Reference :
V-F-CR-F-04327-A
Date :
12/02/2026
Title :
The dangers of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in urban areas.
Duration :
00:03:20
Editor :
ELYASER, Hussein
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Production company :
ICRC
ICRC producer :
FELL, Nicola Eva
Description :
In a city at war, civilians live, work, and move around close to military targets — often just streets or buildings away, without even knowing it. When explosive weapons with wide area effects are used, their blast, fragments, and inaccuracy mean the damage rarely stops at the target. The effects spread outward — into homes, schools, markets, and hospitals. Civilians nearby are killed or injured not because they were the target, but simply because they were there. The infrastructure they rely on — electricity, water, medical care — is also damaged or destroyed.
Explosive weapons with wide-area effects, originally designed to target large areas in open terrain, cause significant damage when used in densely populated urban areas. Their destructive impact is due to three main characteristics: a high explosive payload that generates devastating blast waves and deadly fragments over large distances, a lack of precision (often measured by a high circular error probable), and the ability to fire multiple munitions simultaneously over a wide area.
Due to their often indiscriminate effects, these weapons are difficult to reconcile with international humanitarian law and should not be used in populated areas unless mitigation measures are taken to minimize harm.
Colour/B&W :
colour
SD/HD :
HD
Resolution :
1920 x 1080
Aspect ratio :
16/9
Original material/format :
H264
Best material/format available :
ProRes 422
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