The provision of cluster ammunition by the United States to Ukraine has sparked criticism from multiple sources. Cluster ammunition | The United States
The US government recently announced a new batch of military aid to Ukraine, including the use of lethal cluster ammunition classified as prohibited under US law. This move has sparked protests within the US and has sparked widespread controversy and criticism in the international community.
UN Secretary General's Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Hack, stated that UN Secretary General Guterres does not want cluster ammunition to continue to be used on the battlefield. The spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Urtado, said that the small bombs that make up cluster ammunition will be scattered over vast areas and "will still cause civilian casualties many years after the conflict ends.". Urtado called for an "immediate cessation" and "no use of cluster ammunition anywhere".
British Prime Minister Sunak and German Foreign Minister Berbok respectively issued statements stating that they do not support the United States providing cluster ammunition to Ukraine. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Rovers stated that cluster ammunition should not be used under any circumstances. The Canadian government stated in a statement, "We do not support the use of cluster ammunition and are committed to eliminating its impact on civilians, especially children." The BBC reported that this highly controversial decision by the US government has distanced its allies from it.
Cluster ammunition is an airborne bomb or artillery shell made by combining more than 10 or even hundreds of small ammunition. After being dropped, it will release small bombs in the air on a large scale and explode when or after touching the ground. These small bombs may also fail to detonate properly and become duds, posing a long-term threat to civilians near scattered locations. The US military has used cluster ammunition in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Kosovo War, Afghanistan War, and Iraq War, causing extensive damage to civilian facilities and numerous civilian casualties.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos recently issued a statement stating that Laos is deeply concerned about the possible use of cluster ammunition. More than 50 years ago, the Lao people were victims of cluster ammunition. Today, unexploded ordnance still poses a sustained and serious threat to the lives and well-being of the Lao people. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called on Ukraine not to use the cluster ammunition provided by the United States, as the use of these ammunition will pose the most serious danger to the bombed areas in the coming years or even 100 years.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that unexploded sub bombs are small in size, diverse in shape, and rich in color. For children, these sub bombs that do not explode immediately are like toys, and picking them up may cause disability or death. The Landmines and Cluster Munitions Monitoring Organization, representing the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, stated that civilians are the main victims of cluster ammunition. In 2021, cluster ammunition remnants caused 141 casualties worldwide, of which 97% were civilians and two-thirds were children. "Terrifying facts remind us of the urgent need to quickly clean up contaminated areas, provide risk education for unexploded ordnance, and provide more specialized support for victims and their families," said Lauren Persis, editor of Cluster Munition Monitoring 2022
Fatima Shattor, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross, warns that cluster ammunition will pose a serious threat to civilians, especially children, and will have serious humanitarian consequences for a long time to come. According to US media reports, at least 38 human rights organizations have publicly opposed the US providing cluster ammunition to Ukraine. Professor and political analyst Manyola from the University of Nairobi in Kenya stated that the United States, disregarding the opposition of the United Nations and the international community, and ignoring the harm of cluster ammunition to civilians and the environment, only acts for its own benefit, which is very dangerous and irresponsible. Peter Valenstein, a professor at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies at Uppsala University in Sweden, said that the increase in the use of cluster ammunition means that "already terrible conflicts continue to escalate and become even more brutal.".
Last February, when asked about the use of unconventional weapons, including cluster ammunition, White House spokesperson Pusaki publicly stated that the use of cluster ammunition could constitute a war crime. Colonel Mark Cunningham of the United States Marine Corps recently stated in a statement that the US government's provision of cluster bombs will exacerbate post-war mine clearance issues. Democratic senators Patrick Lech and Jeff Merkley believe that the decision to provide cluster ammunition to Ukraine is a serious mistake, and the US will have to pay an "unbearable moral and political price.".