The death of a foreign soldier in an improvised blast often makes headlines, but we have failed to communicate to armed opposition groups and their foreign supporters that IEDs kill and maim hundreds of innocent people and this is a clear violation of all war laws. Ajmal Samadi, Director, Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM) This is an Executive Summary of the original white paper published in 2010. The international community is failing in its responsibilities to the world’s population in the area of the illicit use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). With nearly 300 incidents every month around the world IEDs are a global problem and regarded by many aid groups as the greatest humanitarian threat. One study reports that of some 1,836 incidents of explosive devices in populated areas documented across 38 different countries during a six month period in 2006, 60% (1,105) involved “bombs” or “car-bombs” – predominantly IEDs. The reported incidents involved an estimated 3,767 killed (80% civilians) and 9,120 wounded (86% civilians) including approximately 196 killed and 28 wounded who were the actual IED users. In cases where these studied incidents occurred in populated areas some 90% of reported casualties were civilians. In addition to a growing number of civilian casualties, conflict-affected populations have also experienced loss of livelihood, displacement, and destruction of property and personal assets. Use of these devices creates insecurity that shrinks the humanitarian space. They destroy infrastructure, undermine livelihood opportunities, displace communities, and erode the quality and availability of basic services. Particularly affected are vulnerable individuals, such as women, children and internally displaced persons. The cumulative effect is felt across socio-economic development efforts and widens the development deficit. IED events (including suicide bombs, car bombs, set explosives, etc) significantly impact stability, security, and development of sustainable livelihoods globally. By example, cumulatively for Nigeria, Russia, Mexico, and India there were over 60,000 civilians killed or injured in 2008 and 2009. Incidents rose 20% in Russia and over 15% in India in 2009 compared to 2008. Although no incidents were reported in Mexico, the proliferation of illegal small arms (AK-47s, etc.) and associated violence known to be a pre-curser to IED proliferation is on the rise. The socio-economic situation across the key Capital forms there is now at or near in Columbia prior to it becoming a “narco-state”. Over 67% of all civilian casualties in Afghanistan in 2009 were caused by Anti-Government Elements (AGE). Some 87% (1,054) of those AGE attacks were from IEDs using attacks carried out in a manner that failed to discriminate between civilians and military targets or to take adequate precautions to prevent civilian casualties. The total incidents in Nigeria dropped slightly in 2009 but are on the rise in 2010. The information available, proliferation of small arms, and insurgent statements show this trend and associated instability is increasing in the Niger River delta and will overflow unless a comprehensive strategy is implemented. The time to act is now. Other than oral and verbal condemnations, governments and the global community took little action to apprehend and prosecute those responsible under the rule of law. The task was left to military forces even though such acts are clear violation of international and host nation law. The current mis-characterization of the IED threat as principally a military problem ignores the fact they have a debilitating effect on the population. Use of these devices creates insecurity that shrinks the humanitarian space. They destroy infrastructure, undermine livelihood opportunities, displace communities, and erode the quality and availability of basic services. Particularly affected are
