Civilian casualties are concerns in wars and civil wars. Armed attacks on civilian areas including schools, hospitals, public transportation systems, shopping malls, places of worship and residential areas are often carried out in the wars, leading to civilian casualties. According to multiple sources including the BBC, many civilian areas have been attacked in the ongoing Ukraine war and Gaza war. But these are not the only wars where civilian areas are attacked. Civilian areas have also been attacked in other wars including the Yemen civil war. But the loss of civilian lives not only brings immense suffering to families and communities but also hinders post-war recovery efforts and perpetuates cycles of violence.
It is notable that there are humanitarian law based and other steps in the reduction of civilian casualties in wars and civil wars. The establishment of the International Criminal Court and international humanitarian laws including the Geneva Conventions — which outline the rights and protections of civilians during armed conflicts — are notable steps. They have played a crucial role in protecting a significant number of civilians during times of war. During World War II, the Geneva Conventions played a crucial role in safeguarding civilians by establishing rules for the treatment of prisoners of war and protecting non-combatants. They have also helped protect many civilians in subsequent wars. Additionally, various international organizations, including the United Nations and its agencies, and states work towards preventing civilian harm by promoting peacekeeping efforts, monitoring human rights violations during conflicts and providing medical supplies to affected populations.
But there are diverse loopholes in the efforts to reduce civilian casualties. There is legal ambiguity including a lack of clear definitions and criteria for determining civilian status during wars. While international laws for protecting civilians are mostly not applicable in civil wars, they are less implemented during international wars. The Geneva Conventions have been less applied in almost all wars and civil wars including the Bosnian War, which took place in the 1990s, and the Syrian civil war. In the Rwandan civil war in 1994, widespread atrocities were committed against civilians without sufficient intervention of civilian protection. The lack of enforcement mechanisms of international humanitarian laws, which aim to address civilian casualties in wars, makes it difficult to implement them during wars, leaving civilians vulnerable in conflicts.
There are also diverse challenges to the reduction of civilian casualties in transnational wars and civil wars. The lack of intention to adhere to international humanitarian laws by the parties involved in the transboundary wars and civil wars and the lack of accurate intelligence and surveillance capabilities can hinder the efforts to minimize civilian casualties during military operations. Additionally, the lack of effective communication and coordination between military forces and humanitarian organizations and conflicting interests among different actors involved in armed conflicts often hinder the efforts to minimize civilian casualties in war zones. Among others, insufficient awareness among military personnel regarding the importance of protecting civilian lives contributes to the unintentional harm inflicted on non-combatants during armed conflicts.
It is definitely desired that civilian casualties be reduced as much as possible in wars and civil wars. But it is crucial for governments and international organizations to put emphasis on the protection of civilians during conflicts. Efforts should be made to strengthen legal frameworks by establishing clearer guidelines and definitions and making effective implementation mechanisms. Establishing clear communication channels among warring parties, international organizations and local communities may also minimize attacks on civilian targets and ensure the safety of civilians by providing timely warnings about potential dangers. By adopting a proactive approach toward conflict resolution, it is possible to strive toward minimizing the impacts of wars and civil wars on civilians.
But reducing civilian casualties in urban warfare needs to be given emphasis in the efforts. Notably, the presence of more people in densely urban areas, the difficulty of distinguishing between combatants and non-combatants in urban warfare and the use of civilians as tactics including human shields by armed groups make it often challenging to reduce civilian casualties in urban areas during armed conflicts. Implementing the strict rules of engagement — where military personnel are trained to prioritize the safety of civilians — and putting emphasis on minimizing collateral damage during armed operations may also be helpful in reducing civilian casualties in urban warfare.
