The problem of Cluster Bombs

• Cluster bombs kill and injure civilians at the time of use because they indiscriminately scatter explosives over a wide area.  
• As so many of the submunitions fail to work properly, huge quantities are left on the ground and, like landmines, remain a lethal threat to anyone in the area.  
• These weapons kill and injure people trying to rebuild their lives after conflict. They stop people from being able to use their land and the threat remains for decades.  
• Unexploded submunitions can be very sensitive to movement and must be destroyed where they are found, making them especially challenging for clearance operators.
• The small size and curious shapes of submunitions make them particularly appealing to children, who make up a large proportion of the casualties.  

Several international fora exist in which the issue of clustermunition is being dealt with; the CCW, the Oslo process and the Cluster Munition Coalition. Read on

The Netherlands take part in the Oslo process and is member to the CCW. However, the Dutch still posses two types of clustermunition and are not in favor of a total ban on clustermunition in the future. Read on