10 Things You Should Know about Cluster Munitions

1. What are they?

Cluster munitions—also commonly referred to as cluster bombs, weapons, or munitions—open in mid-air and spew hundreds of small (soda can-sized) bomblets over a wide area. Each of these small bomblets, or sub-munitions, is then supposed to detonate when it hits the ground, sending out deadly shrapnel. A typical cluster munition, with dozens to hundreds of sub-munitions, can kill or injure anyone in an area the size of one or two football fields. Cluster munitions are delivered by artillery or aircraft.

2. Why is Amnesty concerned about them?

These weapons were designed to be used on a battlefield, against concentrations of soldiers or armored vehicles. However, they are often being used in civilian-populated areas, running a serious risk of violating international humanitarian law’s prohibition on indiscriminate attacks. In addition, many of the bomblets—often from 5 to 25 percent or more—do not explode as intended, posing a threat to civilians – similar to landmines – for many years to come. Because of this weapon’s double impact – causing casualties during a conflict and long after the conflict has subsided – cluster munitions are one of the most hazardous weapons to civilians used in wars today.

3. Who uses cluster bombs?

According to a 2006 UN Disarmament Forum publication, “cluster munitions have been used in at least 21 states [countries], by at least 13 states.” Some of the armed forces that have fired cluster bombs are: Russia, United Kingdom, Israel, France, the United States, Morocco, former Yugoslavia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Sudan. These militaries have used cluster bombs in Afghanistan, Albania, Chad, Chechnya, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, and Sudan, among others. Non-state armed groups have also used cluster munitions in a limited number of cases. For more information, click here.

4. How have people been negatively affected by the use of U.S. cluster bombs in their country?

The U.S. military dropped millions of cluster sub-munitions on Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam during the 1960s and 70s. According to Handicap International, more than 4,800 people, including 1,929 children, have been killed by unexploded but hazardous U.S. cluster sub-munitions in Laos since the Vietnam War ended. Many of the casualties occur while Laotians are attempting to plow their land or while children are playing. In Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Red Cross, 285 people (nearly all civilians) were killed by cluster munitions during the Israel-Hizbullah conflict in 2006; since the conflict ended, unexploded cluster sub-munitions have caused 30 deaths and nearly 180 injuries, including several to children.

5. Which countries export cluster bombs?

According, again, to Disarmament Forum, 33 countries are known to have made over 200 different types of cluster munitions since WWII. At least 12 countries have exported them to 58 other countries. Based on available information, the United States is the leading exporter, having shipped cluster munitions to 24 countries, including to Greece, Israel, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. The UK appears to be the second largest producer/exporter. Other manufacturing countries that are known to have exported cluster munitions include Brazil, Chile, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Russia, South Africa, and Sweden.

6. Aren’t there international rules outlawing the use of these weapons?

No. Although other weapons with indiscriminate effects (such as landmines and firebombs) are subject to specific rules limiting their use in war, there is currently no international treaty that specifically restricts the use of cluster munitions. The International Committee of the Red Cross and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan recently called for banning the use of cluster bombs in populated areas. Their calls reflect a growing international movement seeking to develop specific rules that would minimize the unintended humanitarian suffering and damage caused by these weapons.

7. What is Amnesty International’s position on these weapons?

When used in civilian populated areas, Amnesty International believes cluster bombs present a very high risk of violating the prohibition on indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks enshrined in the Geneva Conventions. Thus, AI has called for a moratorium on the use of such weapons. In 2003, AI joined the Cluster Munitions Coalition to help establish domestic and international legislation or law that will protect civilians from the misuse of cluster bombs.

8. What is the U.S. government doing?

To address some of the concerns with cluster munitions, the U.S. Department of Defense now recommends that all procured cluster sub-munitions have a dud rate of less than 1 percent. In 2005 the Defense Department stated that it had developed “strict rules of engagement and targeting methodologies, intended to minimize risks to civilians in or near the zone of conflict” for cluster munitions. However, the new rules of engagement do not specifically prohibit U.S. cluster munitions use in civilian-populated areas, and the United States reportedly has millions of cluster munitions with high dud rates that it can use or export. In addition, U.S. law does not currently stipulate that U.S. exported cluster munitions cannot be used in civilian areas.

9. What are other governments doing to stop the misuse of these weapons?

In November 2006, a wide-ranging UN treaty went into effect requiring parties to an armed conflict to clear all unexploded cluster bombs and other munitions once hostilities ended. This treaty was adopted to protect civilians, peacekeepers and other humanitarian agencies in post-conflict regions from cluster bombs. President Bush has signed the treaty and submitted it to the Senate for ratification. In addition, over 50 countries—most notably Austria, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden—have begun negotiations (through the Oslo Conference) on a separate treaty that would greatly limit—and perhaps make illegal—the deployment and use of cluster munitions. This group aims to create a treaty by 2008. The US opposes this initiative.

12. What can You do?

Take action! Contact your Senators and ask them to co-sponsor the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2007 (S.594). This bill seeks to prevent any U.S. funds from being spent to use or export cluster munitions unless the munitions have a 1 percent or lower dud rate and will not be used in civilian-populated areas. Educate others in your community by writing a letter to the editor of your local paper about the issue (mentioning S. 594). Email Colby Goodman at cgoodman@aiusa.org for a copy of the Cluster Bomb Action Guide.