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Casualties and Victim Assistance
Region
Cluster munition casualties by region
Casualties during
use of cluster
munitions
Casualties from
cluster munition
remnants
Total confirmed
casualties
Total estimated
casualties
Asia 25 (unknown) 10,654 10,679 10,654–42,568
Middle East and North Africa 417 3,527 3,944 6,449–8,949
Europe, Caucasus, and Central
Asia
1,176 528 1,704 1,704
Africa 479 344 823 823
Americas 44 N/A 44 44
Total 2,141 15,053 17,169 19,674–54,063
The vast majority (15,053) of reported casualties occurred after cluster munition use and were caused by cluster
munition remnants, including explosive submunitions, that failed to detonate during strikes. Data on casualties due to
cluster munition strikes is more difficult to systematically collect and is often not included in casualty reporting. The other
2,141 casualties were recorded from cluster munition strikes. The casualties at the time of use are grossly underreported;
therefore the actual number of casualties, both known and estimated, is massively underrepresented. 8
Civilian status
In the cases where the status was recorded, civilians accounted for the majority (94%) of casualties (10,447), while
humanitarian deminers (clearance personnel) accounted for 3% and security forces (military, police, and other security
forces) accounted for another 3%. However, for 6,076 casualties (more than a third of all cluster munition casualties), the
civilian status was not indicated or recorded. 9 See the following table and chart.
Recorded cluster munition casualties:
Civilian status
Civilian 10,447 60.7%
Deminer 361 2%
Security Forces 310 1.8%
Unknown 6,076 35%
Total 17,194 100%
Deminers
3%
Security
forces
3%
Civilians
94%
Age status
In cases where the age was known, the majority (60%) of recorded civilian casualties were adults aged 18 and above
(9,708 casualties) and a significant proportion (40%) were children. The age was not recorded for 739 civilian casualties.
See the following table and chart.
Recorded civilian cluster munition
casualties: Adults/children
Adult 5,866 57%
Child 3,842 37%
Unknown 739 6%
Total 10,447 100%
Children
40% Adults
60%
8
See CMC, Cluster Munition Monitor 2011 (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada, October 2011), www.the-monitor.org/index.php/publications/
displayurl=cmm/2011/CMM_Casualties_Victim_Assistance_2011.html. Globally, states have done little public reporting of military
casualties from cluster munitions, even when they were likely to have been significant, such as in the 1991 Gulf War.
9
See also, Circle of Impact: The Fatal Footprint of Cluster Munitions on People and Communities (Brussels: HI, May 2007).
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