Civilians and war: a review and historical overview of the involvement of non-combatant populations in conflict situations

Medicine, Conflict, and Survival
D R Meddings

Abstract

The effects of light weapons are now regularly seen on television and are becoming an international issue, particularly regarding their impact on civilians. It is claimed that 80% or more of deaths and injuries in today's wars are civilian; there is no objective evidence for this as little accurate information is available. Recent surveys suggest, however, a proportion of between 35 and 65%--still far too high considering the protection to which civilians are entitled under international humanitarian law. It is proposed the problem arises from twentieth-century killing power in the hands of individuals with fifteenth-century discipline and organization. Recent systematic surveys distinguish between civilian deaths from light weapons in combat and non-combat situations. A high proportion of combat deaths is due to fragmenting weapons such as mortars targeted on populated areas. Many weapon-related deaths in non-combat situations are accidental (cleaning weapons, handling by children during play) and others are related to domestic disputes. The availability and use of weapons also affects civilians indirectly in many ways, such as ill-health in refugees, psychosocial effects on women and children, and economic and environmental c...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 27, 2001·Medicine, Conflict, and Survival·D Holdstock
Mar 21, 2007·Medicine, Conflict, and Survival·Nathan Taback, Robin Coupland
Mar 27, 2010·Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health·Frank Shann
Jun 20, 2006·The Surgical Clinics of North America·Benjamin W Starnes
Oct 25, 2016·The American Journal of Emergency Medicine·Erhan ErBurak Bekgöz
Mar 5, 2017·European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery : Official Publication of the European Trauma Society·G R QasaimehM G Qasaimeh
Dec 12, 2019·Journal of Public Health·S Garry, F Checchi
Oct 30, 2021·Zhurnal voprosy neĭrokhirurgii imeni N. N. Burdenko·Sh Kh GizatullinD V Svistov

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