 2009, procured by Wikileaks and published by The Guardian. See: “Afghanistan war logs: Air strike. US Inquiry later found many more civilian casualties. Red X says ‘dozens’,” The Guardian, 25 July 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/afghanistan/warlogs/FB5A6FCD-78A8-4BD4-9F66-9A10EA65D5A9/print (accessed 28 February 2011). 17. “ICRC report on Farah civcas incident states 89 civilians were killed,” Classified US cable, leaked to Wikileaks, published by Aftenposten, 18 February 2011, www.aftenposten.no/spesial/wikileaksdokumenter/article4034434.ece (accessed 1 March 2011). 18. ICRC, “Afghanistan: ICRC confirms dozens killed in air strikes,” 6 May 2009, www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/afghanistan-news-060509.htm (accessed 28 February 2011). 19. Patrick Cockburn, “Afghans riot over airstrike atrocity,” The Independent, 8 May 2009, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghans-riot-over-airstrike-atrocity-1681070.html (accessed 28 July 2010). 20. “Central command team releases interim findings on Farah battle,” American Forces Press Service, 20 May 2009, www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=54418 (accessed 1 March 2011). 21. US Central Command, “USCENTCOM’s unclassified executive summary, US Central Command Investigation into Civilian Casualties in Farah Province, Afghanistan on 4 May 2009,” 18 June 2009, p. 11, www.centcom.mil/images/stories/stories/farah%20unclass%20exsum%2018%20jun%2009.pdf (accessed 13 July 2010). 22. Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, Press Release, “Balabolook incident,” 26 May 2009, p. 2, www.aihrc.org.af/2010_eng/Eng_pages/Press_releases/2009/pre_rel_balabluk_eng_26may2009.pdf (accessed 13 July 2010). 23. The USCENTCOM report states that 26 civilians and 79 combatants were killed, giving a total of 104. The AIHRC investigation found that 97 civilians and 25–30 combatants were killed, giving a totally of 122–127. The ICRC found that 87 civilians and “a large number of insurgents” were killed. See respectively: US Central Command, “USCENTCOM’s unclassified executive summary, US Central Command Investigation into Civilian Casualties in Farah Province, Afghanistan on 4 May 2009,” 18 June 2009, www.centcom.mil/images/stories/stories/farah%20unclass%20exsum%2018%20jun%2009.pdf (accessed 13 July 2010); Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, Press Release, “Balabolook incident,” 26 May 2009, p. 2, www.aihrc.org.af/2010_eng/Eng_pages/Press_releases/2009/pre_rel_balabluk_eng_26may2009.pdf (accessed 13 July 2010); “ICRC report on Farah civcas incident states 89 civilians were killed,” Classified US cable, leaked to Wikileaks, published by Aftenposten, 18 February 2011, www.aftenposten.no/spesial/wikileaksdokumenter/article4034434.ece (accessed 1 March 2011). 24. The study was reportedly based on interviews with victims and eyewitness and supported by medical evidence. Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, “Cast Lead offensive in numbers,” 2 August 2009, www.mezan.org/upload/8941.pdf (accessed 11 January 2011). 25. See www.iraqbodycount.org 26. See for example: Alkhuzai A, Ahmad I, Hweel M, Ismail T, Hasan H, Younis A, Shawani O et al., 2008.,“Violence-related mortality in Iraq from 2002 to 2006,” The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 358, Issue 5, pp. 484-493, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18655254 (accessed 15 March 20110); Burnham G, Lafta R, Doocy S, Roberts L, 2006, “Mortality after the 2003 invasion of Iraq: a cross-sectional cluster sample survey,” The Lancet, Vol.368, Issue 9545, pp. 1421-1428; Roberts, L, Lafta R, Garfield R, Khudhairi J, Burnham G, 2004, “Mortality before and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq: cluster sample survey,” The Lancet, Vol. 364, Issue 9448, pp. 1857-1864; Depoortere E, Checchi F, Broillet F, Gerstl S, Minetti A, Gayraud O et al., 2004, “Violence and mortality in West Darfur Sudan, 2003–04: epidemiological evidence from four surveys,” The Lancet, Vol. 364, Issue 1315, p. 20; Coghlan B, Brennan R, Ngoy P, Dofara D, Otto B, Clements M, Stewart T, 2006, “Mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a nationwide survey,” The Lancet, Vol. 367, Issue 9504, pp. 44-51. 27. John Sloboda, “The people on the street document casualties – why can’t governments?,” The Guardian, Comment is free section, 2 March 2011, www.guardian.co.uk/commentis-free/2011/mar/02/arab-uprisings-casualties-war-victims (accessed 7 March 2011). 28. Civil Society Conference on Armed Violence and Development, hosted by IKV Pax Christi and Action on Armed Violence, Amsterdam, 24–25 January 2011 Notes by Action on Armed Violence. 29. Brian Rappert and Richard Moyes, “Enhancing the protection of civilians from armed conflict: precauationary lessons,” Medicine, Conflict and Survival, Vol. 26 No.1, January–March 2010, pp. 24–27 30. At a recent civil society conference on armed violence and development, participants emphasised “the key role that documentation plays in ensuring rights of victims and survivors. Without documentation, there is no evidence to access justice and seek redress.” See: “Measuring and monitoring armed violence, strengthening assistance to victims and survivors,” Civil Society Conference on Armed Violence and Development, Amsterdam, 24–25 January 2011, p. 11, www.ikvpaxchristi.nl/files/Documenten/Veiligheid%20en%20Ontwapening/FINAL%20report%20Amsterdam%20Conference%20on%20AVD%20January%202011.pdf (accessed 17 March 2011). 31. “The Oslo Commitments on Armed Violence: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals, Geneva, 12 May 2010, www.osloconferencearmedviolence.no/pop.cfm?FuseAction=Doc&pAction=View&pDocumentId=24790 (accessed 11 March 2011).

Recommendations

• Users of explosive weapons should recognise their responsibility to collect and publish data on use and impacts, including data on civilian deaths and injuries as well as the full range of long-term humanitarian harm.

• States and other relevant actors should recognise the particular issues in collecting data on explosive weapons casualties, as a basis for developing methods to address and mitigate them.

• In line with the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development and the Oslo Commitments on Armed Violence,31 states should implement national systems to monitor the impacts of all incidents of armed violence, including explosive weapons incidents, both on their territories, and caused by their use outside their territories. This data should be seen as public information, and be published accordingly.

93


088 somalia 3 august 2010

shellinG in city hits shoPPers at market

civilians killed4–5, including a ten-year-old boy.


eventShells hit a market.

locationBakara market, Mogadishu.


reported userUnknown.“one mortar landed

between hormud telecommunication company and amal Bank where women often sell milk on the evening.” Eyewitness, All Voices

089 iraq 7 august 2010

market BomB renders Victims’ Bodies unrecoGnisaBle

civilians killed14–60, including women and children.


eventCar bombs and a roadside bomb exploded at a crowded market, at around 19:00 on a Saturday night.

locationAl Ashar Market, Basra.

explosive weaponTwo car bombs and a roadside bomb.


“families of the dead have not been able to identify their relatives’ bodies because many are too badly burned.” Reuters, reported by the BBC

94


090 colomBia 12 august 2010

car BomB damaGes hundreds of homes

civilians killed0.


damage to infrastructureBank damaged.

damage to property• 424 houses damaged.• Windows of several buildings, as high as 30 stories up, shattered.

eventA car bomb exploded outside a building in Bogota at 05:30, as a bus was passing by.

locationA building housing Caracol radio station, in a residential area near to the financial district.

explosive weaponCar bomb containing 50kg of explosives.


091 somalia 16 september 2010

shellinG in city centre kills and injures dozens



eventMortars hit government buildings and civilian areas of the city.

locationGovernment buildings, Bakara market, Hodan, Halw-wadag, Wardhigley and Hamarweyne districts, Mogadishu.


reported userAl Shabaab, a non-state armed group, and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

“all our windows are broken – a neighbour on the 12th floor claims a piece of a car made it to her apartment.” Julian Wilches, local resident, BBC

95


95


“…STOP BOMBARDING THE MARKET,

WHICH IS A HEAVILY POPULATED

AREA.”Ali Dhere, Chairman, Bakara Market Businessmen

Abdi Hajji Hussein, “Somalia businessmen call on government, AMISOM to stop shelling,” All Headline News, 25 September 2010, www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7020015367

96


092 iran 22 september 2010

women killed By Parade BomBinG

civilians killed10–12, including 10 women and one child.


eventA bomb was detonated at a parade, in a VIP section reserved for female spectators. It was reportedly planted in the bushes among the crowd, about 50 yards from the main parade.

locationMahabad city, West Azerbaijan Province.

explosive weaponTime-bomb.


“the bomb site was littered with broken branches and mangled plastic chairs...” The New York Times

093 PhiliPPines 26 september 2010

women’s leGs amPutated followinG Graduation Grenade attack

civilians killed0.


Victim assistanceThe Nippon Foundation committed to provide two prosthetic limbs for one of the victims by April 2011.

eventA grenade was thrown into the crowd as law students left their final bar examination in Manila.

locationOutside the exam hall of De La Salle University in Manila.

explosive weaponAn MK-2 fragmentation grenade.48


48. According to ABS-CBN News, the main sources of this type of weapon are military personnel and policemen,who sell them on the black market.

“i still want to become a lawyer someday.” Raissa Laurel, student and double amputee, ABS CBN News

97


095 mexico 2 october 2010

Grenade kills children in town Plaza

civilians killed0.

civilians injured1–20, including four to six children, the youngest of which was three years old.

eventA grenade was thrown into a crowded plaza at 23:00 on a Saturday evening.

locationA square near the town hall in Guadalupe, a municipality of Monterrey city.



094 niGeria 1 october 2010

exPlosiVe weaPons harm oVer 26 in caPital

civilians killed8–19, including a policeman and a security agent.


eventA series of explosions in the city of Abuja, during the 50th anniversary celebrations of Nigerian independence.

locationTwo explosions outside the Ministry of Justice and one in Eagle Square, Abuja.

explosive weaponTwo car bombs and a third, unidentified explosive device.

reported userThe Movement for the Emancipation of the Nigerian Delta (MEND), a non-state armed group.

98


096 india 8 october 2010

children see classmates killed as exPlosiVe weaPon hits school

civilians killed5, including three children aged six, 11 and 12.


damage to propertyBuildings damaged.

eventA school was caught in the crossfire of a battle between Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Naxal militants. A grenade or mortar shell hit the electricity wire running over the school premises and landed by the front step, killing students and workers.

locationState school, Sawargaon village, Gadchiroli district, close to the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border.

explosive weaponA grenade or a 2-inch mortar shell.

reported userEither the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, or Naxal militants.49

49. According to a The Times of India report, is unclear which of the two parties was responsible for theexplosive weapon use which caused the casualties.

097 alGeria 12 october 2010

construction site BomBinG kills workers

civilians killed5.


eventAn explosion at a construction site at 13:00.

locationConstruction site in Tlidjen, near the eastern border with Tunisia, 68km southwest of Tebessa.

explosive weaponA remote-control roadside bomb.


50. According to Africa News, there has been no claim of responsibility, but authorities reportedly suspect al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa.

“we heard the sound of firing and then there was a loud thud. he was my friend since day one in class.” Rajesh Kumar Narote, eyewitness, The Times of India

“the security forces should not have fired at the village even if the maoists were passing through.” Schoolteacher, The Times of India

99


099 PhiliPPines 21 october 2010

mortar BomB detonates on crowded Bus



eventAt 10:30, an IED exploded on a rural transit bus carrying more than 50 passengers.

locationMatalam, North Cotabato, on a bus travelling from Cagayan de Oro City to Tacurong City.

explosive weaponAn 81mm mortar shell, triggered via mobile phone.


098 Gaza 20 october 2010

women and children injured By exPlosion in crowded neiGhBourhood

civilians killed0.

civilians injured12–26, including three women and five to 18 school children.

damage to infrastructure• Three schools damaged.• United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) health centre damaged. • Electricity network damaged.

damage to propertyDozens of houses damaged.

eventThree successive explosions took place at 10:15 at a Hamas rocket training site in a crowded residential area.

locationHamas security compound, Abu-Bakar al-Seddiq street, Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood, in the west of Rafah city.

explosive weaponUnclear; possible stockpile explosion caused by fire.

reported userHamas.51

51. It is recognised that in the case of a stockpile eplosion, the explosive weapons in question have not been ‘used’. The responsible party cannot therefore be considered a ‘user’, however they can still be recognised as the party responsible and accountable for the incident.

“the blast shook through a densely crowded neighbourhood in rafah.” Sign on San Diego

100


100 Pakistan 5 november 2010

mosque roof collaPses on worshiPPers after ied attack

civilians killed55–82, or more, including two to eleven children.

civilians injured:60–100, or more, including women and children.

damage to property• Mosque roof and wall damaged. • Nearby houses damaged.

eventA young man detonated an IED at a mosque where 300 people were gathered for midday prayers.

locationA Sunni mosque in the Akharwal part of Darra Adam Khel town, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

explosive weaponIED containing 15–25kg of explosives.

reported userThe Taliban, a non–state armed group.“I had just finished the prayers when there

was a big explosion. it was very terrifying…i just fell down.” 15-year-old Mohib Ullah, Reuters

“[Ban ki-moon] is dismayed by the indiscriminate killing of civilians in a place of worship, which no cause can justify.” Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, AFP

“only one wall was left standing and the concrete roof collapsed, leaving bloodstains, human remains and hair scattered in the debris.” Lehaz Ali, AFP

A destroyed mosque, Sa’dah, Yemen, March 2010

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101


Research was undertaken during the period June 2010 to March 2011, and was conducted using secondary sources, the majority of which were internet media articles, with reference to primary sources where available. Reliance on mainly English language sources is likely to have created a degree of geopolitical bias in the source data, although efforts have been made to present a range of different country and territory contexts.1 Selection methods used mean that the data presented in this report should not be taken as a basis for statistical analysis of the problem of explosive weapon use in populated areas.

Sources

The sources used to compile each incident profile are listed in the final section of this report, pages 100–109,2 and include:

Selection criteria

Only explosive weapons incidents in populated areas which reportedly caused harm to civilians were considered (see Definitions). The minimum requirement for selection of an incident was that the date, event, location, explosive weapon, and number of civilians reported killed and/or injured were reported.4 Where available, additional information was recorded on: reported user or accountable party; damage to infrastructure, property and services; damage to humanitarian operations; ERW risk; long-term health and socio-economic impacts; and victim assistance. One hundred incidents meeting the minimum criteria were selected in order to reflect the

1. Different explosive weapons.

2. Different territories and populated area locations, including urban and rural locations.

3. Different contexts, including conflict and non-conflict settings.

4. Different users or responsible parties, including states, coalitions of states, non-state actors and unknown actors.

5. Different harmful impacts to civilians, including: death and injury; damage to infrastructure, property, and services; displacement; damage or disruption to humanitarian operations; and negative health, social and economic impacts.

6. Civilian harm caused before, during and after the time of use of the explosive weapon.5

7. Intentional and unintended civilian harm caused by explosive weapons, as well as harm caused by incidents where the intention of the explosive weapons user was unclear.6

Notes

1. While most sources were accessed in English language form, many had originally been published in a different language, such as German, French or Chinese, then provided in translation, from sources such as Deutsche Presse Agentur, Radio France International, or Xinhua news agencies. 2. As some news sites become unavailable after a certain period of time, a printed copy of all sources referred to in this report is retained at the AOAV offices in London, UK. 3. More informal sources such as AllVoices were only used where information was largely in agreement with that reported by at least two other sources more traditionally seen as ‘credible’.4. The one exception to this was incident 53 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the precise numbers of civilian casualties could not be ascertained, even by local sources.5. It is recognised that long-term effects may continue to impact local populations for decades after use, whereas the timeframe of this report is limited to incidents occurring during 2009 and 2010, and is published in April 2011. Consequently, when presenting incidents of harm caused by explosive weapons use in populated areas which occurred after the time of use, only those effects which were reported on between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2010 could be reported here.6. As discussed in the Introduction to this report, issues of intentionality and targeting are considered to be outside the scope of this report, and are therefore not addressed here.

Annex : The research process

1. Media reports, including unattributed news wire reports, name-attributed and non-attributed international, regional, national and local media reports, and news articles by national and local radio stations.

2. UN statements, fact-finding mission reporting, UN mission news releases, and UN agency bulletins, field updates, and situation reports.

3. Humanitarian agency field updates, situation reports, and news releases.

4. International and national NGO reports and news releases.

5. Statements and reports published by states.

6. NATO’s International Security Assistance Force news releases.

7. State, international NGO and NGO investigation reports.

8. U.S. military incident reports, procured by Wikileaks and published by The Guardian.

9. International journal articles.

10. University monitoring project updates.

11. Informal media.3

12. Interviews conducted by Action on Armed Violence in Mindanao, the Philippines.

102


001. Gaza, 5 January 2009 · “Report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict,” UN Human Rights Council, A/HRC/12/48, pp.159, 162, 166. · Alan Cowell, “30 confirmed dead in shelling of Gaza family,” The New York Times, 9 January 2010, www.nytimes.com/2009/01/10/world/middleeast/10zeitoun.html?_r=1 (accessed 25 June 2010). · UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, UN Human Rights Council, Public hearings, Gaza City, Afternoon Session,28 June 2009, link available at: www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/FactFindingMis-sion.htm (accessed 25 June 2010). · Tim Butcher, “Gaza bombing witnesses describe horror of Israeli strike,” Daily Telegraph, 9 January 2009, www.tele-graph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4209550/Gaza-bombing-witnesses-describe-horror-of-Israeli-strike.html (accessed 25 June 2010). · Maysa’ a-Samuni, “Testimony: Soldiers Killed and injured dozens of persons from a-Samuni family in a-Zeitun neighborhood, Gaza, Jan. ‘09,” B’tselem (the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights, the Occupied Territories), 7 January 2009, www.btselem.org/english/testimonies/20090104_soldiers_kill_and_wound_mem-bers_of_a_samuni_family.asp (accessed 15 February 2011). · “Judge Richard Goldstone’s Notes for the Panel on civilians in war zones,” provided to Maurice Ostroff following the Stanford University panel event “Civilians in War Zones,” 20 January 2011, (audio available at: www.cisac.stanford.edu/events/6282) published in Maurice Ostroff, “Judge Goldstone at Stanford University panel on January 20, 2011,” Countering Bias and Misinformation mainly about the Arab-Israel conflict, 28 January 2011, www.maurice-ostroff.tripod.com/id315.html (accessed 28 February 2011). 002. Gaza, 6 January 2009 · Chris McGreal & Rory McCarthy, “Israeli shelling kills dozens at UN school in Gaza,” The Guardian, 6 January 2009, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/06/gaza-israel-death-un (accessed 25 June 2010). · Jonathan Miller, “Why UN ‘reversal’ over Gaza school should be treated with caution,” Channel 4 News Online, 5 February 2009, www.channel4.com/news/articles/world/middle_east/why+un+reversal+over+gaza+school+should+be+treated+with+caution/2924657 (accessed 30 June 2010). · UN Office for the Coordination Humanitarian Affairs, “Field Update on Gaza from the Humanitarian Coordinator 30 Jan–02 Feb 2009,”2 February 2009, www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/VDUX-7NVTZ9?OpenDocument (accessed 25 June 2010). · David Williams, “Gaza’s darkest day: 40 die as Israel bombs ‘safe haven’ UN school,” Daily Mail Online, 7 January 2009, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1106542/Gazas-darkest-day-40-die-Israel-bombs-safe-haven-UN-school.html (accessed 25 June 2010). · Statement by the Secretary-General on strike on UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) School in Gaza, UN Secretary-General Office of the Spokesperson, 6 January 2009, www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3647 (accessed 25 June 2010).

003. Sri Lanka, 24 January 2009 · Testimony of Dr. Anna Neistat, Senior Researcher, Emer-gencies Division, “Recent Developments in Sri Lanka,” Hear-ing of the [US] Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Human Rights Watch, 24 February 2009, pp.4–5, www.omiusajpic.org/files/2009/02/neistattestimony090224p1.pdf (accessed 28 June 2010). · International Crisis Group, “War Crimes in Sri Lanka, Asia Report N°191,” 17 May 2010, www.crisisgroup.org/en/re-gions/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/191-war-crimes-in-sri-lanka.

aspx · University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) “Let Them Speak, Part II: From Kilinochchi to Puthukkudiyiruppu,” Special Report No: 34, 13 December 2009, www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/Special%20rep34/Uthr-sp.rp34part2.htm (accessed 28 June 2010). · US Department of State, “Report to congress on incidents during the recent conflict in Sri Lanka,” 2009, www.state.gov/documents/organization/131025.pdf

004. Sudan, 24 January 2009 · “Sudan’s government bombs rebel-held town in Darfur,” Associated Press Cairo, posted by The New York Times, 25 January 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/world/africa/26sudan.html (accessed 8 July 2010). · “Darfur suffers worst violence in a year,” IRIN, 28 January 2009, www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=82616 (accessed 8 July 2010). · Andrew Heavens, “Sudanese forces bomb town in Darfur – U.N., rebels,” Reuters, 24 January 2009, www.reuters.com/article/idUSLO582190 (accessed 8 July 2010).

005. Egypt, 22 February 2009 · “Many foreigners among casualties in Cairo grenade attack,” CBC News, 22 February 2009, www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/02/22/cairo-attack.html (accessed 19 July 2010). · “Tourist killed, 23 other people wounded in Egypt bomb-ing,” CNN, 23 February 2009, www.edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/22/egypt.blast/index.html (accessed 19 July 2010). · Anil Dawer, Jack Shenker, & Robert Booth, “Eleven arrested after Cairo market bombing,” The Guardian, 23 February 2009, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/23/cairo-bomb-kills-french-student (accessed 19 July 2010). · “Bombs threaten Egypt tourist industry anew,” AFP News, 23 February 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hFQqiyfibcQ1IR7mh-uTdfGs7bzA (accessed 19 July 2010).

006. Israel, 28 February 2009 · “Five rockets fired into Israel,” BBC, 28 February 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7916555.stm (accessed 1 July 2010). · Shmulik Hadad, “Experts: grads in Ashkelon were advanced,” YNet News, posted by The Jewish Policy Center website, 28 February 2009, www.jewishpolicycenter.org/798/experts-grads-in-ashkelon-were-advanced (ac-cessed 1 July 2010). · Nissan Ratzlav Katz, “Gaza rockets can reach Israel’s 5th largest city,” Arutz Sheva, posted by Israel Nation News, 26 May 2008, www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/126297 (accessed 1 July 2010). · Tova Dadon, “Two grad rockets hit Ashkelon: no injuries,” YNet News, 28 February 2009, www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3678710,00.html (accessed 1 July 2010). · Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel submits letter of complaint to UN on continuing rocket fire,” 2 March 2009, www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Foreign+Relations/Israel+and+the+UN/Issues/Israel_submits_letter_com-plaint_UN_continuing_rocket_fire_2-Mar-2009 (accessed 1 July 2010). · “Ashkelon empties, trauma teams struggle,” IRIN, 13 Janu-ary 2009, www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=82338 (accessed 1 July 2010).

007. China, 6 March 2009 · “Central China blast kills two, injures one,” Xinhua, posted by Sina, 7 March 2009, www.english.sina.com/china/2009/0307/223914.html (accessed 27 July 2010). · “Blast kills two, injures over 100 in China’s Henan 6 March,” Hong Kong Information Centre for Human Rights

and Democracy, 7 March 2009, www.hkhkhk.com/english/indexen.html (accessed 27 July 2010). · “Bomb explodes in China home,” Associated Press, post-ed by The Straits Times, 7 March 2009, www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_347201.html (accessed 27 July 2010).

008. Sri Lanka, 10 March 2009 · Anjana Pasricha, “14 killed in Sri Lanka suicide bombing,” Voice of America News, 10 March 2010, www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2009-03-10-voa11-68679287.html (accessed 27 July 2010). · “Minister wounded in deadly suicide bombing,” Sky News, 10 March 2010, www.news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Sri-Lanka-Suicide-Bombing-Minister-Injured-And-Many-Feared-Killed-In-Attack/Article/200903215238074?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teas-er_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15238074_Sri_Lanka_Sui-cide_Bombing%2C_Minister_Injured_And_Many_Feared_Killed_In_Attack (accessed 17 July 2010). · Bharatha Marawarachi, “Sri Lanka suicide blast kills 14,” Associated Press, posted by The Independent, 10 March 2010, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/blast-kills-10-near-sri-lanka-mosque-1641167.html (accessed 27 July 2010).

009. Yemen, 15 March 2009 · “Tourists killed in Yemen blast,” Al Jazeera, 16 March 2009, www.english.aljazeera.net/news/middlee-ast/2009/03/2009315235211534410.html (accessed 28 July 2010). · “Four South Koreans killed in Yemen explosion,” AFP, posted by Arabian Business, 16 March 2009, www.arabianbusiness.com/four-south-koreans-killed-in-yemen-explosion-78987.html (accessed 28 July 2010). · “Yemen bombings kill 4 South Koreans, guide,” AFP, posted by msnbc.com, 15 March 2009, www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29707705/ (accessed 28 July 2010). · “Tourists die in Yemen explosion,” BBC, 15 March 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7945013.stm (accessed 28 July 2010).

010. Pakistan, 19 March 2009 · “Rocket attack kills 10 civilians in Pakistan,” Inter-Asian News Service, posted by Thaindian, 20 March 2009, www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/rocket-attack-kills-10-civilians-in-pakistan_100168992.html (accessed 21 September 2010). · [US] National Counter Terrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, “2009 report on terrorism,” Washington, D.C., 30 April 2010, p.36 www.nctc.gov/witsbanner/docs/2009_report_on_terrorism.pdf (accessed 21 September 2010). · “Militant rocket kills 10 civilians in north-western Pakistan,” DPA, posted by ReliefWeb, 20 March 2009, www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/ASAZ-7QBELY?OpenDocument&RSS20=02-P (accessed 21 September 2009).

011. Pakistan, 5 April 2009 · Declan Walsh, “Taliban blamed for suicide attack on Paki-stan mosque,” The Guardian, 5 April 2009, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/05/pakistan-mosque-attack-taliban (accessed 10 August 2010). · Abdur Raziq, “22 people killed in Chakwal suicide bomb attack,” Allvoices, 5 April 2009, www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/2911223-22-people-killed-in-chakwal-suicide-bomb-attack (accessed 10 August 2010). · Jane Perlez & Pir Zubair Shah, “Day of suicide attacks displays strength of Pakistani Taliban,” The New York Times, 5 April 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/world/asia/06pstan.html (accessed 10 August 2010).

100 Incidents sources

103


· “Timeline: attacks destabilize strife-torn Pakistan,” Reuters, 5 April 2009, www.reuters.com/article/idUS-TRE53417W20090405 (accessed 10 August 2010). · “At least 24 killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan,” Voice of America News, 5 April 2009, www1.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2009-04-05-voa11-68684507.html (ac-cessed 10 August 2010).

012. Tanzania, 29 April 2009 · “Aging munitions, pervasive danger,” Voice of America News, 6 April 2010, www1.voanews.com/policy/editorials/Aging-Munitions--95635714.html?refresh=1 (accessed 14 July 2010). · “Hundreds hurt by Tanzania blast,” BBC, 30 April 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8026929.stm (ac-cessed 14 July 2010). · “Mbagala blasts: a bitter lesson for all,” Daily News Online, Tanzania, 12 June 2009, www.dailynews.co.tz/feature/?n=2504&cat=feature (accessed 14 July 2010). · Vincent Mnyanyika & Zephania Ubwani, “10 killed by ex-plosions at Dar armoury,” The Daily Nation, Kenya, 29 April 2009, www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/592506/-/u65mig/-/index.html (accessed 14 July 2010). · US Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, “Dangerous depots: the growing humanitarian problem posed by aging and poorly maintained munitions storage sites,” 19 May 2010, www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/141988.htm (accessed 14 July 2010). · “Humanitarian: Children deafened by Mbagala bombs,” Wanted in Africa Online, 18 May 2009, www.dar-es-salaam.wantedinafrica.com/news/news.php?id_n=5850 (accessed 14 July 2010). · “Hundreds hurt in Tanzanian armoury blast,” IANSA, [undated], www.iansa.org/regions/cafrica/armoury_blast_tanza09.htm (accessed 14 July 2010). · “Tanzania blast victims demand aid,” BBC, 4 May 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8032261.stm (ac-cessed 14 July 2010). · Felister Peter & Zuwena Shame, “Bombs defused safely,” The Guardian, posted by IPP media, www.216.69.164.44/ipp/guardian/2009/05/08/136093.html (accessed 14 July 2010). · “Tanzania armoury blasts toll rises to 11,” AFP, posted by IOL News, 30 April 2009, www.iol.co.za/news/africa/tanzania-armoury-blasts-toll-rises-to-11-1.441939 (accessed 31 January 2011). · Zuwena Shame, “Team to re-do evaluation in Mbagala bomb blasts,” The Guardian, posted by IPP Media, 13 May 2009, www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=2053 (accessed 31 January 2010). · UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, “Tanzania travel advice,” 17 January 2011, www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/sub-saharan-africa/tanzania (accessed 4 February 2011). · Bilham Kimati, “Compensation of Mbagala bomb blast victims winds up,” Daily News, 30 January 2011, www.dailynews.co.tz/home/?n=16829&cat=home (accessed 4 February 2011). · Howard Lesser, “Tanzanian blast victims seek urgent resettlement aid,” Voice of America News, posted by ReliefWeb, 26 May 2009, www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/JBRN-7SEJB8?OpenDocument (accessed 4 February 2010). · “Mbagala victims to get Sh8.5 billion,” The Citizen, posted by AllAfrica, 13 August 2009, www.allafrica.com/stories/200908140727.html (accessed 4 February 2011).

013. Afghanistan, 4 May 2009 · US Central Command, “USCENTCOM’s unclassified ex-ecutive summary, U.S. Central Command Investigation into Civilian Casualties in Farah Province, Afghanistan on 4 May 2009,” 18 June 2009, www.centcom.mil/images/stories/stories/farah%20unclass%20exsum%2018%20jun%2009.pdf (accessed 13 July 2010). · Patrick Cockburn, “Afghans riot over airstrike atrocity,” The Independent, 8 May 2009, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghans-riot-over-airstrike-atrocity-1681070.html (accessed 28 July 2010).

· Shapoor Saber, Fetrat Zerak & Abaceen Nasimi, “Soul searching following Farah tragedy,” Revolutionary Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), 5 June 2009, www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2009/06/05/afghanistan-soul-searching-following-farah-tragedy.html (accessed 13 July 2010). · Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission press release, “Balabolook incident,” Kabul, 26 May 2009, www.aihrc.org.af/2010_eng/Eng_pages/Press_releas-es/2009/pre_rel_balabluk_eng_26may2009.pdf (accessed 13 July 2010). · Sabrina Tavernise, “U.S. rejects Afghan civilian death es-timate,” The New York Times, 20 May 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/world/asia/21afghan.html (accessed 13 July 2010). · Patrick Cockburn, “Afghans riot over airstrike atrocity,” The Independent, 8 May 2009, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghans-riot-over-airstrike-atrocity-1681070.html (accessed 28 July 2010). · Data downloaded at: “Wikileaks Afghanistan files: down-load the key incidents as a spreadsheet,” The Guardian, 25 July 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/datablog/2010/jul/25/wikileaks-afghanistan-data#data (accessed 26 July 2010). · Jason Motlagh, “Afghanistan: after an airstrike,” Frontline World, posted by The Pulitzer Centre on Crisis Reporting, 29 May 2009, video interview available online at: www.pulitzercenter.org/openitem.cfm?id=1562 (accessed 13 July 2010). · Carlotta Gall, “A vow to cut Afghan civilian deaths,” The New York Times, 19 May 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/world/asia/20afghan.html?_r=1 (ac-cessed 13 July 2010).

014. Afghanistan, 7 May 2009 · Dawood Ahmadi, Spokesman for Helmand Province Governor, reported in: “Suicide bomber kills 12 in southern Afghanistan,” Radio Free Europe, 7 May 2009, www.rferl.org/content/Suicide_Bomber_Kills_12_In_Southern_Af-ghanistan/1623687.html (accessed 26 July 2010). · “(EXPLOSIVE HAZARD) IED EXPLOSION RPT (PBIED) 2RGR PMT /TFH: 2 CF KIA 2 CF WIA 1 HNSF WIA 17 CIV KIA 31 CIV WIA 1 UE KIA,” US military report, 7 May 2009, procured by Wikileaks and published by The Guardian. See: “Afghanistan war logs: Suicide bomber crashes into patrol and detonates himself,” The Guardian, 25 July 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/afghanistan/warlogs/1B7E1111-1517-911C-C584FD75CD0DB1E9 (accessed 26 July 2010). · UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan, Human Rights Unit, “Afghanistan mid-year bulletin on the protection of civilians in armed conflict,” July 2009, www.unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/human%20rights/09july31-UNAMA-HUMAN-RIGHTS-CIVILIAN-CASUALTIES-Mid-Year-2009-Bulletin.pdf (accessed 26 July 2010).

015. Sri Lanka, 12 May 2009 · “Sri Lanka hospital attack kills dozens,” The Telegraph, 12 May 2009, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/srilanka/5312230/Sri-Lanka-hospital-attack-kills-dozens.html (accessed 6 September 2010). · Dr T Varatharaja, Mullivaikal Hospital, reported in: “Sri Lankan doctor describes shelling,” BBC, 12 May 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8046744.stm (accessed 6 September 2010). · Human Rights Watch, “Sri Lanka: repeated shelling of hos-pitals evidence of war crimes,” 8 May 2009, www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/08/sri-lanka-repeated-shelling-hospitals-evidence-war-crimes (accessed 6 September). · “Sri Lankan doctor describes shelling,” BBC, 12 May 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8046744.stm (accessed 6 September 2010). · “Sri Lanka hospital attack kills dozens,” The Telegraph, 12 May 2009, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/srilanka/5312230/Sri-Lanka-hospital-attack-kills-dozens.html (accessed 6 September 2010). · Julianna Goldman & Paul Tighe, “Obama, UN tell Sri Lanka to stop shelling civilians in war zone,” Bloomberg, 13 May 2009, www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=astUcUaecJpw (accessed 6 September 2010).

· “49 killed in Sri Lanka hospital attack,” Associated Press, posted by The Independent, 12 May 2009, www.indepen-dent.co.uk/news/world/asia/49-killed-in-sri-lanka-hospital-attack-1683367.html (accessed 6 September 2010). · “Sri Lanka war zone hospital hit,” BBC, 12 May 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8045135.stm (accessed 6 September 2010).

016. Afghanistan, 19 May 2009 · “9ENEMY ACTION0 DIRECT FIRE RPT (Small Arms) ANP WITH F COY 2RGR PMT: 8 CIV KIA,” US military report, 19 May 2009, procured by Wikileaks and published by The Guardian. See: “Afghanistan war logs: British Harrier strike kills eight civilians,” The Guardian, 25 July 2010, www.guard-ian.co.uk/world/afghanistan/warlogs/6534E42B-16A2-4E7B-988F-BDFDA246EF3A (accessed 28 July 2010).

017. Nepal, 23 May 2009 · Binaj Gurubacharya, “Bombing in Nepal church kills 2, wounds 15,” Associated Press, posted by The Journal Gazette, 23 May 2009, www.journalgazette.net/ar-ticle/20090523/API/905230557 (accessed 27 July 2010). · “Blast rips through Nepal church,” Al Jazeera, 23 September 2009, www.english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/05/2009523622063367.html (accessed 27 July 2010). · “Two Indians killed in Nepal church blast,” Inter-Asian News Service, posted by Thaindian News, 23 May 2009, www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/two-indians-killed-in-nepal-church-blast-lead_100196097.html (accessed 27 July 2010). · “Mastermind of church bombing in Nepal arrested,” Com-pass Direct News, 10 September 2009, www.compass-direct.org/english/country/nepal/9216/ (accessed 27 July 2010). · Chirendra Satyal, “Nepal blast victims forgive the bomb-ers,” Union of Catholic Asian News, 24 May 2010, www.ucanews.com/2010/05/24/bomb-blast-victims-forgive-perpetrators/ (accessed 27 July 2010).

018. Ukraine, 2 June 2009 · “25 wounded in bombing of Ukraine bank,” Press TV, 2 June 2009, www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=96835&sectionid=351020606 (accessed 26 July 2010). · “Bomb blasts leave 25 people injured in southeast Ukraine,” Ria Novosti, 2 June 2009, www.rianovosti.com/world/20090602/155146968.html (accessed 26 July 2010). · “Second suspect in Melitopol bank blast arrested in Crimea,” Interfax-Ukraine, 5 June 2009, www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/15138/ (accessed 26 July 2010). · “Bank bomb attack injures 25 in Ukraine,” Euro News, 2 June 2009, www.euronews.net/2009/06/02/bank-bomb-attack-injures-25-in-ukraine/ (accessed 26 July 2010). · “25 wounded in bombing of Ukraine bank,” Press TV, 2 June 2009, www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=96835&sectionid=351020606 (accessed 26 July 2010). · “Second suspect in Melitopol bank blast arrested in Crimea,” Interfax-Ukraine, 5 June 2009, www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/15138/ (accessed 26 July 2010).

019. Burma, 5 June 2009 · Karen Human Rights Group, “Over 3,000 villagers flee to Thailand amidst ongoing SPDC/DKBA attacks,” 7 June 2009, www.khrg.org/khrg2010/khrg10b8.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+khrg+%28Karen+Human+Rights+Group%3A+Latest+News+%7C+khrg.org%29 (accessed 3 August 2010). · Free Burma Rangers, “FBR report: DKBA troops threaten to shell Thai villagers if they do not supply food in support of attack on refugees,” Karen State, Burma, 10 June 2009, www.freeburmarangers.org/Reports/2009/20090610.html (accessed 3 August 2010). · “Burma’s Karen unable to return home,” BBC, 11 June 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacif-ic/8095137.stm (accessed 3 August 2010). · “As the SPDC attacks, more than 3,000 villagers flee to Thailand,” Kwekalu, 6 June 2009; Karen language news agency article, reported in: Karen Human Rights Group,

104


“Over 3,000 villagers flee to Thailand amidst ongoing SPDC/DKBA attacks,” 7 June 2009, www.scribd.com/doc/16197250/Over-3000-villagers-flee-to-Thailand-amidst-ongoing-SPDCDKBA-attacks (accessed 3 August 2010).

020. Pakistan, 9 June 2009 · Shafqat Malik, Senior Police Officer, reported in: Lehaz Ali, “Eleven dead as suicide bomb rips through Pakistan luxury hotel,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 9 June 2009, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hp9Pw-zsG_q6DTSfbg0Ubsptguygw (accessed 3 August 2010). · Rahimullah Yusufzai, “Bombed hotel may have to be rebuilt,” The News International, 10 June 2009, www.the-news.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=22650 (accessed 3 August 2010). · “New groups take credit for Pakistan blast,” UPI, 11 June 2010, www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2009/06/11/New-groups-takes-credit-for-Pakistan-blast/UPI-35741244744635/ (accessed 3 August 2010). · Lehaz Ali, “Eleven dead as suicide bomb rips through Paki-stan luxury hotel,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 9 June 2009, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hp9PwzsG_q6DTSfbg0Ubsptguygw (accessed 3 August 2010). · “Suicide attack on Pakistani hotel,” BBC, 10 June 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8092147.stm (accessed 3 August 2010). · “New groups takes credit for Pakistan blast,” UPI, 11 June 2010, www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2009/06/11/New-groups-takes-credit-for-Pakistan-blast/UPI-35741244744635/ (accessed 3 August 2010). · Manzoor Ali Shah, “Peshawar PC blast death toll reaches 17,” The Daily Times, 11 June 2009, www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\06\11\story_11-6-2009_pg1_8 (accessed 3 August 2010). · Rahimullah Yusufzai, “Bombed hotel may have to be rebuilt,” The News International, 10 June 2009, www.the-news.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=22650 (accessed 3 August 2010).

021. Philippines, 15 June 2009 · Amnesty International, “Shattered lives. Beyond the 2008–2009 Mindanao armed conflict,” 25 August 2009, p.27, www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA35/006/2009 (accessed 10 August 2010). · “AFP artillery shelling hits civilians in Maguindanao town,” Luwaran, 15 June 2009, www.luwaran.net/index/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=795:afp-artillery-shelling-hit-civilians-in-maguindanao-town (accessed 10 August 2010). · “Military shelling hit civilian areas in Mindanao, says MILF rebels,” Mindanao Examiner, 16 June 2009, www.mindan-aoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20090616014339 (accessed 10 August 2010). · “Philippines army blames Moro rebels for attacks on the civilian targets,” Mindanao Examiner, 18 June 2009, www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20090617214557 (accessed 10 August 2010). · AOAV interview with local NGO worker, Cotabato City, Philippines, 14 October 2010.

022. Iraq, 24 June 2009 · Alice Fordham, “Security fears over US pullout as market bomb kills more than 60 in Baghdad,” The Sunday Times, 25 June 2009, www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article6571555.ece (accessed 8 July 2010). · Sattar Rahim, “Bomb kills at least 72 in Baghdad’s Sadr city,” Reuters, 24 June 2009, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE55N4MF20090624 (accessed 8 July 2010). · “Baghdad market bomb kills scores,” BBC, 25 June 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8117686.stm (accessed 8 July 2010). · Ernesto Londono & Zaid Sabah, “Market blast kills more than 75 in Baghdad’s Sadr city,” The Washington Post, 25 June 2009, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/24/AR2009062401884.html (accessed 8 July 2010).

023. Philippines, 5 July 2009 · Glen J. Rabonza, Administrator, ODC and Executive Officer, “NDCC Update Bomb explosion in Cotabato city,” National Disaster Coordinating Council, Quezon City, Philip-pines, 6 July 2009, www.ndcc.gov.ph/home/images/ndcc/bombing%20in%20cotabato%20july%206%202009.pdf (accessed 14 July 2010). · “Police search for suspect in Cotabato bombing,” Philip-pines News Agency, posted by Sun Star, 13 July 2009, www.archives.sunstar.com.ph/network/police-search-suspect-cotabato-bombing (accessed 25 August 2010). · Manny Mogato, “Blast outside church in Philippine south, two dead,” Reuters, 4 July 2009, www.reuters.com/article/idUSMAN527435 (accessed 13 July 2010). · Jocelyn Uy, “Cotabato bomb explosion kills 5,” Mindanao Philippine Daily Inquirer, 6 July 2009, www.archive.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&story_id=214008 (accessed 13 July 2010). · Glen J. Rabonza, Administrator, ODC and Executive Officer, “NDCC Update Bomb explosion in Cotabato city,” National Disaster Coordinating Council, Quezon City, Philip-pines, 8 July 2009, www.210.185.184.53/ndccWeb/images/ndccWeb/ndcc_update/bombing_incidents_in_iligan_city_lanao_del_norte_and_jolo_sulu/sitrep_bomb_explo-sion_in_cotabato_city_4.pdf (accessed 26 August 2010). · Anne Barrowclough, “Philippines church bomb blast kills 5,” The Times Online, 5 July 2009, www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6640267.ece (accessed 13 July 2010). · “Bomb hits Philippine church-goers,” BBC, 5 July 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8134820.stm (accessed 13 July 2010). · “Five dead 34 wounded in Philippine church bombing,” AFP, 4 July 2009, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar-ticle/ALeqM5jxXSUtTAweefTFq9ykVHxiGZcxyg (accessed 13 July 2010). · Johanna Camille Sisante & Howie Severino, “AFP: Bomb-ers used rogue MILF’s signature,” GMANews.TV, 8 July 2009, www.gmanews.tv/story/166934/AFP-Bombers-used-rogue-MILFs-signature# (accessed 14 July 2010). · AOAV interview with Philippines Red Cross worker, Magu-indanao, Philippines, 18 October 2010. · AOAV interview with local journalist, Maguindanao, Philip-pines,20 October 2010.

024. Indonesia, 17 July 2009 · Telly Nathalia, “Indonesia TV identifies Jakarta hotel bombing suspect,” Reuters, 20 July 2009, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE56G0EX20090720 (accessed 28 June 2010). · Irwan Firdaus, “1st funeral held for Jakarta bomb victims,” The Jakarta Post, 20 July 2009, www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/07/20/1st-funeral-held-jakarta-bomb-victims.html (accessed 30 June 2010). · Normitsu Omishi, “Indonesia bombings signal militant’s re-sistance,” The New York Times, 17 July 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/world/asia/18indo.html (accessed 30 June 2010). · “Fatal blasts hit Jakarta hotels,” BBC, 17 July 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8155084.stm (ac-cessed 28 June 2010).

025. Yemen, 14 August 2009 · Mohammed Bin Sallam, “Calls to stop war on Sa’ada as airstrikes continue,” Menassat, 19 August 2009, www.menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/7130-calls-stop-war-sa-ada-airstrikes-continue (accessed 28 July 2010). · “Yemen: fighting forces 120,000 people to flee,” IRIN, 16 August 2009, www.irinnews.org/PrintReport.aspx?ReportId=85731 (accessed 28 July 2010). · “Two soldiers, sixteen Shia rebels killed in north Yemen,” RFI, 14 August 2009, www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/116/ar-ticle_4766.asp (accessed 28 July 2010).

026. India, 13 September 2009 · “Two kids die as live shell explodes,” Asian News International, 13 September 2009, www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/two-kids-die-as-live-shell-explodes-in-

panchkula_100246951.html (accessed 14 July 2010). · “Three killed as live shell explodes,” The Hindu Times, 14 September 2009, www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2009091454470500.htm&date=2009/09/14/&prd=th& (accessed 14 July 2010). · “3 killed as shell explodes in Panchkula,” Tribune News Service, posted by Chandigarh Tribune, 14 September 2009, www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090914/cth1.htm (accessed 14 July 2010). · “3 teenagers killed, 12 injured in shell blast,” Inter-Asian News Service, 13 September 2009, www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/3-teenagers-killed-12-injured-in-a-shell-blast_100246800.html (accessed 14 July 2010).

027. Yemen, 16 September 2009 · Human Rights Watch, “All Quiet on the Northern Front? Uninvestigated laws of war violations in Yemen’s war with Huthi rebels,” March 2010. · Ahmed Al Haj, “Yemeni airstrike hits camp for displaced,” Associated Press, posted by The Guardian, 16 September 2009, www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8711381 (ac-cessed 30 June 2010). · Nykoel Dinardo, “Air raid in Yemen kills dozens of civilians,” Impunity Watch, 18 September 2009, www.impunitywatch.net/impunity_watch_middle_eas/2009/09/page/2/ (ac-cessed 14 June 2010). · Human Rights Watch, “Yemen: Investigate aerial bomb attacks,” 16 September 2009, www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/09/16/yemen-investigate-aerial-bomb-attacks (accessed 18 June 2010). · Impunity Watch, “Air raid in Yemen kills dozens of civilians,” 18 September 2009, www.impunitywatch.net/impunity_watch_middle_eas/2009/09/page/2/ (accessed 25 June 2010). · UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, “UN human rights chief urges investigations into airstrikes that killed civilians,” 18 September 2009, www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/SKEA-7VZHQX?OpenDocument&rc=3&cc=yem (accessed 25 June 2010).

028. Afghanistan, 30 September 2009 · “(ENEMY ACTION) DIRECT FIRE RPT (RPG, Small Arms) B COY RIFLES: 7 CIV KIA 1 CIV WIA 4 UE KIA,” U.S. military report, 30 September 2009, procured by Wikileaks and published by The Guardian. See: “Afghanistan war logs: British-ordered air strike hits eight civilians,” US Military data, The Guardian, 25 July 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/afghanistan/warlogs/DFE0F6AF-E872-4C02-972D-71628B33CE87 (accessed 26 July 2010). · Taimoor Shah & Sabrina Tavernise, “Afghans say airstrike kills 8, mostly civilians,” The New York Times, 1 October 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/world/asia/02kabul.html?_r=1 (accessed 26 July 2010). · Tawab Qurayshi, “NATO: airstrike killed Afghan women, children,” CNN, 1 October 2009, www.edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/01/afghanistan.nato.airstrike/ (accessed 26 July 2010).

029. Pakistan, 5 October 2009 · Syed Irfan Raza & Munawer Azeem, “Suicide bomber kills five UN aid personnel,” DAWN, 5 October 2009, www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-blast--islamabad-qs-07 (accessed 2 August 2010). · Syed Irfan Raza & Munawer Azeem, “Suicide bomber kills five UN aid personnel,” DAWN, 5 October 2009, www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-blast--islamabad-qs-07 (accessed 2 August 2010). · “Pakistani Taliban claim responsibility for WFP bombing,” Voice of America News, 6 October 2009, www1.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2009-10-06-voa9.html (accessed 2 August 2010). · Declan Walsh, “Bomb blast hits UN base in Islamabad,” The Guardian, 5 October 2009, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/05/bomb-blast-un-islamabad-pakistan (ac-cessed 2 August 2010).

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030. Yemen, 15 October 2009 · Médecins Sans Frontières, “Yemen: Razeh hospital hit by rocket fire,” 20 October 2009, www.doctorswithoutborders.org/press/release.cfm?id=4015&cat=press-release (ac-cessed 13 July 2010). · Human Rights Watch, “All Quiet on the Northern Front? Uninvestigated laws of war violations in Yemen’s war with Huthi rebels,” March 2010. · “Heavy Battles in Razih and Five Citizens from One Family Killed in Aerial Bombardment of Sha’ara Area,” Al-Masdar online, 15 October 2009, www.almasdaronline.com/index.php?page=news&article-section=1&news_id=2608 (ac-cessed 13 July 2010).

031. Somalia, 22 October 2009 · Ibrahim Mohamed & Abdi Sheik, “Shell fire kills at least 30 in Mogadishu,” Elman Peace Centre, 26 October 2009, www.elmanpeace.org/news-2009-Oct-26/16/shell_fire_kills_at_least_30_in_mogadishu.aspx (accessed 22 July 2010). · “Shelling ‘kills Somali civilians’,” BBC, 22 October 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8319917.stm (accessed 22 July 2010). · “Shelling kills 17 in Somali capital,” Special News Online, 22 October 2009, www.specialnewsonline.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/shelling-kill-17-in-somali-capital/ (accessed 22 July 2010). · Harun Maruf, “Mogadishu shelling ‘regrettable’, Somali PM says,” Voice of America News, 23 October 2009, www1.voanews.com/somali/news/news-makers-in-english/MOGADISHU-SHELLING-REGRETTABLE-PM-SAYS-2009-23-10-65764312.html (accessed 22 July 2010). · “Amisom spokesman denies shelling targeted to Bakara market in Mogadishu,” Shabelle Media Network, posted by AllAfrica, 22 October 2009, www.allafrica.com/sto-ries/200910221016.html (accessed 22 July 2010).

032. Iraq, 25 October 2009 · Rebecca Santana, “Suicide bombings shatter lull in Bagh-dad,” Associated Press, posted by The Star, 26 October 2010, www.thestar.com/news/world/iraq/article/716130--suicide-bombings-shatter-lull-in-iraq (accessed 16 July 2010). · Bill Roggio, “Al Qaeda takes credit for Baghdad suicide bombings,” The Long War Journal, 27 October 2009, www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/10/al_qaeda_takes_cre-di_2.php (accessed 16 July 2010). · Caren Bohan, “Obama says Iraq bombings ‘outrageous’,” Reuters, 25 October 2009, www.uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE59O1E320091025 (accessed 16 July 2010). · “Deadly bombings worst Iraq attack in two years,” CNN, 25 October 2009, www.edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/10/25/iraq.violence/index.html (accessed 16 July 2010). · “6th update: Baghdad’s suicide explosions kill 132, injure 500,” Aswat al Iraq, 25 October 2009, www.en.aswataliraq.info/?p=120937 (accessed 16 July 2010). · Martin Chulov, “Car bombs kill 147 in Iraq as militants target official buildings ahead of election,” The Guardian, 25 October 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/25/iraq-car-bombs-baghdad (accessed 16 July 2010). · Timothy Williams, “Bombings in Iraq, deadliest since 2007, raise security issue,” The New York Times, 25 October 2010, www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/world/middleeast/26iraq.html (accessed 16 July 2010). · “Death toll from Baghdad blasts up to 155,” Aswat al Iraq, 26 October 2009, www.en.aswataliraq.info/?p=120972 (accessed 16 July 2010). · “Al Qaeda-linked group claims Baghdad attacks,” Associ-ated Press, posted by Phil Star, 27 October 2010, www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=518025 (accessed 6 January 2011).

033. Pakistan, 28 October 2009 · Nazir al Islam, Nasir Habib, Samson Desta, & Reza Sayeh, “Survivors recount narrow escape from deadly Peshawar market bombing,” CNN, 29 October 2009, www.edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/28/pakistan.blast/

index.html?eref=rss_world (accessed 30 June 2010). · “Peshawar death toll climbs to 106,” GeoTV Pakistan, 29 October 2009, www.geo.tv/10-29-2009/51944.htm (ac-cessed 30 June 2010). · Mark Landler & Ismail Khan, “Clinton arrival in Pakistan met by fatal attacks,” The New York Times, 28 October 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/world/asia/29pstan.html?partner=rss&emc=rss (accessed 30 June 2010). · “Carnage as car bomb hits Peshawar,” BBC, 28 October 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8329244.stm (accessed 30 June 2010). · Bill Roggio, “89 killed in car bomb attack in Peshawar,” The Long War Journal, 28 October 2009, www.longwar-journal.org/archives/2009/10/89_killed_in_car_bom.php (accessed 30 June 2010). · “Peshawar death toll climbs to 106,” GeoTV Pakistan, 29 October 2009, www.geo.tv/10-29-2009/51944.htm (ac-cessed 30 June 2010). · Ali Hazrat Bacha, “Death toll from Peshawar blast rises to 117,” DAWN, 30 October 2009, www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/04-explosion-heard-peshawar-qs-04+ (ac-cessed 30 June 2010). · Farhan Sharif, “Pakistan’s death toll from Peshawar bomb rises to 117 (Update 1),” Bloomberg, 30 October 2009, www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aGFzYG4495co (accessed 30 June 2010). · Nader Buneri, “Monster terror attack in Peshawar,” The Nation, 30 June 2010, www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/29-Oct-2009/Mon-ster-terror-attack-in-Peshawar (accessed 30 June 2010). · Saurav Shukla, “Peshawar bomb attack victims struggle for daily life,” Inter-Asian News Service, posted by Top News, 28 October 2010, www.topnews.in/law/peshawar-bomb-attack-victims-struggle-daily-life-234619 (accessed 6 January 2011).

034. Pakistan, 18 November 2009 · Hussain Afzal, “Army shell accidentally kills 6 Pakistani civilians,” Associated Press, posted by Anti War News Wire, 18 November 2009, www.wire.antiwar.com/2009/11/18/army-shell-accidentally-kills-6-pakistan-civilians/ (accessed 5 August 2010). · “Weekly fatalities, major conflicts in South Asia, November 16–22 2009,” South Asia Intelligence Review, Vol. 8 No.20, 23 November 2009, www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/Archives/sair8/8_20.htm (accessed 5 August 2010). · South Asia Terrorism Portal, “Major incidents of terrorism-related violence in Pakistan 1988–2010,” 2009 section, [undated], www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/database/majorinci2009.htm (accessed 5 August 2010).

035. Somalia, 3 December 2009 · “Somalia: attack on graduation ceremony the ‘last straw’,” IRIN, [undated], www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=87387 (accessed 28 June 2010). · “Somalia graduation day suicide attack condemned,” BBC, 3 December 2009, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8394389.stm (accessed 28 June 2010). · ICRC, News Release, “Somalia: attack on medical gradu-ation ceremony takes heavy toll on civilians,” 4 December 2009, www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/somalia-news-041209 (accessed 28 June 2010).

036. Iraq, 7 December 2009 · Marc Santora & Duraid Adnan, “Children bear brunt of a blast in Iraq,” The New York Times, 8 December 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/world/middleeast/08iraq.html (accessed 7 July 2010). · Katie Cassidy, “Pupils killed in munitions blast at school,” Sky News Online, 7 December 2009, www.news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Iraq-Students-Among-Dead-After-Hidden-Munitions-Explode-At-School-In-Sadr-City-Baghdad/Article/200912115494807?lpos=World_News_Article_Related_Con-tent_Region_6&lid=ARTICLE_15494807_Iraq%3A_Stu-dents_Among_Dead_After_Hidden_Munitions_Explode_At_School_In_Sadr_City%2C_Baghdad (accessed 7 July

2010). · “Blast hits school in Iraq’s Sadr city,” Press TV News, 7 December 2009, www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=113103&sectionid=351020201 (accessed 7 July 2010). · “Deadly explosion hits Baghdad school,” Associated Press, posted by The Guardian, 7 December 2009, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/07/iraq-school-explosion (accessed 7 July 2010). · “Deaths in Baghdad school blast,” Al Jazeera, 7 December 2009, www.english.aljazeera.net/news/middlee-ast/2009/12/200912714516669937.html (accessed 7 July 2010). · Ayla Jean Yackley, “Seven children killed by bomb at Baghdad school,” Reuters, 7 December 2009, www.in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-44531520091207 (accessed 7 July 2010).

037. Thailand, 7 December 2009 · “Blast kills 2 in southern Thailand, police say,” CNN, 7 December 2009, www.edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/12/07/thailand.bombing/index.html#cnnSTCText (accessed 27 July 2010). · “Two dead in bomb ahead of leaders’ visit to Thai south,” AFP, posted by Channel News Asia, 7 December 2009, www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1023198/1/.html (accessed 26 July 2010). · “PM’s visit to Narathiwat to go on despite bombing,” The Star Online, 8 December 2009, www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/8/nation/20091208113555&sec=nation (accessed 27 July 2010). · “Blast kills 2 in southern Thailand, police say,” CNN, 7 December 2009, www.edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/12/07/thailand.bombing/index.html#cnnSTCText (accessed 27 July 2010).

038. Yemen, 17 December 2009 · Amnesty International, “Yemen: Cracking down under pressure,” 2010, p.31 www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE31/010/2010/en/da8bd0cc-37ab-4472-80b3-bc-f8a48fc827/mde310102010en.pdf (accessed 6 September 2010). · Amnesty International, “Yemen: images of missiles and cluster munitions point to US role in fatal attack,” 7 June 2010, www.amnesty.name/en/for-media/press-releases/yemen-images-missile-and-cluster-munitions-point-us-role-fatal-attack-2010- (accessed 6 September 2010). · “U.S. behind Abyan massacre,” Yemen Post, 13 June 2010, www.yemenpost.net/Detail123456789.aspx?ID=3&SubID=2290&MainCat=6 (accessed 6 Septem-ber 2010).

039. Burundi, 27 December 2009 · “Grenade attacks kill two in Burundi market,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 27 December 2009, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jZx7Iwl6MnJJaXNK-08wB0smsrSvQ (accessed 8 July 2010). · “Burundi: Grenade attack kills 2 in Bujumbura market,” Afrique en ligne, 28 December 2009, www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/burundi:-grenade-attack-kills-2-in-bujum-bura-market-2009122840838.html (accessed 8 July 2010). · US Department of State, “2009 Human rights report: Bu-rundi,” 11 March 2010, www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135941.htm (accessed 8 July 2010).

040. Pakistan, 1 January 2010 · “Pakistan suicide bomb kills scores at volleyball match,” BBC, 1 January 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8437114.stm (accessed 30 June 2010). · Mark Tran & agencies, “Pakistan suicide bomber kills dozens at volleyball,” The Guardian, 1 January 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/01/pakistan-volleyball-bomber-lakki-marwat (accessed 30 June 2010). · Ismail Khan & Richard A. Oppel Jr., “Bomb takes heavy toll at Pakistan sports event,” The New York Times, 1 January 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/01/02/world/asia/02pstan.html (accessed 30 June 2010). · Riaz Khan & Asif Shahzad, “Suicide bomb kills 32 at volleyball site in Pakistan,” Associated Press, posted by The

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Independent, 1 January 2010, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/suicide-bomb-kills-32-at-pakistan-volley-ball-site-1855107.html (accessed 30 June 2010). · Augustine Anthony, “Pakistan government under pressure after deadly attack,” Reuters, 2 January 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE5BU0CQ20100102 (accessed 30 June 2010).

041. Colombia, 13 January 2010 · US Department of State, “2009 Human Rights Reports: Colombia,” 11 March 2010, www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/wha/136106.htm (accessed 5 August 2010). · Amnesty International, “Report 2010: the State of the World’s Human Rights,” 2010, p.110, www.thereport.am-nesty.org/sites/default/files/AIR2010_AZ_EN.pdf#page=55 (accessed 5 August 2010). · Adriaan Al Sema, “Three children one woman killed in mortar attack,” Colombia Reports, 13 January 2010, www.colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/2562-three-children-killed-in-mortar-attack.html (accessed 5 August 2010).

042. Somalia, 13 January 2010 · Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar, “Mortar fires kill nine Somalia footballers,” Play the Game, 14 January 2010, www.playthegame.org/news/detailed/mortar-fires-kill-nine-somali-footballers-4639.html (accessed 21 September 2010). · “Seven children killed in Somalia shelling,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 13 January 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i0ETwP-8gSJnKUH_0NKEfhR0Y3Hw (accessed 21 September 2010).

043. India, 13 February 2010 · “India restaurant bomb blast kills 9 in Pune,” BBC, 14 February 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8514232.stm (accessed 28 July 2010). · “9 killed, 45 injured in Pune terror attack,” Hindustan Times, 13 February 2010, www.hindustantimes.com/Eight-killed-33-injured-in-Pune-terror-attack/H1-Article1-508520.aspx (accessed 28 July 2010). · Asseem Shaikh, Swati Shinde & Mihir Tanksale, “Blast rips Pune’s German bakery; 9 dead, 45 wounded,” Times of India, 14 February 2010, www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Blast-rips-Punes-German-Bakery-9-dead-45-wounded/articleshow/5570692.cms (accessed 28 July 2010). · Nirupama Subramanian & Praveen Swami, “New Jihadist group claims responsibility for Pune attack,” The Hindu, 17 February 2010, www.hindu.com/2010/02/17/sto-ries/2010021750400100.htm (accessed 28 July 2010). · “India restaurant bomb blast kills 9 in Pune,” BBC, 14 February 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8514232.stm (accessed 28 July 2010). · “Another foreigner dies; Pune blast death toll 16,” The Hindu, 24 February 2010, www.beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article112429.ece (accessed 28 July 2010). · Siddesh Inamdar, “Pune blast toll goes up to 17,” The Hindu, 27 February 2010, www.beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article114417.ece?homepage=true (accessed 28 July 2010). · “Indian police arrest two suspects in Pune bombing,” DPA, posted by Monsters & Critics, 8 September 2010, www.monstersandcritics.com/news/southasia/news/article_1583145.php/Indian-police-arrest-two-suspects-in-Pune-bombing (accessed 9 September 2010). · “Two held for Pune bakery bomb, conspiracy unravelled,” Inter-Asian News Service, 8 September 2010, www.sify.com/news/two-held-for-pune-bakery-bombing-conspiracy-unravelled-news-national-kjitkdiehib.html (accessed 9 September 2010).

044. Afghanistan, 14 February 2010 · “Afghan civilians killed in strike by NATO rockets,” BBC, 14 February 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8515141.stm (accessed 5 July 2010). · C.J. Chivers & Rod Nordland, “Errant U.S. rocket strike kills civilians in Afghanistan,” The New York Times, 14

February 2010, www.www.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/world/asia/15afghan.html (accessed 5 July 2010). · Golnar Motevalli, “NATO says its rockets killed 12 Afghan civilians,” Reuters, 14 February 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61B1ZJ20100214 (accessed 5 July 2010). · Declan Walsh & Stephen Bates, “NATO rockets kill 12 Afghan civilians,” The Guardian, 14 February 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/14/nato-rockets-kill-afghan-civilians (accessed 5 July 2010). · Mark Townsend, “NATO draws up payout tariffs for Afghan civilian deaths,” The Observer, 28 February 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/28/coalition-payouts-afghan-civilian-casualties (accessed 2 February 2011).

045. Burma, 19 February 2010 · Karen Teacher Working Group, News Release, “Burma army discharges mortar into school, students killed and injured,” 24 February 2010, www.ktwg.org/school_news.html#240210/1 (accessed 29 July 2010). · Karen Human Rights Group, “News Bulletin: SPDC mortar attack on school in Papun district,” KHRG #2010-B5, 24 February 2010, www.khrg.org/khrg2010/khrg10b5.pdf (ac-cessed 29 July 2010). · Free Burma Rangers, “Burma army kills one child and wounds two in attack on school,”, 24 February 2010, www.freeburmarangers.org/Reports/2010/20100224.html (ac-cessed 29 July 2010).

046. Lao PDR, 22 February 2010 · Email correspondence from Mike Boddington, Victim Assistance Unit, Lao UXO National Regulatory Authority, 22 February 2010. · Cluster Munition Coalition, News Release, “Lao PDF: Five children killed in cluster bomb blast,” 11 March 2010, www.stopclustermunitions.org/news/?id=2072 (accessed 16 July 2010). · Elaine Russell, “U.S. must clean up leftover cluster bombs in Laos,” The Sacramento Bee, 21 March 2010, www.sacbee.com/2010/03/21/2620614/viewpoints-us-must-clean-up-leftover.html (accessed 16 July 2010).

047. India (Kashmir), 23 February 2010 · Dilnaz Boga, “Bringing the house down,” New Inter-nationalist, March 2010, www.newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2010/03/24/bringing-the-house-down/ (accessed 2 July 2010). · “Chinkipora residents fear un-exploded shells under rubbles,” Kashmir Media Service, 16 March 2010, www.kmsnews.org/news/chinkipora-residents-fear-un-exploded-shells-under-rubbles (accessed 2 July 2010). · Faiz Ahmad, “33 soldier, 107 militants killed in Indian Kashmir in 5 months,” National Turk, 2 June 2010, www.nationalturk.com/en/33-soldiers-107-militants-killed-in-indi-an-kashmir-in-5-months-54245245 (accessed 2 July 2010). · Muzamil Jaleel, “Story of Sopore encounter,” Kashmir Global, 25 February 2010, www.kashmirglobal.com/content/story-sopore-encounter-muzamil-jaleel (accessed 2 July 2010). · Shuaib Masoodi, “Children look on at the ruins, which until Thursday was their house,” Kashmir Global, 27 February 2010, www.kashmirglobal.com/content/children-look-ruins-which-until-thursday-was-their-house (accessed 2 July 2010). · Umer Maqbool Dar, “Sopore encounter leaves trail of destruction,” Kashmir Global, 27 February 2010, www.kashmirglobal.com/content/sopore-encounter-leaves-trail-destruction (accessed 2 July 2010). · Anuj Chopra, “Old wounds, fresh attacks in Kashmir,” International Relations and Security Network, 16 April 2010, www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Current-Affairs/Security-Watch/Detail/?lng=en&id=115038 (accessed 2 July 2010).

048. Sudan, 1 March 2010 · UN Mission in Sudan, “Five children killed in a grenade ex-plosion,” [undated], www.unmis.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=511&ctl=Details&mid=697&ItemID=8081 (accessed 19 July 2010). · “Five children die in grenade explosion in Upper

Nile,” Miraya FM, 4 March 2010, www.mirayafm.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2145:five-children-die-in-grenade-explosion-in-upper-nile-&catid=85:85&Itemid=278 (accessed 19 July 2010). · “Sudan: urgent cash needed for demining,” IRIN, posted by AlertNet, 11 May 2010, www.alertnet.org/thenews/news-desk/IRIN/be51803797a1f2befbb8042e31536049.htm (accessed 19 July 2010).

049. Afghanistan, 13 March 2010 · Jon Boone, “Kandahar bombings a warning to NATO, says Taliban,” The Guardian, 14 March 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/14/afghanistan-bombings-warning-nato (accessed 9 August 2010). · “Afghanistan’s Kandahar hit by suicide bombers, 30 dead,” BBC, 14 March 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8566109.stm (accessed 9 August 2010). · “Kandahar blasts were warning to US and NATO – Taliban,” BBC, 14 March 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8566774.stm (accessed 9 August 2010). · Jon Boone, “Kandahar bombings a warning to NATO, says Taliban,” The Guardian, 14 March 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/14/afghanistan-bombings-warning-nato (accessed 9 August 2010). · Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, Press Release, “Kandahar attacks are crime against humanity,” 14 March 2010, www.aihrc.org.af/English/Eng_pages/Press_releases_eng/2010/Pre_14_Mar_2010.pdf (accessed 9 August 2010). · Keith B. Richburg, “Kandahar slides into lawlessness as Taliban attacks force government to retreat,” The Wash-ington Post, 14 March 2010, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/13/AR2010031300574.html (accessed 9 August 2010).

050. Senegal, 16 March 2010 · Richi Shryock, “Senegalese army tries to sweep out rebel bases in Casamance,” Voice of America News, 22 March 2010, http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Senegalese-Army-Tries-to-Sweep-Out-Rebel-Bases-in-Casamance-88817952.html (accessed 20 July 2010). · “Senegalese army pounds Casamance rebels,” AFP News, posted by Star Africa, 18 March 2010, www.starafrica.com/en/news/africa/article/senegalese-army-pounds-casamance-rebels-33294.html (accessed 20 July 2010). · “Senegal: Jean Maxime Sagma ‘We are getting by alone’,” IRIN, posted by AlertNet, 23 March 2010, www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/514f27c984f42d7fa48f8441f36fed4e.htm (accessed 20 July 2010). · Tom Rowe, “Senegal’s separatist conflict smoulders on,” Politico, 22 March 2010, www.politico.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6457:senegals-separatist-conflict-smoulders-on&catid=241:the-frontier&Itemid=954 (accessed 20 July 2010). · “Senegal: We are constantly scared,” IRIN, posted by AlertNet, 24 March 2010, www.alertnet.org/thenews/news-desk/IRIN/ee814c2a5f70bbc41a869d911d7ac053.htm (accessed 20 July 2010). · Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, “New displacement and challenges to durable solutions in Casamance,” 18 June 2010, www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/(httpInfoFiles)/9A0C63B752E940FCC125774600275651/$file/Senegal_Overview_June10.pdf (accessed 20 July 2010).

051. Colombia, 24 March 2010 · “Car bomb kills 6 in Colombia,” CNN, 24 March 2010, www.edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/24/colombia.car.bomb/index.html (accessed 5 July). · “Car bombing kills 6 in Colombian port of Buenaventura,” BBC, 24 March 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8585645.stm (accessed 5 July 2010). · Patrick Markey, “Car bomb kills 9 in Colombian part town,” Reuters, 24 March 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUS-TRE62O08H20100325 (accessed 5 July 2010).

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052. Russia, 29 March 2010 · Luke Harding & Mark Tran, “Moscow metro bomb kills dozens,” The Guardian, 29 March 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/29/moscow-metro-bombs-explo-sions-terror (accessed 6 July 2010). · Andrew Osborn, “Moscow bombing: Russia braced for a new wave of terror attacks,” The Telegraph, 29 March 2010, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/7535951/Moscow-bombing-Russia-braced-for-new-wave-of-terror-attacks.html (accessed 6 July 2010). · “Moscow metro hit by deadly suicide bombings,” BBC, 29 March 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8592190.stm (accessed 6 July 2010). · Aydar Buribayev, “Suicide bombers kill at least 38 in Mos-cow subway,” Reuters, 29 March 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62S0FM20100329 (accessed 6 July 2010). · Andrew Osborn, “Moscow bombing: Chechen terrorist claims responsibility,” The Telegraph, 31 March 2010, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/7542688/Moscow-bombing-Chechen-terrorist-claims-responsibility.html (accessed 6 July 2010).

053. DR Congo, 4 April 2010 · Mines Advisory Group, News Release, “D.R. Congo: emergency clearance of Mbandaka airport,” 28 June 2010, www.maginternational.org/news/dr-congo-emergency-clearance-of-mbandaka-airport/ (accessed 15 July 2010). · “DRC: Doctors fear drug shortages after clashes,” IRIN, 7 April 2010, www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=88722 (accessed 15 July 2010). · MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), News Release, “Equateur province: peace is gradually returning to Mbandaka,” 5 April 2010, www.monuc.unmissions.org/De-fault.aspx?tabid=932&ctl=Details&mid=1096&ItemID=8440 (accessed 15 July 2010). · MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Informa-tion Note, “MONUC denounces events in Mbandaka,” 5 April 2010, www.monuc.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1902&ctl=Details&mid=2159&ItemID=8463 (accessed 15 July 2010). · “DR Congo army ‘killed civilians’ in Mbandaka,” BBC, 21 April 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/af-rica/8634565.stm (accessed 15 July 2010). · “Oxfam suspends operations in north-west DR Congo,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 15 April 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i6axNc-fSu5l-2b4q0JSZAZ7X2Wxw (accessed 31 January 2011). · UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Humanitarian Situation in Equateur Province, Snapshot re-port,” 6 October 2010, www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2010.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/MMAH-8AAB52-full_re-port.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf (accessed 31 January 2011). · Emmanuel Chaco, “DR Congo: Humanitarian situation worsens,” Global Geopolitics & Political Economy, 15 April 2010, www.globalgeopolitics.net/wordpress/2010/04/15/dr-congo-humanitarian-situation-worsens/ (accessed 31 January 2011). · AOAV email correspondence with local source, name with-held, 25 February 2011.

054. Pakistan, 10 April 2010 · Ismail Khan, “Airstrike by Pakistanis against militants in border area is reported to kill civilians,” The New York Times, 13 April 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/world/asia/14pstan.html (accessed 29 June 2010). · Zahid Hussain, “Military airstrike killed 45 civilians, Pakistan admits,” The Sunday Times, 14 April 2010, www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7097771.ece (accessed 29 June 2010). · Saeed Shah, “Pakistan airstrike ‘kills 71 civilians’,” The Guardian, 13 April 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/13/civilians-killed-pakistan-air-strike (accessed 29 June 2010).

· Riaz Khan & Zarar Khan, “Pakistan airstrike kills 71 civilians: official,” Associated Press, posted by Common Dreams, 13 April 2010, www.commondreams.org/head-line/2010/04/13-5 (accessed 29 June 2010).

055. Burma, 15 April 2010 · Aye Aye Win, “Bombs kill nine at Myanmar New Year water festival,” Associated Press, posted by Burma Digest, 15 April 2010, www.burmadigest.info/2010/04/15/burma-related-news-april-15-2010/ (accessed 9 July 2010). · US Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, “Warden message: Burma bomb blasts target water festi-val,” Consular Affairs Bulletin, Overseas Security Advisory Council, 15 April 2010, www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=116166 (accessed 9 July 2010). · Democratic Voice of Burma, “Nine die in Rangoon bomb-ings,” 15 April 2010, www.dvb.no/news/nine-die-in-rangoon-bombings/8625 (accessed 9 July 2010). · “Blasts ‘kill nine’ in Burmese city of Rangoon,” BBC, 15 April 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacif-ic/8622068.stm (accessed 9 July 2010). · Aung Hla Tun, “Myanmar festival bombings kill 8, wound 94,” Reuters, 15 April 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUS-TRE63E1WM20100415 (accessed 9 July 2010). · Khin Hnin Htet, “Rangoon bomb suspect put in solitary,” Democratic Voice of Burma, 9 July 2010, www.dvb.no/news/rangoon-bomb-suspect-put-in-solitary/10658 (ac-cessed 9 July 2010). · UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, “Burma Travel Summary,” 18 June 2010, www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/Burma (accessed 8 July 2010). · “Bomb blast in Yangon Thingyan killed eight,” Today in Myanmar, 15 April 2010, www.myanmar2day.com/myanmar-news/2010/04/bomb-blast-in-yangon-thingyan-killed-eight/ (accessed 9 July 2010).

056. Pakistan, 17 April 2010 · Katie Cassidy, “Twin explosions at Pakistan displaced camp,” Sky News Online, 18 April 2010, www.news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Pakistan-Suicide-Bombers-Set-Off-Explosives-At-Displaced-People-Camp/Article/201004315606884?lpos=World_News_Top_Sto-ries_Header_1&lid=ARTICLE_15606884_Pakistan%3A_Sui-cide_Bombers_Set_Off_Explosives_At_Displaced_People_Camp (accessed 16 July 2010). · Lehaz Ali, “Burqa bombers kill 41 at Pakistan camp,” AFP, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hU8vi0V-LAYGIFFNd6WUFeU6S3VZg (accessed 16 July 2010). · “Pakistan twin bomb attack targets refugees,” BBC, 17 April 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8626845.stm (accessed 16 July 2010). · Pir Zubair Shah, “Suicide bombers strike refugees in Pakistan,” Reuters, posted by The New York Times, 17 April 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/world/asia/18pstan.html?_r=1 (accessed 16 July 2010). · Alex Rodriguez & Zulfiquar Ali, “Suicide bombers kill 41 at refugee camp in northwest Pakistan,” Los Angeles Times, 18 April 2010, www.articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/18/world/la-fg-pakistan-blast18-2010apr18 (accessed 16 July 2010). · Mohammad Sajjad, “Bombers kill refugees waiting for food,” The Huffington Post, 17 April 2010, www.huffington-post.com/2010/04/17/suicide-bombers-kill-41-a_n_541554.html (accessed 16 July 2010). · “Homicide bombers dressed in Burqas blow up refugee camp, killing 41,” Associated Press, posted by Fox News, 17 April 2010, www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/17/homicide-bombers-attack-refugee-camp-pakistan/ (accessed 16 July 2010). 057. Pakistan, 19 April 2010 · “One child killed, 10 wounded in Peshawar blast,” DAWN, 19 April 2010, www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/metropolitan/03-blast-takes-place-near-school-in-peshawar-ss-04 (accessed 3 August 2010). · “Blast rocks school in Pakistan’s Peshawar, one

child killed,” Xinhua, posted by People’s Daily On-line, 19 April 2010, www.english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6956177.html (accessed 3 August 2010). · Inam Shah, “One child killed in Peshawar public school blast,” Allvoices, 19 April 2010, www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/5637933-one-child-killed-in-peshawar-public-school-blast (accessed 3 August 2010).

058. Pakistan, 19 April 2010 · Reza Sayah, “Market blast kills 22 in Pakistan,” CNN, 19 April 2010, www.edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiap-cf/04/19/pakistan.blast/index.html (accessed 3 August 2010). · “Bomb blast hits Pakistan protest,” Al Jazeera, 19 April 2010, www.english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/04/201041914959513554.html (accessed 3 August 2010). · Akhtar Ali, Peshawar Police Officer, reported in: Reza Sayah, “Market blast kills 22 in Pakistan,” CNN, 19 April 2010, www.edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/19/pakistan.blast/index.html (accessed 3 August 2010). · Faris Ali, “Bomb in Pakistani city of Peshawar; 23 dead: Police,” Reuters, 19 April 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6364J320100419 (accessed 3 August 2010). · “Peshawar market suicide bombing leaves many dead,” BBC, 19 April 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8630356.stm (accessed 3 August 2010).

059. Thailand, 22 April 2010 · Jason Szep & Martin Petty, “Grenade blasts kill 3 wound 75 in Bangkok,” Reuters, 22 April 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63H06E20100422 (accessed 28 June 2010). · Daniel Ten Kate & Supunnabul Suwannakij, “Thailand grenade blasts kill 3 people, injure 75,” Bloomberg Business Week, 22 April 2010, www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-22/blasts-hit-bangkok-s-business-district-amid-protests.html (accessed 28 June 2010). · “Thai protest leaders surrender after deadly assault on Bangkok camp but... violence rages on,” Daily Mail Online, 20 May 2010, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1279526/Thai-Red-Shirt-protest-leaders- surrender-Bangkok--violence-rages-on.html (accessed 28 June 2010). · “Grenade blasts kill 3 wound 75 in Bangkok,” Reuters, 22 April 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUS-TRE63H06E20100422 (accessed 28 June 2010). · “Bangkok grenade attacks turn deadly,” CNN, 23 April 2010, www.edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/22/thailand.protests/ (accessed 28 June 2010).

060. Ethiopia, 24 April 2010 · Tesfa-Alem Tekle, “Ethiopia explosion kills at least five,” Reuters, 24 April 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUST-RE63N1SF20100424 (accessed 19 July 2010). · “Ethiopia says Eritrea behind bomb blast in border town,” The Sudan Tribune, 26 April 2010, www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article34879 (accessed 19 July 2010). · “Bomb blasts kill five in Ethiopia authorities have blamed Eritrea,” AFP News, 25 April 2010, www.adalvoice.word-press.com/2010/04/25/bomb-blast-kills-five-in-ethiopia-authorities-have-blamed-eritrea-2/ (accessed 19 July 2010). · “Blast kills 5 in Ethiopia,” Press TV, 25 April 2010, www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=124345&sectionid=351020506 (accessed 19 July 2010). · “Eritrea blamed for Ethiopia blast,” Al Jazeera, 25 April 2010, www.english.aljazeera.net/news/af-rica/2010/04/201042517458935946.html (accessed 19 July 2010).

061. Somalia, 25 April 2010 · “Nine civilians killed in Somali capital shelling,” Voice of America News, 25 April 2010, www.voanews.com/somali/news/news-makers-in-english/Nine-Civilians-Killed-in-Somali-Capital-Shelling-92065404.html (accessed 28 June 2010). · “Somalia: 10 killed in fresh Mogadishu shelling,” AllAfrica, 25 April 2010, www.allafrica.com/stories/201004260339.html (accessed 28 June 2010).

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· “Somalia: Heavy shelling kills 10 injures 40 in Moga-dishu,” AllAfrica, 25 April 2010, www.allafrica.com/sto-ries/201004260126.html (accessed 28 June 2010). · Inter-Agency Standing Committee Somalia Protection Cluster Update, Weekly Report, 29 April 2010.

062. Sudan, 29 April 2010 · Human Rights Watch, “UN: strengthen civilian protection in Darfur,” 19 July 2010, www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/07/19/un-strengthen-civilian-protection-darfur?tr=y&auid=6675038 (accessed 26 July 2010). · “JEM accuses SAF of Jebel Moon attack,” Sudan Radio Service, 4 May 2010, www.sudanradio.org/jem-accuses-saf-jebel-moon-attack (accessed 26 July 2010). · “Sudan warplanes kill 8 civilians in West Darfur,” Radio Dbanga, 29 April 2010, www.195.190.28.213/node/780 (accessed 26 July 2010). 063. Iraq, 10 May 2010 · Ahmed Rasheed, Rania El Gamal & Habib al-Zubaidi, “Attacks kill over 100 in Iraq, al Qaeda blamed,” Reuters, 10 May 2010, www.uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE-6490WH20100510 (accessed 8 July 2010). · “At least 99 killed in attacks across Iraq,” Associated Press, posted by The Washington Times, 10 May 2010, www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/10/60-killed-attacks-across-iraq/ (accessed 8 July 2010). · Ernesto Londono, “Assassinations and bombings in Iraq kill at least 85,” The Washington Post, 11 May 2010, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/10/AR2010051000194.html (accessed 8 July 2010). · Rania El Gamal & Habib al-Zubaidi, “Attacks kill over 100 in Iraq, al Qaeda blamed,” Reuters, 10 May 2010, www.uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6490WH20100510 (ac-cessed 8 July 2010). · “Reporters were killed and three others wounded in Hilla,” Al Hurriya, 11 May 2010, www.alhurriyanews.net/news/19213?language=English (accessed 8 July 2010).

064. Iraq, 14 May 2010 · Khalid al-Tayi, “Iraq double bomb attack kills 25 at football match,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 14 May 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iZ-n9IxYlftuhz8OcD3yAs3fxfcKA (accessed 16 July 2010). · Rania el Gamal, “Bombers attack soccer game in north Iraq, 8 dead,” Reuters, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE-64D4AD20100514 (accessed 16 July 2010). · “Talafar blast casualties more than 133,” Aswat al Iraq, 14 May 2010, www.en.aswataliraq.info/?p=131720 (accessed 16 July 2010). · Mazin Yahya, “Suicide car bomb kills 10 in north Iraq,” Associated Press, posted by Anti War News Wire, 14 May 2010, www.wire.antiwar.com/2010/05/14/suicide-car-bomb-kills-10-in-north-iraq-4/ (accessed 16 July 2010). · “Iraq football stadium hit by deadly suicide bombing,” BBC, 14 May 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8683642.stm (accessed 16 July 2010).

065. Rwanda, 15 May 2010 · US Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, “Rwanda: multiple grenade attacks,” Overseas Security Advisory Council, 21 May 2010, www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=117617 (accessed 7 July 2010). · Josh Kron, “Grenade attacks shake capital of Rwanda,” The New York Times, 16 May 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/05/17/world/africa/17kigali.html (accessed 7 July 2010). · “Two dead, 27 hurt in Rwanda grenade attacks: police,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 15 May 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g9ruB-T1gI-RgyC20ozAC2tXnsoA (accessed 7 July 2010). · Hereward Holland, “Rwanda grenade blasts kill one, wound 28 - police,” AlertNet, 16 May 2010, www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE64F04P.htm (accessed 7 July 2010).

066. Somalia, 16 May 2010 · Mohamed Ahmed, “Somali fighting kills 24,” Reuters, 16 May 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE-64F12W20100516 (accessed 28 June 2010). · Abdulkadir Khalif, “Somalia: rebels fire mortars at parlia-ment as MPs meet,” Daily Nation, posted by AllAfrica, 16 May 2010, www.allafrica.com/stories/201005160130.html (accessed 30 June 2010). · “20 dead, 60 wounded in Somalia shelling,” CNN, 16 May 2010, www.edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/05/16/somalia.shelling/index.html (accessed 28 June 2010).

067. Iraq, 21 May 2010 · “Iraq car bomb kills 23,” Associated Press, posted by The Jerusalem Post, 21 May 2010, www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?ID=176115 (accessed 6 September 2010). · “Iraqi car bomb toll in Diyala rises to 30,” BBC, 22 May 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/10141868 (accessed 6 Sep-tember 2010). · “Bomb at market in northern Iraq kills 30,” Reuters, 21 May 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64K5BQ20100521 (accessed 6 September 2010).

068. Russia, 26 May 2010 · Eduard Korniyenko, “Bomb kills 5 at Russian dance show,” Reuters, 26 May 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64P48I20100526 (accessed 7 July 2010). · Dmitry Solovyov, “Death toll from south Russia bomb rises to 7,” Reuters, 27 May 2010. www.reuters.com/article/idUS-TRE64P48I20100527 (accessed 7 July 2010). · “Death toll rises to 7 in Russia bombing,” CNN, 27 May 2010, www.edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/27/russia.explosion.death.toll/ (accessed 7 July 2010). · Alexander Vikulov, “Death toll from south Russia terrorist attack reaches 7 (Update),” RIA Novosti, 27 May 2010, www.en.rian.ru/russia/20100527/159177723.html (ac-cessed 7 July 2010). · “Blast kills 6 outside theatre in Stavropol, Russia,” BBC, 27 May 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/eu-rope/10169258.stm (accessed 7 July 2010).

069. Iraq, 29 May 2010 · Human Rights Watch, News Release, “Iran/Iraq: Iranian attacks should not target Iraqi civilians,” 12 July 2010, www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/07/12/iraniraq-iranian-attacks-should-not-target-iraqi-civilians (accessed 14 July 2010). · “Iranian shelling kills civilian in Kurdistan, wounds others,” AK News, www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/150329/?AKmobile=true (accessed 25 June 2010). · Mohammed Tawfeeq, “Official: girl killed in Iranian shelling over northern Iraq,” CNN, 30 May 2010, www.edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/30/iraq.shelling/index.html (accessed 25 June 2010). · “Iran artillery fire kills 1 in Iraq’s north,” Associated Press, posted by The Jordan Times, 31 May 2010, www.jordan-times.com/?news=27034 (accessed 25 June 2010).

070. Yemen, 7 June 2010 · “Yemen army shelling kills two in Daleh,” Middle East Online, 7 June 2010, www.middle-east-online.com/english/yemen/?id=39430 (accessed 22 July 2010). · Hammoud Mounassar, “Yemen army shelling kills 6, wounds 17 in southern town,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gP7KPy4Y1DYoZsTqzwWhcgTaoFjw (accessed 22 July 2010). · “Yemen army shelling kills 4 wounds 11 in south,” France 24, 7 June 2010, www.france24.com/en/20100607-yemen-army-shelling-kills-four-wounds-11-south (accessed 22 July 2010). · “Yemen army shelling kills 6, wounds 17 in southern town,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gP7KPy4Y1DYoZ-sTqzwWhcgTaoFjw (accessed 22 July 2010).

· “Exiled leader appeals for south Yemen protection,” Statement sent to AFP, posted by Africa Asia News Service, www.africasia.com/services/news_mideast/article.php?ID=CNG.5886f262cb32df7ef5dfd69d59e32058.721 (accessed 22 July 2010).

071. Kenya, 13 June 2010 · “Military joins hunt for Nairobi park bombers,” Daily Na-tion, 14 June 2010, www.nation.co.ke/News/Military%20joins%20hunt%20for%20Nairobi%20park%20bomb-ers/-/1056/938868/-/ei5l7q/-/index.html (accessed 5 July 2010). · Kamore Maina, “Kenya: Grenades in rally explosion linked to military,” The Daily African, 23 June 2010, www.thedaily-african.com/news/east-africa/62772-Kenya-Grenades-Rally-Explosions-Linked-Military.html (accessed 5 July 2010). · “Saitoti faces hostile MPs after park blast,” Daily Na-tion, 16 June 2010, www.nation.co.ke/News/Saitoti%20faces%20hostile%20MPs%20over%20park%20blast/-/1056/940592/-/4213ub/-/index.html (accessed 5 July 2010). · “Kenya Churches blame government for grenade attacks,” BBC, 14 June 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/10311179.stm (accessed 5 July 2010). · “Rally attack highlights divison over Kenya charter,” Reuters, 14 June 2010, www.uk.reuters.com/article/idUK-TRE65D2A920100614 (accessed 5 July 2010). · Ijere Rugene & Alphonce Shiundu, “Security officers on the spot over rally attack,” Daily Nation, 16 June 2010, www.nation.co.ke/News/Security%20officers%20on%20the%20spot%20over%20rally%20attack/-/1056/940030/-/m1ugvu/-/index.html (accessed 5 July 2010).

072. Somalia, 29 June 2010 · ICRC, News Release, “Somalia: shelling of Mogadishu’s Keysaney hospital results in death of patient,” 30 June 2010, www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/somalia-news-300610 (accessed 15 July 2010). · ICRC, News Release, “Somalia: shelling of Mogadishu’s Keysaney hospital continues despite ICRC’s pleas,” 1 July 2010, www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/somalia-news-010710 (accessed 15 July 2010). · “Somalia Humanitarian Overview,” Vol.3 Issue 6, June 2010, United Nations, posted by ReliefWeb, www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2010.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/AD-GO-873LNJ-full_report.pdf/$File/full_report.pdf (accessed 15 July 2010).

073. Kosovo, 2 July 2010 · Zeljko Pantelic & Augustin Palokaj, “Serbia and Kosovo blame each other for Mitrovica blast,” WAZ.EUobserver, 5 July 2010, www.waz.euobserver.com/887/30419 (ac-cessed 5 July 2010). · Branislav Krstic, “Blast kills 1, hurts 10 in flashpoint Kosovo town,” Reuters, 2 July 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUS-TRE66125W20100702 (accessed 5 July 2010). · “Blast kills one in divided Kosovo town of Mitrovica,” BBC, 2 July 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/eu-rope/10491450.stm (accessed 5 July 2010).

074. Iraq, 7 July 2010 · Assad Aboud, “Baghdad attacks on Shiite pilgrims kill 70 in three days,” AFP, posted by The Montreal Gazette, 8 July 2010, www.montrealgazette.com/news/Baghdad+attacks+Shiite+pilgrims+kill+three+days/3250383/story.html (accessed 16 July 2010). · “Pilgrims die in Iraq suicide attack,” Al Jazeera, 8 July 2010, www.english.aljazeera.net/news/middlee-ast/2010/07/20107717324072400.html (accessed 16 July 2010). · Timothy Williams & Omar Al Jowoshy, “Iraq suicide bomb-ing strikes Shiites,” The New York Times, 7 July 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/07/08/world/middleeast/08iraq.html (accessed 16 July 2010).

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075. Afghanistan, 8 July 2010 · “Rocket attack kills 6 Afghan civilians,” Xinhua, posted by People’s Daily Online, 8 July 2010, www.english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7058498.html (accessed 14 July 2010). · “NATO kills 6 Afghan civilians,” Associated Press, posted by Salon, 9 July 2010, www.salon.com/news/fea-ture/2010/07/09/afghanistan_6_civilians_dead (accessed 14 July 2010). · “NATO says ‘errant rounds’ killed six Afghan civilians,” AFP, posted by Revolutionary Women of Afghanistan, www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2010/07/10/nato-says-errant-round-skilled-six-afghan-civilians.html (accessed 14 July 2010). · “Rocket attack on Afghan market kills 6,” AFP, posted by The Peninsula, 9 July 2010, www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/pakistan/afghanistan/119616-rocket-attack-on-afghan-market-kills-six.html (accessed 14 July 2010). · Rob Taylor, “Stray NATO artillery kills 6 Afghan civilians,” AlertNet, 10 July 2010, www.alertnet.org/thenews/news-desk/SGE6697HF.htm (accessed 14 July 2010). · US Department of State, “Officials in Afghanistan describe recent operations,” American Forces Press Service News, Washington, D.C., 9 July 2010, www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=59960 (accessed 14 July 2010). · Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force, News Release, “ISAF investigating casualties,” 9 July 2010, www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/isaf-investigating-civilian-casualties.html (accessed 14 July 2010).

076. Pakistan, 9 July 2010 · Fauzee Kham Mohmand, “Suicide attacks in Mohmand kill 104; peace jirga main target,” DAWN, 10 July 2010, www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/06-taliban-claim-responsibility-peace-jirga-main-target-suicide-attacks-in-mohmand-65-die-070-rsa-03 (accessed 12 July 2010). · “Pakistan suicide blasts ‘kill more than 100’,” BBC, 10 July 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/10584283.stm (accessed 12 July 2010). · Izaz Mohmand, “Death toll from Pakistan bomb attack reaches 102,” Reuters, 10 July 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6680VD20100710 (accessed 12 July 2010). · “Death toll in Pakistan attacks hits 105: officials,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 11 July 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iZe1L3yhF-BqZec1aUBxM8wYGZqew (accessed 12 July 2010). · Amjad Ali Khan, Mohmand Chief Administrator, reported in: Habib Khan & Riaz Khan, “Suicide bombers kill 62, wound 111 in Pakistan,” Associated Press posted by Google Hosted News, www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkiMxbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD6wVT-mAD9GRJDS80 (accessed 12 July 2010). · Habib Khan & Riaz Khan, “Suicide bombers kill 62, wound 111 in Pakistan,” Associated Press, posted by Google Hosted News, 10 July 2010, www.google.com/hosted-news/ap/article/ALeqM5hkiMxbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD-6wVTmAD9GRJDS80 (accessed 12 July 2010). · Izaz Mohmand, “Suicide kills 65, wounds over 100, in NW Pakistan,” Reuters, 9 July 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6680VD20100709 (accessed 12 July 2010). · “Pakistan death toll soars above 100,” Al Jazeera, 10 July 2010, www.english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/07/20107954021715355.html (accessed 12 July 2010).

077. Uganda, 11 July 2010 · Xan Rice, “Somali militants say they carried out deadly Uganda world cup blasts,” The Guardian, 12 July 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/12/uganda-bombs-blasts-world-cup (accessed 12 July 2010). · “Bombs strike world cup fans in Uganda, kill 64,” Associ-ated Press, posted by The Asian Age, 12 July 2010, www.asianage.com/international/bombs-strike-world-cup-fans-uganda-kill-64-688 (accessed 12 July 2010). · “Over 40 die in Kampala bomb blasts,” The New Vision, 11 July 2010, www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/725545 (accessed 12 July 2010). · Elias Biryabarema, “Uganda bombs kill 74, Islamists claim

attack,” Reuters, 12 July 2010, www.uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE66A2ED20100712?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FUKTopNews+%28News+%2F+UK+%2F+Top+News%29 (accessed 12 July 2010). · “Scores dead in Uganda bomb blasts,” Al Jazeera, 12 July 2010, www.english.aljazeera.net/news/afri-ca/2010/07/2010711212520826984.html (accessed 12 July 2010). · “Uganda eyewitness: blood stains on my feet,” BBC, 12 July 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/af-rica/10598292.stm (accessed 12 July 2010). · “Somali link’ as 74 world cup fans die in Uganda blasts,” BBC, 12 July 2010, www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/af-rica/10593771.stm (accessed 12 July 2010). · Haggae Matsiko, “Uganda bomb blasts death toll rises to 74 as al shabaab claim responsibility,” The Independent, www.independent.co.ug/index.php/component/content/article/106-myblog/3169-uganda-bomb-blasts-death-toll-rises-to-74-as-al-shabaab-claim-responsibility (accessed 12 July 2010). · Josh Kron, “Ugandan president condemns fatal bombings in capital,” The New York Times, 12 July 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/world/africa/13uganda.html (accessed 12 July 2010). · “Scores dead in Uganda bomb blasts,” Al Jazeera, 12 July 2010, www.english.aljazeera.net/news/afri-ca/2010/07/2010711212520826984.html (accessed 12 July 2010). · John Beauge, “Uganda bombing victim plans to return to Messiah College this week,” Penn Live, 3 August 2010, www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/08/uganda_bombing_victim_plans_to.html (accessed 4 August 2010). · International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Cres-cent, “Uganda bomb blast,” DREF Operation, 22 July 2010, www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/10/MDRUG017.pdf (accessed 22 February 2011). · AMREF, “AMREF steps in to provide emergency relief to bombing victims,” 16 July 2010, www.amref.org/news/amref-steps-in-to-provide-emergency-support-to-uganda-bombing-victims/ (accessed 22 February 2011). · Emmanuel Okella, “Government to pay 5 millions [sic] to bomb victims,” Simba Radio, 14 July 2010, www.simba.fm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1170%3Agoverment-to-pay-5-millons-to-bomb-victims&catid=58%3Alatest-news&Itemid=1 (accessed 22 February 2011).

078. Philippines, 12 July 2010 · Lerio Bompat, “Blast kills boy, wounds 5 in Maguindanao,” ABS-CBN Cotabato, 12 July 2010, www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/07/12/10/blast-kills-boy-wounds-5-ma-guindanao (accessed 4 August 2010). · “Boy, 7, killed in Philippine bomb blast: police,” AFP, posted by Yahoo News, 12 July 2010, www.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100713/wl_asia_afp/philippinesmuslimunrest (accessed 4 August 2010). · “Bomb blast kills 1 and wounds 3 in Maguindano: military,” Xinhua, posted by Phil Star, 12 July 2010, www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=592841 (accessed 4 August 2010). · “Maguindanao blast kills child, hurts 4,” Dateline Philip-pines, 12 July 2010, www.dateline.ph/?p=23 (accessed 4 August 2010). · AOAV interview with local NGO Worker, Maguindanao, Philippines, 17 October 2010. · AOAV interview with relative of victim, Maguindanao, Philippines, 17 October 2010.

079. Gaza, 13 July 2010 · Harriet Sherwood, “Mother of five killed by Israeli artillery fire close to Gaza buffer zone,” The Guardian, 16 July 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/16/idf-kills-mother-gaza-israel (accessed 19 July 2010). · Salah Salem, “Israeli shelling kills Palestinian woman in Gaza,” Reuters, posted by AlertNet, 13 July 2010, www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE66C26T.htm (ac-cessed 19 July 2010).

· “Israeli army fires shell at Gaza camp, killing one: medics,” AFP News, posted by France 24, 13 July 2010, www.france24.com/en/20100713-israeli-army-fires-shell-gaza-camp-killing-one-medics (accessed 19 July 2010).

080. Iran, 15 July 2010 · “JI leader condemns Zahedan suicide attacks,” IRNA, 19 July 2010, www.irna.ir/En/View/FullStory/?NewsId=1231188&IdLanguage=3 (accessed 19 July 2010). · Ian Black, “Iran accused US and UK of supporting group behind mosque attacks,” The Guardian, 16 July 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/16/iran-us-uk-mosque-attacks (accessed 19 July 2010). · Parisa Hafezi, “At least 21 killed in Iran suicide attack,” Reuters, 16 July 2010, www.in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia50162320100715?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a54:g12:r6:c0.540810:b35743454:z3 (accessed 19 July 2010). · William Maclean, “Analysis: Iran bomb sends rebel’s message of survival,” Reuters, 16 July 2010, www.in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-50183420100716 (accessed 19 July 2010). · “Bomb incidents kill 27, injure over 200 in Zahedan,” IRNA, 16 July 2010, www.irna.ir/En/View/FullStory/?NewsId=1228944&IdLanguage=3 (accessed 19 July 2010). · “Iran mosque ‘suicide bombers’ kill 27,” BBC, 16 July 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10655900 (accessed 19 July 2010). · Ramin Mostafavi & Hasem Kalantari, “Iran guards warn US of ‘fallout’ over bomb attacks,” Reuters, 17 July 2010, www.in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-50199720100717?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a54:g12:r3:c0.606554:b35743454:z3 (accessed 19 July 2010).

081. Mexico, 15 July 2010 · “Police: Car bomb in Mexican border town kills 4,” CNN, 17 July 2010, www.edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/ameri-cas/07/16/mexico.juarez.explosion/?hpt=Sbin&fbid=uRZgM1SMYBi#fbid=clFDbgxh9Yy (accessed 26 July 2010). · Alicia A Caldwell & E Eduardo Castillo, “Car bomb used in attack on Mexican police,” The Associated Press, posted by Google Hosted News, 16 July 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gMi5B2USfJStXxfqgW-Wr2xjRYpOgD9H0DON00 (accessed 26 July 2010). · Julian Cardona, “Mexico blames drug cartel for deadly car bomb,” Reuters, 17 July 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66F50G20100717 (accessed 26 July 2010). · “Deadly Mexican drug gang attack ‘was car bomb’,” BBC, 16 July 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10669672 (accessed 26 July 2010).

082. Somalia, 18 July 2010 · Mohammad Olad Hassan, “Somali shell attack injures Ko-ranic schoolchildren,” BBC, 19 July 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-10683293 (accessed 20 July 2010). · Abdi Sheik, “Mogadishu fighting kills 52 civilians in a week-group,” AlertNet, 20 July 2010, www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE66J1G4.htm (accessed 20 July 2010). · Hassan Osman, “Heavy fighting starts, mortar injures 10, children at holy Koran school in Mogadishu,” Allvoices, 18 July 2010, www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6337528-heavy-fighting-starts-mortar-injures-10-children-at-holy-kuran-school-in-mogadishu (accessed 20 July 2010). · “Seven dead in Somalia after stray shell hits school,” DPA, posted by Monsters & Critics, 19 July 2010, www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1571714.php/Seven-dead-in-Somalia-after-stray-shell-hits-school (accessed 20 July 2010).

083. Afghanistan, 23 July 2010 · “NATO says cannot verify Afghan civilian deaths,” DAWN, 27 July 2010, www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/21-nato-says-cannot-veri-fy-afghan-civilian-deaths-sk-02 (accessed 5 August 2010). · Sayed Salahuddin, “Afghanistan says 39 civilians die in disputed NATO attack,” Reuters, 5 August 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6741KP20100805 (accessed 5 August 2010). · “NATO disputes Karzai’s claim its rocket killed 52 civil-

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ians,” Voice of America News, 26 July 2010, www.voanews.com/english/news/Afghan-Officials-Rocket-Attack-Kills-45-Civilians-99233909.html (accessed 5 August 2010). · David Fox, “NATO rocket killed 45 Afghan civilians: govern-ment,” Reuters, 26 July 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66P35Y20100726 (accessed 5 August 2010). · Derrick Crowe, “NATO forces in Afghanistan can’t deny they killed civilians in Sangin anymore,” Brave New Founda-tion, Re-think Afghanistan Project, 6 August 2010, www.rethinkafghanistan.com/blog/2010/08/nato-forces-in-af-ghanistan-cant-deny-they-killed-civilians-in-sangin-anymore/ (accessed 10 January 2011).

084. Somalia, 27 July 2010 · “Civilians killed in Somalia clashes,” Al Jazeera, 28 July 2010, www.english.aljazeera.net/news/af-rica/2010/07/20107281342348676.html (accessed 11 August 2010). · ”At least 17 civilians killed in fighting in Mogadishu,” En-nahar Online, 28 July 2010, www.ennaharonline.com/en/international/4413.html (accessed 11 August 2010). · “Mogadishu fighting kills at least 17 civilians,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 28 July 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jfpghFlP4NP7UaVgI0YETG-gUZXBQ (accessed 11 August 2010). · Hamsa Omar, “Somalia fighting kills 13 civilians; African Union plans to bolster force,” Bloomberg, 28 July 2010, www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-28/somalia-fighting-kills-13-civilians-african-union-plans-to-bolster-force.html (accessed 11 August 2010).

085. Gaza, 2 August 2010 · Palestinian Center for Human Rights, “PCHR Calls for Investigations into Injury of 58 Palestinians, Including 13 Children, by Explosion in Deir al-Balah,” 3 August 2010, www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6882:pchr-calls-for-investigations-into-injury-of-58-palestinians-including-13-children-by-explosion-in-deir-al-balah-&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194 (accessed 4 August 2010). · Hisham Abu Taha, “42 injured in Gaza explosion,” Arab News, 2 August 2010, www.arabnews.com/middleeast/article94556.ece (accessed 4 August 2010). · “Gaza blast wounds Palestinians,” Al Jazeera, 2 August 2010, www.english.aljazeera.net/news/middlee-ast/2010/08/20108201539259168.html (accessed 4 August 2010). · “33 Palestinians hurt in Gaza blast,” AFP, posted by The Times of India, 2 August 2010, www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/33-Palestinians-hurt-in-Gaza-blast/articleshow/6246215.cms (accessed 4 August 2010). · Hisham Abu Taha, “42 injured in Gaza explosion,” Arab News, 2 August 2010, www.arabnews.com/middleeast/article94556.ece (accessed 4 August 2010). · Palestinian Center for Human Rights, “PCHR Calls for Seri-ously Investigating the Circumstances of Internal Explosion in Rafah in Which 26 Persons Were Wounded, Including 17 Children,” 21 October 2010, www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/JALR-8AFH2Z?OpenDocument (accessed 2 February 2011). · Ibrahim Barzak, “Blast in Hamas compound in Gaza wounds children,” Associated Press, posted by Sign on San Diego, 20 October 2010, www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/oct/20/blast-in-hamas-compound-in-gaza-wounds-children/ (accessed 8 October 2010).

086. Jordan, 2 August 2010 · Hani Hazaimeh, “One dead, four injured after rocket lands in Aqaba,” The Jordan Times, 3 August 2010, www.jordantimes.com/?news=28874 · “Jordanian resorts hit by rockets,” Voice of America News, 2 August 2010, http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Rockets-Strike-Southern-Jordan-Israel-99744864.html (ac-cessed 3 August 2010). · Mohammed Al Ramahi, “Rockets hit Israel and Jordan resorts,” Reuters, 2 August 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6710LN20100802 (accessed 3 August 2010).

· “Jordan condemns Aqaba rocket attack,” AFP/NOW Lebanon, August 2 2010, www.nowlebanon.com/NewsAr-ticleDetails.aspx?ID=190866 (accessed 3 August 2010).

087. Iraq, 3 August 2010 · “Twin bombs kill at least 3 in southern Iraq,” BBC, 3 August 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10857251 (accessed 4 August 2010). · Sameer N. Yacoub & Mazin Yahya, “Car bombing strikes Kut as series of attacks kill at least 23 in Iraq,” Associated Press, posted by News Abah, 3 August 2010, www.newsa-bah.com/tpl/article.tpl?IdLanguage=17&NrIssue=1779&NrSection=26&NrArticle=42554 (accessed 4 August 2010). · Nasir Salman, local shopkeeper, reported in: “Twin bombs kill at least 3 in southern Iraq,” BBC, 3 August 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10857251 (accessed 4 August 2010). · “Twin bombs kill at least 3 in southern Iraq,” BBC, 3 August 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10857251 (accessed 4 August 2010). · Aref Mohammed, “Explosions kill 12, wound 55 in Iraqi city of Kut,” Reuters, 3 August 2010, www.uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE67247F20100803?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews (accessed 4 August 2010). · “4th victim dies in Kut bombing,” Aswat al Iraq, 4 August 2010, www.en.aswataliraq.info/?p=135241 (accessed 4 August 2010). · “Twin blasts kill 35 wound 80 in Iraq,” Press TV, 3 August 2010, www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137333&sectionid=351020201 (accessed 4 August 2010).

088. Somalia, 3 August 2010 · Hassan Osman, “Heavy shelling kills 5, injures 25 others in Mogadishu,” Allvoices, 3 August 2010, www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6449372-heavy-shelling-kills-5-injuries-25-others-in-mogadishu (accessed 9 August 2010). · “4 killed by shelling in Somali capital,” Voice of America News, 4 August 2010, www.blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2010/08/04/4-killed-by-shelling-in-somali-capital/ (accessed 9 August 2010). · “5 die, more than 23 wounded in shelling,” Shabelle Media Network, posted by AllAfrica, 3 August 2010, www.allafrica.com/stories/201008040410.html (accessed 9 August 2010).

089. Iraq, 7 August 2010 · Aref Mohammed, “Scores killed and wounded in Iraq ex-plosion,” Reuters, 7 August 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67618220100807 (accessed 11 August 2010). · “Basra blasts kill at least 43 people,” Al Manar TV News, 8 August 2010, www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=149542 (accessed 11 August 2010). · “The death toll from a Basra market blast rises to 43,” BBC, 8 August 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10907112 (accessed 11 August 2010). · “Deadly ‘generator’ blast hits south Iraqi city of Basra,” BBC, 7 August 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10904522 (accessed 11 August 2010). · “60 killed in triple bombing in Basra,” Press TV, 7 August 2010, www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137833 (accessed 11 August 2010).

090. Colombia, 12 August 2010 · “Explosion near Colombia radio injures several,” Associ-ated Press, posted by Google Hosted News, 12 August 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM-5hB4P7UUGsLNmFp0oUyksHevzz02wD9HHUBU80 (accessed 23 August 2010). · Rory Carroll, “Colombia capital hit by car bombing,” The Guardian, 12 August 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/12/colombia-car-bomb-bogota (accessed 23 August 2010). · R. Renee Yaworsky, “Bogota car bomb linked to Farc reb-els,” Impunity Watch, 14 August 2010, www.impunitywatch.com/?p=13545 (accessed 23 August 2010). · “Car bomb rocks Colombian capital,” BBC, 12 August 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10953545 (accessed 23 August 2010). · Kirsten Begg, “Police: no bomb threats against Caracol

radio,” Colombia Reports, 20 August 2010, www.colombi-areports.com/colombia-news/news/11436-police-no-proof-caracol-radio-target-of-bogota-bombing.html (accessed 23 August 2010). · “Colombia offers $260K reward in Bogota car bombing,” Associated Press, posted by Sign on San Diego, 13 August 2010, www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/aug/13/colombia-offers-260k-reward-in-bogota-car-bombing/ (ac-cessed 23 August 2010).

091. Somalia, 16 September 2010 · “Somalia: 15 killed, 50 injured in Mogadishu fighting,” Garowe Online, 16 September 2010, www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_15_killed_50_injured_in_Mogadishu_fighting.shtml (accessed 21 Septem-ber 2010). · Hassan Osman, “Mortars kill 15, injuries more than 50 others in Mogadishu,” AllVoices, 16 September 2010, www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6777881-mortars-kill-15-injuries-more-than-50-others-in-mogadishu (accessed 21 September 2010). · “Attack on market kills 12 in Somalia,” Press TV, 17 Sep-tember 2010, www.presstv.ir/detail/142798.html (accessed 21 September 2010).

092. Iran, 22 September 2010 · William Young and Alan Cowell, “Bomb hits parade in Kurdish-majority city in Iran,” The New York Times, 22 September 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/world/middleeast/23iran.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss (ac-cessed 14 October 2010). · “Iranian bomb attack kills 12,” Reuters posted by The Irish Times, 22 September 2010, www.irishtimes.com/newspa-per/breaking/2010/0922/breaking22.html (accessed 14 October 2010). · ”Bomb at Iran military parade kills 10 civilians,” Associated Press, posted by The Guardian, 22 September 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/22/iran-bomb (accessed 14 October 2010). · “Bomb kills 10 in Iran,” Financial Times, 22 September 2010, www.ft.com/cms/s/0/448f4224-c669-11df-8a9f-00144feab49a,dwp_uuid=be75219e-940a-11da-82ea-0000779e2340.html (accessed 14 October 2010). · “Iran: Blast at military parade venue kills 10,” One India News, 22 September 2010, www.news.oneindia.in/2010/09/22/iran-blast-at-military-parade-venue-kills-10.html (accessed 14 October 2010). · “Iran terror attack kills 12, injures 80,” Press TV, 22 September 2010, www.presstv.com/detail/143506.html (accessed 14 October 2010).

093. Philippines 26 September 2010 · David Dizon, “Bar exam blast perpetrators told to surrender,” ABS-CBN News, 30 September 2010, www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/29/10/bar-exam-blast-perpe-trators-told-surrender (accessed 9 November 2010). · Ina Reformina, “De Lima: Frat war angle not yet estab-lished,” ABS-CBN News, 30 September 2010, www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/30/10/de-lima-frat-war-angle-not-yet-established (accessed 12 October 2010). · “Lawless,” Philippine Daily Enquirer, 2 October 2010, www.opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view/20101002-295653/Lawless (accessed 12 October 2010). · “Suspect in DLSU Blast ‘has no soul’, says Corona,” Manila Bulletin, 4 October 2010, www.mb.com.ph/articles/280536/suspect-dlsu-blast-has-no-soul-says-corona (accessed 12 October 2010). · “2 law students lose legs in Bar exam bombing,” ABS-CBN News, 27 September 2010, www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/09/27/10/2-female-law-students-lose-legs-bar-exam-bombing (accessed 12 October 2010). · “Explosion victim to get prosthetic legs,” The Philippine Star, 19 October 2010, www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=622174&publicationSubCategoryId=65 (accessed 22 February 2010).

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094. Nigeria, 1 October 2010 · Jenny Percival, “Nigerian capital rocked by three bombs on 50th independence anniversary,” The Guardian, 1 October 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/01/nigeria-independence-bombs (accessed 12 October 2010). · Adam Nossiter, “Bombs by Nigerian insurgents kill 8,” The New York Times, 1 October 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/10/02/world/africa/02nigeria.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=nigeria%20independence%20bombing&st=cse (accessed 12 October 2010). · “Nigerian militants claim deadly independence day bomb-ing,” Associated Press posted by France 24, 2 October 2010, www.france24.com/en/20101002-nigerian-militants-claim-deadly-independence-day-bombing-mend-50-years-car-bombs (accessed 12 October 2010). · Scott Stearns, “Death toll rises in bombing of Nigerian independence celebrations,” Voice of America News, 2 October 2010, www.voanews.com/english/news/12-Killed-in-Blasts-Near-Nigeria-Independence-Celebra-tions-104204454.html (accessed 12 October 2010). · “14 killed, more than 40 others injured in Nigerian car bomb blasts: police,” Xinhua, 1 October 2010, www.news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-10/01/c_13539331.htm (accessed 12 October 2010).

095. Mexico, 2 October 2010 · “Grenade attack leaves 12 wounded in Northern Mexico,” Latin American Herald Tribune, 3 October 2010, www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=369555&CategoryId=14091 (ac-cessed 20 October 2010). · “Mexico roiled by grenades, bombings in bloody week-end,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 3 October 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM-5j2kJXCAbxQ7EtY-XpvGRdXgvu3Ug?docId=CNG.649318c517e989a6cb277015a7fa72dd.1151 (accessed 20 October 2010). · Robin Emmott, “Grenade attack in Mexico injures 12 people,” Reuters, 3 October 2010, www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69211Q20101003 (accessed 20 October 2010). · R. Shelley, “Grenade attack in Mexico injures 15 or more,” Knowelty, 4 October 2010, www.knowelty.com/grenade-attack-in-mexico-injures-15-or-more/873657/ (accessed 20 October 2010). · Mark Walsh, “Explosion at plaza injures 15 in northern Mexico,” Associated Press, posted by Google Hosted News, 3 October 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gMi5B2USfJStXxfqgWWr2xjRYpOgD9IKFVIG1?docId=D9IKFVIG1 (accessed 20 October 2010).

096. India, 8 October 2010 · Soumittra Bose, “It took 3 hours for medical attention to reach children,” The Times of India, 10 October 2010, www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/It-took-3-hours-for-medical-attention-to-reach-children/articleshow/6722058.cms (accessed 14 October 2010). · Jaideep Hardikar, “We rushed out after the blast... the kids were covered in blood: Villagers in Sawargaon,” Daily News & Analysis, 9 October 2010, www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_we-rushed-out-after-the-blast-the-kids-were-covered-in-blood-villagers-in-sawargaon_1450335 (accessed 14 October 2010). · Supiya Sharma, “Day after the blast, question remains: who lobbed grenade?,” The Times of India, 10 October 2010, www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Day-after-the-blast-question-remains-Who-lobbed-grenade/articleshow/6722055.cms (accessed 14 October 2010). · “Encounter grenade kills kids in school,” The Telegraph India, 8 October 2010, www.telegraphindia.com/1101009/jsp/nation/story_13036919.jsp (accessed 14 October 2010). · “Unending Maoist terror: 3 jawans killed,” Times of India, 9 October 2010, www.timesnow.tv/Unending-Maoist-terror-3-jawans-killed/articleshow/4355655.cms (accessed 14 October 2010).

· Supriya Sharma, “Death served up with lunch at Sawargaon ashramshala,” The Times of India, 10 October 2010, www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Death-served-up-with-lunch-at-Sawargaon-ashramshala/articleshow/6722089.cms (accessed 14 October 2010).

097. Algeria, 12 October 2010 · Aomar Ouali, “Security officials: Bomb in Algeria kills 5,” Associated Press, posted by Google Hosted News, 12 October 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gENAIIgSWeQZUDnqmPAW2hkl2osgD9IQANJ01?docId=D9IQANJ01 (accessed 12 October 2010). · “Five killed by Roadside bomb,” RFI, 13 October 2010, www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20101013-five-killed-roadside-bomb (accessed 20 October 2010). · “Five people killed in the explosion of a bomb Tbassa,” El Watan, 13 October 2010, www.elwatan.com/actualite/cinq-personnes-tuees-dans-l-explosion-d-une-bombe-a-tebessa-13-10-2010-94481_109.php (accessed 13 October 2010). · Kingsley Kobo, “Algeria: bomb explosion kills five,” Africa News, www.africanews.com/site/Algeria_Bomb_explo-sion_kills_five/list_messages/35332 (accessed 20 October 2010).

098. Gaza, 20 October 2010 · Palestinian Center for Human Rights, “PCHR calls for seri-ously investigating the circumstances of the internal explo-sion in Rafah in which 26 persons were wounded, including 17 children,” 21 October 2010, www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7084:pchr-calls-for-seriously-investigating-the-circumstances-of-internal-explosion-in-rafah-in-which-26-persons-were-wou-nded-including-17-children-&catid=131:new&Itemid=183 (accessed 8 November 2010). · “Blasts at Hamas base wound 12,” Xinhua, posted by Lexis Nexis, 20 October 2010, www.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100023528&docId=l:1287181513&start=65 (accessed 8 November 2010). · Ibrahim Barzak, “Blast in Hamas compound in Gaza wounds children,” Associated Press, posted by Sign on San Diego, 20 October 2010, www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/oct/20/blast-in-hamas-compound-in-gaza-wounds-children/ (accessed 8 October 2010). · “Explosion at Hamas base hurts 12 in Gaza,” UPI, posted by Lexis Nexis, 20 October 2010, www.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100023528&docId=l:1286268726&start=70 (accessed 8 November 2010). · “Gaza Strip: 13 wounded in Hamas site blast,” Al Bawaba, posted by Lexis Nexis, 20 October 2010, www.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100023528&docId=l:1286081704&start=71 (accessed 8 November 2010). · UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Protection of civilians: 20-26 October 2010,” 26 October 2010, www.unispal.un.org/pdfs/WBN378.pdf (accessed 8 November 2010).

099. Philippines, 21 October 2010 · Teresa Cerojano, “Bomb in bus kills 10, wounds 9 in res-tive Philippines; extortion gang suspected,” Canadian Press, posted by Google Hosted News, 21 October 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gT-1uKxV9ztCjIhB6HbjphZd3s6g?docId=4900469 (accessed 22 October 2010). · Manny Mogato, “Philippines says rogue rebel group behind bus blast,” Reuters, posted by Swiss Info, 22 October 2010, www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/Philippines_says_rogue_rebel_group_behind_bus_blast.html?cid=28608788 (accessed 22 October 2010). · Cecille Suerte Felipe, “9 dead, 9 wounded in Cotabato bus blast,” The Philippine Star, 22 October 2010, www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=623094&publicationSubCategoryId=63 (accessed 22 October 2010).

· ”Bus explosion kills 10 in Philippines,” CNN, 21 October 2010, www.edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/21/philippine.bus.explosion/?hpt=Sbin (accessed 22 October 2010). · “Cotabato Blast kills 10,” Philippine Daily Inquirer, 22 October 2010, www.newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerhead-lines/nation/view/20101022-299058/Cotabato-blast-kills-10 (accessed 22 October 2010). · Efren Danao and Ruben Manahan, “No group owns up to deadly bomb blast,” The Manila Times, 23 October 2010, www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/29726-no-group-owns-up-to-deadly-bus-blast (accessed 9 November 2010).

100. Pakistan, 5 November 2010 · “Toll in Pakistan mosque bombings reaches 90,” Indo-Asian News Service, posted by the Hindustan Times, 7 November 2010, www.allvoices.com/s/event-7243604/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5oaW5kdXN0YW50aW1lcy5jb-20vcnNzZmVlZC9wYWtpc3Rhbi9Ub2xsLWluLVBha2lzdG-FuLW1vc3F1ZS1ib21iaW5ncy1yZWFjaGVzLTkwL0FydG-ljbGUxLTYyMzE0My5hc3B4 (accessed 11 January 2011). · “Death toll in Pakistan mosque bombings nears 90,” DPA, posted by Monsters and Critics, 7 November 2010, www.monstersandcritics.com/news/southasia/news/arti-cle_1597173.php/Death-toll-in-Pakistan-mosque-bombings-nears-90 (accessed 11 January 2011). · “Death toll in Pakistan mosque suicide bombing over 70,” BBC, 6 November 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11703914 (accessed 11 January 2011). · Lehaz Ali, “Double Pakistan mosque attacks kill 72,” AFP, posted by Google Hosted News, 5 November 2010, www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hhtcSk5UV5xsaNidXg91BwwIarQw?docId=CNG.ac8be947f825bdf62b039d0d552a4bc4.211 (accessed 11 January 2011). · “Deadly Blast hits Pakistan mosque,” Reuters, posted by Alsiyada, 6 November 2010, www.alsiyada.net/index.php?name=news&op=view&id=830&word=Darra (accessed 11 January 2011). · “60 killed as suicide bomber hits mosque in Darra Adem Khel,” Pak-News, 6 November 2010, www.pak-news.net/60-killed-as-suicide-bomber-hits-mosque-in-darra-adem-khel/ (accessed 11 January 2011). · “Attack on mosque in north-west Pakistan ‘kills 55’,” BBC, 5 November 2010, www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11700795 (accessed 11 January 2011). · Owais Tohid, “Deadly bombings in Pakistan target mosques, killing more than 70 worshippers,” Christian Science Monitor, posted by Allvoices, 5 November 2010, www.allvoices.com/s/event-7243604/aHR0cDovL3d-3dy5jc21vbml0b3IuY29tL1dvcmxkL0FzaWEtU291dG-gtQ2VudHJhbC8yMDEwLzExMDUvRGVhZGx5LWJvb-WJpbmdzLWluLVBha2lzdGFuLXRhcmdldC1tb3NxdWVzL-WtpbGxpbmctbW9yZS10aGFuLTcwLXdvcnNoaXBwZXJz (accessed 11 January 2011).

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Front coverDestroyed town of east Jabalya, northern Gaza Strip, Monday 16 February 2009. © Mark Pearson/shelterBox

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100 Incidents of Humanitarian Harm: Explosive Weapons in