BASM / Cluster bombs
Une bombe à sous-munitions (BASM) est un conteneur transportant de nombreuses autres bombes de taille plus réduite, et dont le but est de saturer la surface occupée par la (ou les) cible(s). Son utilisation permet de traiter des cibles étendues en un nombre réduit de missions. Elle est parfois confondue avec une bombe à fragmentation, dont les éclats sont inertes.
Les armes à sous-munitions sont pointées du doigt par les associations humanitaires comme Handicap International, la Croix rouge des organisations internationales telles que l'ONU, des élus de différents pays. Il arrive en effet qu'elles n'explosent pas, représentant alors un danger pour les populations locales (surtout les enfants qui les prennent pour des jouets) et ce longtemps encore après les conflits. Selon un rapport de 2006 de Handicap International, les armes à sous-munitions auraient fait 104 000 morts et blessés dans le monde depuis 1973 dont 98 % de civils. L'ONU estime qu'au Kosovo, en Afghanistan, en Iraq et au Sud-Liban, il reste près d'un million de ces sous-munitions sur le terrain, responsables chaque jour de 3 à 4 blessés ou décès depuis le cessez-le-feu.
Cluster munitions are air-dropped or ground launched shells that eject multiple small submunitions (bomblets). Their primary purpose is to kill enemy infantry, although specialized weapons designed for anti-runway, anti-armor and mine-scattering purposes have also been developed.
According to Handicap International, 98% of cluster bomb victims are civilians. The use of cluster bombs is hotly opposed by many individuals and groups, such as the Red Cross, the Cluster Munition Coalition and the United Nations, because of the high proportion of civilians that have fallen victim to the weapon. Since February 2005, Handicap International called for cluster munitions to be prohibited and collected hundreds of thousands signatures to support its call.
Cluster bombs pose a threat to civilians for two reasons: they have a very wide area of effect, and they almost always leave behind unexploded bomblets.
The area affected by a single cluster munition, also known as the footprint, can be as large as two or three football fields. Because of the weapon's very wide area of effect, they have frequently been documented as striking both civilian and military objects in the target area. This characteristic of the weapon is particularly problematic for civilians when cluster munitions are used in or near populated areas and has been documented by research reports from groups such as Human Rights Watch, Landmine Action and Handicap International.
The other serious problem is unexploded ordinance (UXO) of cluster bomblets left behind after a strike. These bomblets may be duds or in some cases the weapons are designed to detonate at a later stage. In both cases, the surviving bomblets are live and can explode when handled, making them a serious threat to civilians and military personnel entering the area. In effect, the UXOs can function like land mines. These are sometimes called triple-threat weapons, because they can explode in the air, on the ground, or later when stepped on or disturbed.
Although other problematic weapons, such as land mines have been banned in many countries under specific legal instruments for several years, notably the Ottawa Treaty and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, cluster bombs are not yet banned by any international treaty and are considered legitimate weapons by some governments. International governmental deliberations revolve around the broader problem of explosive remnants of war, a problem to which cluster munitions have contributed in a significant way. However, despite calls from humanitarian organisations and some governments, no international governmental negotiations or formal discussions are underway to develop specific measures that would address the humanitarian problems cluster munitions pose. But this could change following the decision by Belgium to ban this weapon in February 2006, as well as Norway's adoption of a moratorium and call for an international treaty banning this weapon.
In November 2006, a new international law is coming into force requiring countries to clear up unexploded bombs and mines or pay teams of de-miners to do it.
Handicap International France
Handicap International in english
Signer la pétition
Sign the petition
Les armes à sous-munitions sont pointées du doigt par les associations humanitaires comme Handicap International, la Croix rouge des organisations internationales telles que l'ONU, des élus de différents pays. Il arrive en effet qu'elles n'explosent pas, représentant alors un danger pour les populations locales (surtout les enfants qui les prennent pour des jouets) et ce longtemps encore après les conflits. Selon un rapport de 2006 de Handicap International, les armes à sous-munitions auraient fait 104 000 morts et blessés dans le monde depuis 1973 dont 98 % de civils. L'ONU estime qu'au Kosovo, en Afghanistan, en Iraq et au Sud-Liban, il reste près d'un million de ces sous-munitions sur le terrain, responsables chaque jour de 3 à 4 blessés ou décès depuis le cessez-le-feu.
Cluster munitions are air-dropped or ground launched shells that eject multiple small submunitions (bomblets). Their primary purpose is to kill enemy infantry, although specialized weapons designed for anti-runway, anti-armor and mine-scattering purposes have also been developed.
According to Handicap International, 98% of cluster bomb victims are civilians. The use of cluster bombs is hotly opposed by many individuals and groups, such as the Red Cross, the Cluster Munition Coalition and the United Nations, because of the high proportion of civilians that have fallen victim to the weapon. Since February 2005, Handicap International called for cluster munitions to be prohibited and collected hundreds of thousands signatures to support its call.
Cluster bombs pose a threat to civilians for two reasons: they have a very wide area of effect, and they almost always leave behind unexploded bomblets.
The area affected by a single cluster munition, also known as the footprint, can be as large as two or three football fields. Because of the weapon's very wide area of effect, they have frequently been documented as striking both civilian and military objects in the target area. This characteristic of the weapon is particularly problematic for civilians when cluster munitions are used in or near populated areas and has been documented by research reports from groups such as Human Rights Watch, Landmine Action and Handicap International.
The other serious problem is unexploded ordinance (UXO) of cluster bomblets left behind after a strike. These bomblets may be duds or in some cases the weapons are designed to detonate at a later stage. In both cases, the surviving bomblets are live and can explode when handled, making them a serious threat to civilians and military personnel entering the area. In effect, the UXOs can function like land mines. These are sometimes called triple-threat weapons, because they can explode in the air, on the ground, or later when stepped on or disturbed.
Although other problematic weapons, such as land mines have been banned in many countries under specific legal instruments for several years, notably the Ottawa Treaty and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, cluster bombs are not yet banned by any international treaty and are considered legitimate weapons by some governments. International governmental deliberations revolve around the broader problem of explosive remnants of war, a problem to which cluster munitions have contributed in a significant way. However, despite calls from humanitarian organisations and some governments, no international governmental negotiations or formal discussions are underway to develop specific measures that would address the humanitarian problems cluster munitions pose. But this could change following the decision by Belgium to ban this weapon in February 2006, as well as Norway's adoption of a moratorium and call for an international treaty banning this weapon.
In November 2006, a new international law is coming into force requiring countries to clear up unexploded bombs and mines or pay teams of de-miners to do it.
Handicap International France
Handicap International in english
Signer la pétition
Sign the petition
Labels: Social / Ecolo
posted by J at Wednesday, November 29, 2006
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