Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas

Camilla Molyneux | International Network on Explosive Weapons

Originally published as part of the First Committee Monitor from Reaching Critical Will.

For the second week in a row, condemnation of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and concerns about its impact on civilians were heard at the First Committee. The Arab Group, Algeria, Belgium, Comoros, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Ethiopia, France, Iceland, Iran, Georgia, Greece, Ghana, Maldives, Moldova, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Panama, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Sudan, Tanzania, Türkiye, Ukraine, the League of Arab States, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW), a joint civil society statement on youth and education and a joint civil society statement on humanitarian disarmament all spoke about some aspect of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, whether in general or in relation to a specific conflict.

The widespread harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in Gaza and the escalation in Lebanon was a major concern of states and civil society coalitions during the second week of general debate. The targeting and shelling of the United Nations Interim Force positions in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) was strongly condemned by many states, including Ukraine, Slovenia, San Marino, Portugal, Oman, Comoros, Iceland, and France. Ukraine stated that the shelling of UNIFIL positions by Israel Defence Forces on 10 October constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law (IHL) and UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006).

Tanzania, Bolivia, Maldives, Nicaragua, Norway, and Türkyie all expressed concerns for the continued large-scale attacks on Gaza, including by airstrike, with Türkyie describing Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Lebanon as indiscriminate. The widespread use of explosive weapons in Gaza has had far reaching effects. Iceland, Iran, Belgium, Oman, Palestine, and Algeria called attention to the tens of thousands of people killed. The destruction of infrastructure was raised by Iceland, the Arab Group, and Iran. The Arab Group and Iran also expressed concern for the widespread displacement and injuries caused by the war. San Marino called out the targeting of civilians, journalists, and humanitarian workers, whilst Tanzania and Greece expressed grave concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Speaking about Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the Arab Group, Iceland, the Maldives, Belgium, Algeria, Iran, and Oman called on Israel to comply with IHL. Iran, Oman, and the Arab Group accused Israel of violating IHL in Gaza. Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Tunisia, Sudan, and the League of Arab States spoke about the importance of responsible arms transfers in the context of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, calling out those that arm Israel. The importance of arms suppliers doing everything in their power to ensure respect for IHL was also raised by the ICRC, although not referencing any specific conflict.

Explosive weapons were also raised in the context of the war in Ukraine, with Norway condemning their use in populated areas, and Georgia, Moldova, and Poland calling out Russia’s indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. This, Poland and Georgia said, was a violation of IHL.

Slovenia, Norway, Kenya, and Myanmar drew attention to the conflicts in Sudan and Myanmar. Slovenia and Norway expressed concern about the civilian harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in Sudan. Kenya called out the lack of international attention on Sudan, reminding members that 10 million people have been displaced, and that half of the population is starving. Explosive weapons were not explicitly mentioned as a source of the human suffering in Sudan, however, they have heavily contributed to the displacement crisis in the country. Myanmar reminded states that conventional weapons continue to cause widespread civilian death across the world. It also drew attention to the conflict in Myanmar, condemning the Myanmar military’s airstrikes on civilians and civilian objects, including the recent increase in airstrikes causing destruction and killing civilians.

A broader concern about the use of explosive weapons in conflicts today was raised by many states, including Comoros, Norway, Ukraine, Panama, Slovenia, Costa Rica, Greece, Nepal, and Ghana, as well as statements by the ICRC, INEW, and two joint civil society statements. Greece and Costa Rica reminded members that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas disproportionately affects women, girls, boys, people with disabilities, and older people. The ICRC called for urgent action on explosive weapons used in populated areas, saying it had never been more important. Civilians are experiencing shocking level of suffering, exacerbated by the destruction of infrastructure, which is undermining sustainable development, the ICRC continued. The statement on youth and disarmament education expressed alarm at the rising casualties from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

The widespread use of explosive weapons in conflicts today, from Gaza and Lebanon to Ukraine, Myanmar, and Sudan, is the leading cause of harm to civilians in armed conflict, INEW said in its statement. Civilians suffer complex life changing injuries and long-term psychological distress from living under bombing. The impact on children is particularly acute, due to their physiology, stages of development, and dependence on caregivers. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas destroys critical civilian infrastructure, which impacts the provision of essential services and constrains humanitarian access.

A key step towards preventing and mitigating the harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas is the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences of the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. Costa Rica, Norway, San Marino, the ICRC, INEW, and the joint civil society statement on humanitarian disarmament all called for states to endorse the Declaration. Costa Rica called on states to review and strengthen military policies and practices to reduce the impact on civilians from explosive weapons in line with the Declaration’s commitments, and invited states to attend the next follow-up conference on the Declaration in Costa Rica in July 2025.

As the second week of the First Committee comes to an end, we encourage states to heed INEW’s call to:

• Endorse (if not already) and implement the Declaration, including by committing to avoid civilian harm by restricting or refraining from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas;
• Continue to publicly acknowledge and call for action to address the severe harm to individuals and communities from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas;
• Use diplomatic means and influence to stop the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and take into account both direct and indirect effects on civilians;
• Facilitate rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access;
• Provide, facilitate or support assistance to victims; and
• Facilitate work by the UN, the ICRC, and civil society aimed at protecting and assisting civilian populations from the humanitarian impacts of explosive weapon use.