Cluster bomb victims on the rise in southern Lebanon

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Sunday August 27, 2006

Beirut- Cluster bomb explosions wounded three children and a man on Sunday, bringing to almost 60 the number of people hurt by the explosives since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah two weeks ago, hospital sources said. The children, aged six to 11 years old, were wounded when one of six bomblets in the town of Blida, near the border with Israel.

A 39-year-old man in the bordertown of Houla was also hurt when a cluster bomb exploded in his home, the sources said.

Despite a massive public awareness campaign warning people of the thousands of unexploded cluster bombs left over from Israel's month- long blitz against Hezbollah fighters, casualties are reported each day.

Since the August 14 ceasefire, 11 people, including three members of a Lebanese army mine-clearing unit, have been killed, along with 47 wounded, according to government figures.

More than 280 cluster bomb strikes have been found so far across southern Lebanon, which was heavily bombed and shelled during Israel's offensive.

The United States said last week it would probe Israel's use of US-made cluster bombs, after the UN and international rights groups sounded alarms about what they call a growing emergency.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur