Israel has turned over maps showing where cluster bombs were dropped during the 2006 war with Lebanon. The maps, which were given to UNIFIL officials on May 12, could greatly help the de-mining effort in South Lebanon.
UNIFIL and other groups have been working to remove the explosive devices, as they pose an enormous safety risk to those that live in the area. Since 2006, dozens of people have been killed and hundreds wounded by the munitions.
The new information comes at a time when UNIFIL and other de-mining organizations’ budget for explosives removal is about to be cut.
According to the Lebanese Armed Forces, much progress has been made, but there is a long way to go:
As of May this year 195,000 cluster bomblets have been destroyed since the end of hostilities in August 2006, with 1,073 confirmed strike sites. Just less than 20 million square metres of land infested with unexploded cluster bomblets has been cleared, according to LMAC, with 16 million square metres still contaminated, of which 12 million are due for clearing.
Most of the bombs were dropped during the last few days of the conflict, which seems either desperate or malicious on the part of Israel.
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