Linking the Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites Database to the Global Framework on Ammunition

Unplanned explosions at munitions sites (UEMS) pose challenges on a global scale as they can occur anywhere. Since 2009, the Small Arms Survey has developed and maintained a database on UEMS, totalling 674 incidents over the period 1979–2024 that resulted in more than 31,000 casualties. These incidents happened in 108 countries across every continent but Antarctica. UEMS generate public health and humanitarian costs, and have long-term socio-economic, financial, and environmental consequences. Proper ammunition management practices, as promoted by the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management (GFA), can, however, prevent—or at least mitigate—these effects. In the same vein, the UEMS database provides data on lessons learned while raising awareness of the consequences of not implementing those good practices and the impact such events can have on the local population.