What are the dangers of cluster munitions?
Cluster munitions are explosive weapons that release smaller submunitions over a wide area. They pose significant dangers, particularly to civilians, as a large number of submunitions often fail to detonate upon impact. These unexploded submunitions can remain active for long periods, posing a threat to unsuspecting individuals, especially children, who may come across them. The use of cluster munitions has been widely criticized due to their indiscriminate nature and long-lasting humanitarian impact.
To maximize the effectiveness of cluster munitions, it is advisable to use a combination of different types, such as fragmentation or anti-vehicle submunitions. The dispersion pattern should cover a wide area to increase the chances of hitting targets. Deploying cluster munitions near densely populated areas can cause significant casualties and disrupt enemy infrastructure. It is crucial to ensure that the submunitions have a proper self-destruct mechanism to reduce the number of unexploded ordnance.