Survey By 'Action On Armed Violence' Finds Syria Took Over From Iraq In 2012 As World's Worst Country For 'Explosive Violence'

Civilian Casualties From Explosive Weapons Rise 26% In A Year -- The Guardian

Survey by Action on Armed Violence finds Syria took over from Iraq in 2012 as world's worst country for 'explosive violence'

The number of civilians killed and injured by explosive weapons such as car bombs, mortars, landmines and grenades increased by 26% last year compared with 2011, figures released on Friday show.

Civilians accounted for the large majority – 78% – of the 34,758 people killed or wounded by such weapons, a unique survey of nearly 3,000 incidents reveals. Syria took over from Iraq as the country affected most by what the report calls "explosive violence". An increase of almost 800% in civilian casualties was recorded in Syria in 2012.

Many other countries were also affected, says the survey, drawn up by the British-based charity Action on Armed Violence.

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Update #1: How does Afghanistan compare to the world's other conflicts? -- The Guardian
Update #2: Explosive death toll in Syria increases by a quarter -- The Telegraph


WNU Editor: The Action on Armed Violence website is here.