At least 1,063 people were killed or injured by cluster munitions in 2025, one of the highest annual casualty totals ever recorded according to the Cluster Munition Monitor 2026.
The overwhelming majority – almost 9 out of 10 – of those harmed by cluster munitions in 2025 were civilians.
Ukraine alone recorded at least 927 casualties in 2025, representing 87% of the global total and marking the fourth consecutive year in which it recorded the highest number of casualties worldwide.
Convention on Cluster Munition – as important as ever
More than 15 years after the adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, new findings show both the importance of the treaty and the urgent need to strengthen international efforts to protect civilians from these indiscriminate weapons.
Cluster munitions are weapons that disperse dozens or hundreds of smaller explosive submunitions across a wide area. Many fail to explode on impact, leaving behind dangerous remnants that can kill and injure civilians for years after conflicts end. New casualties from cluster munition attacks and remnants were recorded in nine countries during 2025.
The report also documents continued use of cluster munitions during 2025 and the first half of 2026, including confirmed use by Iran, Myanmar, Russia, Thailand and Ukraine. Despite widespread international condemnation, evidence also points to ongoing production and transfer of these weapons by several countries outside the convention.
At the same time, the report highlights important achievements by states committed to the ban. The convention now has 112 States Parties, with Vanuatu becoming the most recent country to join. Since the convention’s adoption, 42 States Parties have destroyed their declared stockpiles, collectively eliminating 1.49 million cluster munitions and 179 million submunitions. There are currently no remaining declared stockpiles among States Parties awaiting destruction.
Contamination remains major global challenge
Twenty-nine countries and other areas are still known to be contaminated by cluster munition remnants. While States Parties released 114 square kilometres of hazardous land during 2025 and destroyed nearly 65,000 remnants, progress remains uneven and no State Party completed clearance of contaminated land during the year.
The report warns that declining international support is jeopardising future progress. International and national funding for cluster munition action totalled approximately US$116 million in 2025, but funding gaps continue to affect several countries. The impact of funding cuts, including the suspension and termination of key assistance programmes, has already reduced clearance capacity in several affected countries.
Victim assistance is also under increasing pressure. Survivors continue to face barriers to healthcare, rehabilitation, psychosocial support and socio-economic inclusion. In conflict-affected settings, damaged infrastructure, displacement and shrinking donor support have further weakened services for survivors and affected communities.
DCA remains committed as a member
As an active member and governance participant of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), DanChurchAid (DCA) remains committed to advancing the goals of the convention and supporting global efforts to eliminate cluster munitions.
The findings of the Cluster Munition Monitor 2026 underline a simple but urgent message: civilians continue to pay the price when these weapons are used, making stronger international commitment to the ban more important than ever.
