What’s in the numbers? When Mortality Figures in Armed Conflicts Fail to Tell the Whole Story

Abstract: On a programmatic as well as political level, mortality rates have become almost indispensable in guiding large-scale humanitarian operations in armed conflicts. These figures have, however, become too important, overly trusted, undisputed, and increasingly politicized. The objective of this paper is to consider the practical limitations and ethical implications of collecting and using mortality data in large-scale conflict operations. To meet this objective and drawing from conversations with practitioners, the authors examined a number of concrete issues that may influence data collection. Furthermore, the authors analyzed the tendencies and motivations that lead to the misuse of mortality data. The paper hopes to contribute to unpacking the near-mythical nature attributed to mortality data and lead to a better understanding of its inherent limitations.“Figures are not conclusive, you have to handle them with kid gloves” - Rony Brauman