In just a second, an explosive weapon can maim or kill a child, and injuries can be so devastating that they may need to use prosthetic limbs for the rest of their life.
Explosive weapons cause catastrophic harm to people and infrastructure. A single blast can instantly cause traumatic brain injuries or death. Sadly, children are among those most affected and yet they have little protection from the devastating consequences. Schools, hospitals and roads are usually destroyed in an instant, leaving many victims without critical care. In Ukraine, power stations were destroyed, which resulted in children sheltering in freezing temperatures during the winter months.
For many, the suffering continues even after the fighting stops.
11-year-old Amer and his family were displaced for several years before returning to their village in Deir Ezzor, Syria, after the fighting ended. Like many families, they were eager to return home to rebuild their lives after years of uncertainty. But a few weeks after they returned, Amer was badly injured by a bomb buried in the ground. He lost his leg in the accident. Unfortunately, this is a horrifying reality for many families returning home.
Disarmament Manager for HI, Alma Taslidzan, says
"Every destroyed school, hospital, market, water system, or humanitarian convoy represents far more than damaged infrastructure - it represents devastating impacts on communities pushed further from recovery. Long after the explosions end, civilians continue to live with the consequences of disrupted healthcare, damaged livelihoods, and the daily challenge of rebuilding their lives. For many, the consequences of explosive weapons become part of everyday life and suffering for years to come."
Please join our movement by signing our petition to demand a stop to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
