Cluster Munition

• 11 Jul 2023

Source: IE

Why in News?

United States (US) has made the decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package worth up to USD 800 million.

• This move has raised concerns about civilian casualties, with calls from the United Nations to avoid using such weapons.

What is a Cluster Munition?

• About:
  • A cluster munition is a form of air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapon that releases or ejects smaller submunitions, commonly known as bomblets, over a wide area.
  • They are designed to kill personnel and destroy vehicles, runways, power lines, or other targets.
  • Some cluster munitions can also disperse chemical or biological agents, land mines, or leaflets.
• Challenges:
  • Cluster munitions can indiscriminately harm civilians and civilian objects, violating international humanitarian law.
    • They have a high failure rate, leaving behind unexploded ordnance that poses ongoing danger.
  • Additionally, they contaminate vast areas for extended periods, rendering them unfit for human use and burdening healthcare and economies in affected nations.
• Past Use:
  • During the Afghanistan War in 2001, the US considered cluster bombs significant.
    • US last used cluster bombs during the battle with Iraq in 2003
  • In the Syrian civil war, Russian-supplied Syrian government troops frequently deployed cluster munitions.
  • Israel utilized cluster bombs in civilian areas in south Lebanon, notably during the 2006 war with Hezbollah.
  • The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen faced criticism for employing cluster bombs in their conflict with the Houthi rebels.
• Convention on Cluster Munitions:
  • Convention on Cluster Munitions outlaws the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of these weapons due to their indiscriminate and long-lasting effects on civilian populations.
  • It was adopted in Dublin by 107 States on 30 May 2008 and signed in Oslo on 3 December2008.
    • The Convention became binding international law when it entered into force on 1 August 2010.
  • To date, a total of 123 States have joined the Convention: 111 States Parties and 12 Signatories.
    • The convention remains unsigned by several nations, including India, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan and Israel.