Las cluster bombs They produce casualties unpredictable y Avoidable in the population civil But, paradoxically, Its use does not stop increasing in contemporary wars. This is detailed by the Annual Report of the Alliance of ONGs Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC)that confirms how at least 314 civilians They died for this armament in 2024.
Victims of this type of artifact whether military or civilians should not exist. The 2008 Oslo Convention explicitly prohibited the use of these ammunition. However, in conflicts such as Ukrainian have become modus operandi of both contestants: only in that country some have registered some 1,200 dead and injured From the beginning of the large -scale contest in 2022according to the document, this being the sixteenth that elaborates the monitoring center.
Cluster bombs have also been used throughout 2024 in Myanmar (Birmania) y Syria, while in Thailand They appeared more recently, during the brief Border conflict with Cambodia In July. Israelon the other hand, he denounced the use of this armament in the attacks launched by Iran.
The danger of artifact
Almost 200 of the 314 deaths caused by these ammunitions occurred in Ukrainefigure that, warns the CMCprobably is below the real due to Dozens of incidents not counted. To deliberate attacks against hospitals, Energy infrastructure o facilities doctors A technical aggravating is added: when the Detona ammunition —In the air or impact – it disperses multiple submunitions on an extensive area.
The two main problems are their dispersion pattern, which multiplies the White (unwanted)and the high failure rate, which makes many Submunitions in improvised mines. In fact, the data reveal that 257 people died from direct attackswhile 57 died after the explosion of abandoned remains. Children represent the 42% of victimswhich accounts for the Humanitarian dimension of this war practice.
The transgression of the “rules of war”
The Convention on ammunition in Racimo (2008) not only its use, but also the production, transfer y storage. However, Ukraine y Russia They are not among the 112 Parts partat Myanmar o Syria. The United States, Finland, Poland, Romania or Greece have not adhered either.
The report collects with special concern the withdrawal of Lithuania of the Convention last March, first case in 17 years. “Abandon a convention that prohibits the use of indiscriminate weapons seriously undermined, with catastrophic consequences for the State of International Law that protects civilians,” warned the director of the director of the CMCTamar Fork.
In contrast, since mid – 2023 They joined Three new members (Nigeria, South Sudan y Vanuatu), which elevates 112 The states part. According to the coalition, none of them has used cluster bombs since the entry into force of the treaty, which demonstrates its effectiveness when there is commitment.
Transfers and new evidence
Despite the prohibition, the reality of the arms market is another. The report documents at least seven transfers of bombs of cluster from United States to Ukrainesome of which traveled by Germanycountry that is a member of the Convention. In addition, it is confirmed that North Korean projectiles They were used in the Ukrainian frontadding to a list of producers which includes a Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, Iran, Türkiye, Brazil o The two Koreas.
From 2008, 42 States They have destroyed their arsenals of cluster bombs –1.49 million units-, being Peru the last to complete this task in December 2023. However, it is estimated that 29 countries They continue contaminated by remains of this armament, including States members like Afghanistan, Germany, Chile o Somalia. Only in 2024 They were cleaned 100 square kilometers And they destroyed themselves 83,000 submunitionsthe highest number of the last five years.
The next meeting of the Member States, from September 16 to 19 in Geneva, will serve to analyze not only the data of the report, but also the political and legal impact of the Lithuanian withdrawal.
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