Humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons

The humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons refers to the catastrophic immediate and long-term consequences of nuclear explosions on human life, public health, natural environment, socioeconomic systems, and future generations.^[1] Unlike conventional arms, nuclear weapons inflict indiscriminate harm, causing mass casualties, long-lasting radiation effects, and irreversible damage to ecosystems.^[2][3] The subject has become important in international disarmament discussions, leading to global campaigns and treaties that emphasize the humanitarian imperative to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons.^[4][5][6][7]

Background

Nuclear explosions generate an intense blast wave, extreme heat, ionizing radiation, and electromagnetic pulses. These factors cause instant fatalities, infrastructure collapse, prolonged suffering, and environmental contamination. The effects transcend borders, which makes nuclear weapons a matter of global human survival.^[4][8]

Following diplomatic efforts by the United Nations,^[9] the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),^[4] and civil society organizations such as the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN),^[10] the humanitarian approach to nuclear weapons has become a central focus in disarmament discourse.

Immediate humanitarian consequences

A Nevada-series of nuclear weapons effects tests by the United States, displaying initial thermal flash-burns followed by blast and shock-front against various types of vehicles and infrastructures.

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session concerning the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.

Main article: Effects of nuclear explosions

Blast and thermal radiation

A single nuclear detonation releases an immense amount of energy equivalent to thousands or even millions of tons of TNT. Temperatures at the hypocenter can reach several million degrees Celsius, incinerating everything within its radius. Thermal radiation causes severe burns, temporary or permanent blindness, and widespread fires across entire cities.^[11]

Casualties

The immediate death toll from a nuclear detonation is estimated to reach into hundreds of thousands. Those who survive the initial blast often suffer from traumatic injuries, extensive burns, and radiation sickness, especially in those areas where medical infrastructure has been destroyed or rendered non-functional.^[12]

Medical infrastructure collapse

Hospitals, clinics, and emergency response systems located near the target area are obliterated by the explosion, leaving survivors without access to critical care. According to the World Health Organization, even the combined international humanitarian response capabilities would be insufficient to manage the scale of devastation caused by a nuclear detonation.^[13]

Long term consequences

Main article: Effects of nuclear explosions on human health

Radiation exposure

Exposure to ionizing radiation following a nuclear explosion leads to acute radiation syndrome, cancer, cataracts, immune system disorders, and organ failure. Radiation also causes genetic mutations that can be passed on to future generations, resulting in increased rates of birth defects and hereditary diseases.^[14]

Psychological trauma

Survivors of nuclear detonations, especially the Hibakusha in Japan, experience long-term psychological trauma, which includes post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and in many cases, social stigma and discrimination associated with radiation exposure.^[15]

Environmental consequences

Nuclear fallout

Main article: Nuclear fallout

Radioactive particles released into the atmosphere after a nuclear explosion contaminate the air, soil, and water over large geographic areas. This fallout severely damages agriculture, threatens food security, and makes water sources unsafe for consumption.^[16]

Climate effects

Main article: Nuclear winter

Scientific studies have shown that multiple nuclear detonations could inject large amounts of soot into the upper atmosphere, blocking sunlight and causing a sharp decrease in global temperatures.This climatic disruption would severely affect agricultural, potentially triggering mass famine on a global scale.^[17]

Socioeconomic impacts

Regions affected by nuclear detonations often become uninhabitable for generations due to persistent radiation and environmental contamination. The economic consequences include the destruction of infrastructure, large-scale population displacement, and long-term healthcare problems. Developing countries are disproportionately impacted by these humanitarian consequences because they lack the capacity to respond effectively to such disasters.^[18]

Disarmament diplomacy

Advisory Opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons

This section is an excerpt from Advisory Opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons.[edit]

Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons [1996] ICJ 3 is a landmark international law case, where the International Court of Justice gave an advisory opinion stating that while the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to international humanitarian law, it cannot be concluded whether or not such a threat or use of nuclear weapons would be lawful in extreme circumstances where the very survival of a state would be at stake. The Court held that there is no source of international law that explicitly authorises or prohibits the threat or use of nuclear weapons but such threat or use must be in conformity with the UN Charter and principles of international humanitarian law. The Court also concluded that there was a general obligation to pursue nuclear disarmament.^[19]

Oslo, Nayarit and Vienna Conferences

Between 2013 and 2014, a series of three international conferences were convened to examine the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons. These gatherings, held in Oslo, Nayarit, and Vienna, contributed to reframing nuclear policy and highlighted the humanitarian aspect of nuclear weapon use.^[20]

Oslo

Held in Oslo, Norway, this inaugural conference highlighted the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. It emphasized the inadequacy of international humanitarian response capabilities in the event of a nuclear detonation. The conference was attended by representatives from 127 states, several UN agencies, and numerous non-governmental organizations.^[21]

Nayarit

Hosted in Nayarit, Mexico, this conference continued the discussions from Oslo, focusing on the global and long-term consequences of nuclear weapons. Delegations from 146 states, along with representatives from the UN, the ICRC, and civil society organizations, participated in the event. The conference concluded with a call for the development of new international standards on nuclear weapons, including a legally binding instrument to prohibit their use.^[22]

Vienna

The third conference in this series was convened in Vienna, Austria, with 158 states participating. Organized by the Austrian government, the conference aimed to strengthen the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime by contributing to the growing momentum to firmly anchor the humanitarian aspect in all global efforts dealing with nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament. The discussions highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to nuclear disarmament that prioritizes humanitarian considerations.^[23]

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Main article: Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Adopted in 2017, the TPNW is the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons based on humanitarian grounds.^[24] The treaty promotes disarmament by taking into account the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons rather than solely strategic or technical concerns.^[25]

See also

• Humanitarian Initiative
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

References

1. Fihn, Beatrice; et al. (Ray Acheson) (January 2013). Unspeakable suffering. Reaching Critical Will.
2. McCoy, Ron (2020-07-08). "The Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons". International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
3. "What happens if nuclear weapons are used?". ICAN. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
4. "Humanitarian impacts and risks of use of nuclear weapons | ICRC". www.icrc.org. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
5. Ritchie, Nick; Kupriyanov, Mikhail (July 2023). "Understanding the humanitarian consequences and risks of nuclear weapons" (PDF). Federal Ministry Republic of Austria European and International Affairs.
6. Unal, Beyza; Lewis, Patricia; Aghlani, Sasan (8 May 2017). "The Humanitarian Impacts of Nuclear Testing Regional Responses and Mitigation Measures" (PDF). Chatham House The Royal Institute of International Affairs.
7. "Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons" (PDF). International Law and Policy Institute. July 2013.
8. "The humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons are beyond the capacity of any humanitarian organization to address effectively". International Committee of the Red Cross. 2025-03-06. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
9. "United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/79/37 - Humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons". docs.un.org. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
10. "Nobel Peace Prize 2017 - International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons". NobelPrize.org. Archived from the original on 2025-10-04. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
11. "Orders of Magnitude". Nuclear Weapons Education Project MIT. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
12. War, Institute of Medicine (US) Steering Committee for the Symposium on the Medical Implications of Nuclear; Solomon, Fred; Marston, Robert Q. (1986), "Casualties Due to the Blast, Heat, and Radioactive Fallout from Various Hypothetical Nuclear Attacks on the United States", The Medical Implications of Nuclear War, National Academies Press (US), retrieved 2025-10-21
13. "Strengthening global preparedness to radiation emergencies". World Health Organization. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
14. "Ionizing radiation and health effects". www.who.int. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
15. "Psychological Effects – Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF)". www.rerf.or.jp. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
16. Asad, Maryam (2023-07-10). "Environmental Impacts of Nuclear Weapons". DLP Forum. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
17. "Nuclear war would cause yearslong global famine". www.science.org. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
18. "Economic impacts of a nuclear weapon detonation" (PDF). Article 36. March 2015.
19. "Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons - Advisory Opinion of 8 July 1996 - Advisory Opinions [1996] ICJ 3; ICJ Reports 1996, p 226; [1996] ICJ Rep 226 (8 July 1996)". www.worldlii.org. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
20. Mills, Claire (3 December 2014). "Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons" (PDF). House of Commons Library.
21. "Conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, Oslo 2013". Reaching Critical Will. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
22. Acheson, Ray; Fihn, Beatrice; Harrison, Katherine. "Report from the Nayarit Conference". Reaching Critical Will. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
23. Österreich, Außenministerium der Republik. "2014 Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons". Federal Ministry European and International Affairs Republic of Austria. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
24. Pantoliano, Carolina (2023-05-02). "Challenging war traditions: humanitarian discourse and the nuclear prohibition treaty". International Affairs. 99 (3): 1191–1210. doi:10.1093/ia/iiad105. ISSN 0020-5850.
25. Kmentt, Alexander (February 2021). "The Humanitarian Initiative and the TPNW" (PDF). Toda Peace Institute.