Attachments
Cluster bombs, weapons that release several
hundred smaller 'bomblets' when fired, pose an unacceptable danger to
civilians both during and long after a conflict. These 'bomblets' often
fail to explode and can be spread over an area at least the size of several
football pitches, creating a highly lethal 'footprint'.
Through data collection and analysis
in affected countries, this research project has sought to improve understanding
of the impact of cluster munitions by documenting short-, mid- and
longterm casualties; the cumulative effects of disability and mortality;
and the socio-economic impacts on families and communities. While by no
means an exhaustive treatment of these impacts, the human character
of the impact on affected communities comes into sharper focus.