Final answer:
Civilian deaths during conflicts often occur in urban areas targeted by bombings or other attacks. Historical data indicates that the Second World War saw a high number of civilian casualties due to aerial bombings. Post-war, building regulations have evolved to reduce such casualties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The majority of civilian deaths in conflict occur in a variety of settings, often in urban areas where there is a high concentration of people. During the Second World War, aerial bombing campaigns played a significant role in the number of civilian casualties, as cities were targeted, leading to numerous deaths. As seen in the historical data, civilian deaths could also result from other specific forms of attacks, such as terrorist actions, which cause destruction to buildings and result in numerous casualties.
Over time, the nature of conflict and the types of buildings impacted have evolved. Post-war reconstruction and new safety regulations aimed to minimize casualties from future incidents by using more resilient building materials, such as brick or steel, instead of traditional wooden structures that were more susceptible to destruction. Whether during war or peacetime, civilian deaths often occur in buildings that fail to protect occupants from blasts, fire, or collapse, especially if they are not designed, or retrofitted, to modern safety standards.