The destruction of housing and infrastructure from the use of heavy explosive weapons in populated areas greatly increases the long-term impact of violence. It contributes to displacement and lack of access to shelter, water and sanitation, healthcare and education.

Blast and fragmentation from explosive weapons kill and injure people in the area around the point of detonation. When used in populated areas they tend to cause severe harm to individuals and communities.

Explosive weapons include artillery shells, multiple launch rocket systems, air-dropped bombs, grenades and improvised explosives devices (IEDs), amongst others.

For most states explosive weapons are tools of the military – they are not considered appropriate for use in law enforcement because of the risk they pose to the public. So the use of explosive weapons indicates that some form of crisis is unfolding

“The use of explosive weapons in populated areas has a devastating impact on children. As well as killing and injuring them, bombs and the increasing use of IEDs are denying children access to healthcare and education, and ruining their futures”, Save the Children UK

Victims and survivors of explosive weapons can face long-term challenges of disability, psychological harm, and social and economic exclusion. States need to ensure that individuals and affected communities are able to fully realise their human rights.

“A common feature of explosive weapons is that they are indiscriminate within their zones of blast and fragmentation effect, which makes their use highly problematic in populated areas,” United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon