Children in Ukraine are being disproportionately affected by explosive weapons with a “wider area impact,” according to the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo. She revealed during a UN Security Council meeting that unexploded cluster bomb submunitions and landmines have contaminated hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of Ukrainian territory. DiCarlo warned that these unexploded ordnances pose a long-term danger to civilians, particularly children.
It is estimated that one-third of Ukraine’s territory is covered by various munitions, including landmines and cluster bombs. The ongoing fighting in the country has resulted in children being killed and maimed by explosive weapons in populated areas. This alarming situation highlights the urgent need to address the issue of explosive remnants of war and protect the most vulnerable members of society.
Interestingly, the United States recently decided to supply cluster munitions to the Ukrainian troops from its own arsenal, despite these weapons being banned by over 110 nations under a UN convention in 2008 due to the significant risk they pose to civilians. This decision has drawn criticism from allies such as the UK, Canada, and Germany, as well as several other NATO members and non-NATO nations.
Cluster bombs are particularly concerning as they release smaller submunitions that scatter across a wide area, often failing to detonate. This leaves behind unexploded ordnances that can remain active for years, posing an ongoing threat to communities even after a conflict has ended. Amnesty International reports that these weapons have killed as many as 86,500 civilians since World War II, with many more sustaining life-altering injuries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the use of cluster bombs as a war crime and has stated that if Ukrainian forces use them on the battlefield, Russia reserves the right to respond appropriately. The situation has further strained relations between Russia and the United States, with Russia’s ambassador to Washington accusing the US of turning Ukraine into a “burial ground” for lethal waste, making it nearly impossible for people to live there.
The international community must prioritize the protection of children and civilians in conflict zones. Efforts should be made to clear and dispose of explosive remnants of war, including cluster bombs and landmines, to prevent further harm to innocent lives. Providing support and resources to affected communities, particularly children who have already suffered, is crucial to their well-being and recovery.
It is essential that nations uphold international conventions banning the use of cluster bombs and work towards a global disarmament of such weapons. The safety and future of children should be a top priority in conflict situations, and the use of indiscriminate weapons that cause disproportionate harm to civilians must be strongly condemned.
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