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If not cleared, the unexploded bomblets left over from Israeli
cluster bombing of south Lebanon,1 will remain a health hazard for many
years, especially to children who mistake them for toys. It appears from
Owen Dyer’s report that some cluster bombs at least were dropped on
residential areas; as these are indiscriminate weapons which could
disproportionately harm civilians, this could constitute a war crime under
international humanitarian law.
In the longer term, this episode should further increase pressure for
cluster bombs to be totally banned. With sufficient political will, this
could be achieved under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
(also known as the Inhumane Weapons Convention). This outlaws categories
of weapons which have specific inhumane consequences, such as Protocol IV
on lasers intended to blind. In the case of cluster bombs, the feature
would of course be killing or maiming of small children.
Douglas Holdstock
Editor, Medicine, Conflict and Survival
Medact, The Grayston Centre, 28 Charles Square,
London N1 6HT
Cluster bombs remain in Lebanon
Cluster bombs remain in Lebanon – Owen Dyer 20/8
If not cleared, the unexploded bomblets left over from Israeli
cluster bombing of south Lebanon,1 will remain a health hazard for many
years, especially to children who mistake them for toys. It appears from
Owen Dyer’s report that some cluster bombs at least were dropped on
residential areas; as these are indiscriminate weapons which could
disproportionately harm civilians, this could constitute a war crime under
international humanitarian law.
In the longer term, this episode should further increase pressure for
cluster bombs to be totally banned. With sufficient political will, this
could be achieved under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
(also known as the Inhumane Weapons Convention). This outlaws categories
of weapons which have specific inhumane consequences, such as Protocol IV
on lasers intended to blind. In the case of cluster bombs, the feature
would of course be killing or maiming of small children.
Douglas Holdstock
Editor, Medicine, Conflict and Survival
Medact, The Grayston Centre, 28 Charles Square,
London N1 6HT
Email: mary.holdstock@ntlworld.com
Competing interests: None declared
1. Dyer O. Cluster bombs remain in Lebanon. BMJ 2006; 333: 412 (26
August.)
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests