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September 2024

Data

Data for September 2024

At least one death or injury from the use of explosive weapons was recorded in 22 countries and territories in September 2024. Worldwide, there were at least 937 reported incidents of explosive weapons use resulting in 10,262 casualties, of which 9,371 (91%) were civilians. About 50% of all reported civilian casualties occurred in Lebanon in September 2024. Other affected countries and territories in terms of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were Myanmar, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Sudan, and Ukraine.

When explosive weapons were used in populated areas in September 2024, civilians reportedly accounted for 94% of all recorded casualties. This pattern of harm has been consistently recorded over the last decade.

This data is collected from English-language media reports. It does not attempt to exhaustively capture all incidents of explosive weapon use around the world but to serve as an indicator of the scale and pattern of deaths and injuries. In the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Lebanon, English-language media underreported the numbers of casualties caused by incidents of explosive weapons use. Additionally, the use of explosive weapons in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Lebanon was so frequent that it was difficult in many cases to attribute civilian casualties to specific incidents of use, as required by the methodology for this data collection. As such, the data presented here underrepresents the extent to which casualties were caused by explosive weapons. For more information on casualties from official sources in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, see the Ministry of Health in Gaza and the Lebanese Health Ministry reported figures, when possible, by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Reported incidents of explosive weapon use that resulted in civilian casualties by state/territory in September 2024

Number of incidents

184

Reported incidents of explosive weapon use and
civilian and armed-actor casualties in September 2024

Impact on civilians in populated areas in September 2024

There were 129 incidents of explosive weapon use affecting aid access, education and healthcare services reported in five countries and territories in September 2024. For the twelfth consecutive month, the highest number of incidents were reported in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, where 64 incidents were attributed to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). High numbers were also reported in Lebanon during Israel's large-scale airstrikes on southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region, which killed 21 health workers and damaged ambulances, hospitals, health centres and pharmacies 28 times. Incidents also continued to be recorded in Myanmar, Pakistan, Sudan and Ukraine. 

Most of the reported 129 incidents of explosive weapon use affecting aid access, education and healthcare services involved air-launched explosives weapons. Four incidents were recorded when communication devices exploded across Lebanon on 17 and 18 September, some occurring in populated areas, which had devastating impacts on civilians, their communities, and the health care system. Two health workers were killed, including a nurse who worked at Dar al-Amal Hospital and a hospital staff member who was injured while working at Rassoul al-Azzam Hospital and later died from his injuries. Additionally, a roadside bomb explosion targeted a polio vaccination team in Pakistan's South Waziristan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in early September.

Reported incidents of explosive weapon use affecting aid
access, education and healthcare in September 2024

ANNUAL UPDATES FOR September 2024

In the last year (October 2023 to September 2024), at least one death or injury from the use of explosive weapons was recorded in 60 countries and territories. Worldwide, there were 9,437 incidents of explosive weapons use resulting in 70,326 casualties, of which 88% (61,774) were civilians. About 50% of all reported civilian casualties occurred in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Other affected countries and territories in terms of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons were Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine.

In the last year (October 2023 to September 2024), there were 2,783 recorded incidents of explosive weapons use affecting aid access, education, and healthcare services in 30 countries and territories. In total, at least 704 aid workers, educators, health workers and students were killed in these incidents. Over three-quarters of the reported 2,783 incidents of explosive weapons use affecting aid access, education, and healthcare services were attributed to state forces.