HRW denounces the death of almost 690 civilians by cluster bombs in the framework of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

MADRID, 25 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) has denounced this Thursday that at least 689 civilians have died due to the "widespread use" of cluster bombs by Moscow in the framework of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this country being the only one in the world in which this type of weaponry is used.

"The immediate and long-term suffering that cluster bombs cause to civilians makes their use in Ukraine inconceivable and illegal today," said Mary Wareham, HRW's arms defense director, adding that "all countries should condemn the use of these weapons under any circumstances."

A new hundred-page report called 'Cluster Bomb Control 2022' has reported that at least 149 people have been killed by cluster bomb remnants in 2021 compared to previous years, which was 360 in 2020 and 317 in 2019.

However, this decline has been overshadowed by the number of cluster bomb attacks during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Specifically, preliminary data indicates that at least 689 civilians have died during different attacks with this type of weapon in the context of the war in the country.

The statement sent by Human Rights Watch also reflects that the Ukrainian forces have also used missiles with cluster bombs on at least two occasions. This type of weaponry can be launched from the ground by artillery, rockets and mortars, or from the air by aircraft.

"Unfortunately, children made up two-thirds of all victims of cluster bomb remnants (worldwide). These weapons should never be used anywhere," said report editor Loren Persi.

Thus, he recalled that there is an "extreme need" to clean up contaminated areas, as well as greater education to understand the risks involved in the remains of cluster bombs, and greater support for victims and their families.

To date, 37 states that are parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions have completed the destruction of 99 percent of their stockpiles -- corresponding to 1.5 million cluster bombs -- although there are still at least 26 countries and three other areas that continue to be contaminated by unexploded explosives.

One of the main concerns that organizations that defend Human Rights call for an end to cluster bombs is their indiscriminate nature, both when they explode and separate into different submunitions at first and because of the possibility that some of them these remain on the ground, without exploding.

Finally, the NGO's director of arms defense, Mary Wareham, explained that those governments that have not yet joined the Convention "must review their position and join others to help rid the world" of this type of armament.