ANKARA

The fight against cluster munitions, a type of explosive weapon that scatters smaller bomblets after it detonates, was interrupted by the Russia-Ukraine war that began in February last year.

The use, stockpiling, and sale of cluster munitions were banned by the Convention on Cluster Munitions signed in Dublin, Ireland in 2008, with 123 countries becoming parties to the deal.

However, only a handful of countries — Canada, France, Germany, and Japan — have so far destroyed their domestic stockpiles, as required in the accord.

Cluster munitions can be dropped from airplanes or fired from mortars, exploding either upon hitting the ground or in the air, scattering bomblets inside. Those that do not explode and remain buried in the ground serve as mines.

Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine, neither of which are signatory to the agreement, has dealt a major blow to the worldwide struggle against cluster munitions, which pose a risk to civilians due to their indiscriminate lethal area effect.

According to data published by the Geneva-based Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), an international organization working to ban cluster munitions, both sides used such bombs during the war.

The CMC report said that while 149 civilians died in 2021 due to cluster munitions, this number increased to 689 in 2022. Of those killed in 2021, 97% were civilians, while 66% were children.

Cluster munitions can also leave behind unexploded bomblets that effectively become landmines. Currently, at least 26 countries are contaminated by unexploded submunition, said the report.

Alleged use of cluster munitions in conflict zones

International institutions have alleged that cluster bombs are still being used in conflict zones around the world.

Cluster munitions have been used in 41 countries since World War II, according to CMC data.

Various reports published in recent years revealed that cluster munitions were used in conflict areas including Syria, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, and Ukraine.

A report published by the Syrian Human Rights Network (SNHR) in 2018, said the Bashar al-Assad regime and Russia were both responsible for using cluster munitions.

Ethiopia has also been accused of using cluster munitions in clashes with the northern Tigray rebels.

Another report by the Cambodia branch of the Cluster Munition Monitoring Organization in 2016 revealed that 80,000 cluster bombs were dropped on Cambodia in 1969-1973.

Published data suggest that at least 60,000-80,000 people around the world have died due to the use of cluster munitions.

*Writing by Burc Eruygur