Global Day of Action For Awareness Raising On Cluster Bombs

Posted on April 2, 2008 0 Comments47

Date: April 19, 2008 to April 19, 2008 | Time:09.00am-06.00pm
Venue:Conference Hall No III, IIC ( Annexe)

 



 


 


 


 


 


GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION FOR AWARENESS RAISING
ON CLUSTER BOMBS


 


Organized by
Control Arms Foundation of India
www.cafi-online.org



Date: Saturday, 19 April 2008
Venue: Conference Hall No 3, India International Centre (Annexe)
40 Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi
Time: 9 am till 1.30 pm


 


What is a cluster bomb?


A cluster bomb, or cluster munition, is a weapon containing multiple explosive sub-munitions. It includes a variety of weapons that disperse from 10 to several hundred bomb-lets over a target area. Cluster bombs can be dropped from aircraft or fired in missiles or artillery shells. They contain more explosive power and metal fragmentation, making them more likely to kill and to cause multiple casualties.


These munitions spread their contents over a large field, with a radius of up to 600 m. they can destroy broad targets like airfields and surface-to-air missile sites. They are also effective against targets that move or do not have precise locations, such as enemy troops or vehicles.


Cluster bombs carry up to 200 bomb-lets, each the size of a soft drink can. These weapons kill and injure people trying to rebuild their lives after conflict. They stop people from being able to use their land and access schools and hospitals. They can remain a threat for decades.


Impact of cluster bombs


 Cluster munitions kill civilians indiscriminately when they explode on impact, spreading bomblets or submunitions over wide areas, and putting innocent lives and livelihoods at risk decades after conflict has ended. Unlike landmines and other indiscriminate weapons, there is currently no provision in international law that addresses the problem of cluster munitions and their devastating effects on civilian populations. Cluster munitions have caused severe problems to civilians wherever and whenever they have been used. A growing number of countries stockpile this uniquely harmful and indiscriminate weapons system.


Cluster munitions are shunned by people across the world, because of its humanitarian consequences. These weapons does not distinguish between civilians and military targets and fails to detonate immediately, keeping civilians and livelihoods under threat for years.  98% of causalities are civilians according to Handicap International. Pentagon study has estimated the failure as high as 16 percent.


The interesting size, shape and sometimes colours make children attracted towards it, so the children has been in the losing point in all the contaminated sites. More to it, these weapons have been used in less developed countries, so the developments efforts are hampered. It leaves the country with   various social, economic, financial and environmental consequences.


Countries Producing Cluster Munition


Globally, 34 countries are known to have produced over 210 types of cluster munition. These include artillery projectiles, aerially delivered bombs and rockets or missiles that can be delivered by surface or aerial means.


The countries that produce cluster munitions are: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States


India & Cluster Munitions Debate


India is one among the 34 countries who produce cluster munitions and one of the 73 countries who stockpile them. Five different types of cluster munitions are stockpiled in India. According to Human Rights Watch, India produces 1 type of cluster munitions called M395 of 155 projectiles. India has ratified CCW Protocol V on Explosives remnants of war (ERW)which entered into force on 12 November 2006 along with other 29 countries. However, nothing much is known on the issue.


Observation of Global Day on Action on Cluster Bombs


The

47 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.