UN asks "Israelis" for locations of cluster attacks

Source: IRIN, 25-4-2007
JERUSALEM (AL-QUDS): A UN envoy has asked "Israel" to hand over detailed electronic records of its cluster-bomb strikes on Southern Lebanon last summer to help munitions-clearing teams with their task. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the UN Secretary-General`s special representative for children and armed conflict, said she had asked "Israeli" Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for the files, which are automatically produced when munitions are fired.
"There is a computer sheet generated when targets are attacked. If the mine clearers can get that, they can identify where the cluster munitions are," she said, adding that Livni had said she would look into the matter.
At least 30 people had been killed and 191 wounded by mines or unexploded ordnance (UXO) in South Lebanon since the cessation of hostilities last August. The UN`s Mine Action Coordination Center (MACC) estimates it has cleared about 10 percent of the estimated 1 million unexploded cluster munitions lying on the ground.
"`Israel` is dealing with this efficiently via direct communication between the `Israeli` military and UNIFIL [UN Interim Force in Lebanon]. `Israel` will continue to cooperate with the UN on this and other issues," said Mark Regev, spokesman for "Israel`s" Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Israel" was criticized for firing 90 percent of all the cluster bombs it used in Lebanon in the final three days of the conflict, when both sides had agreed to a cease-fire. "Israel" says its use of the munitions was in line with international law.
So far, 864 cluster-bomb strike locations have been identified in South Lebanon. The unexploded ordnance is estimated to contaminate an area of 34 million square meters.
In addition, 15,300 other UXO items and 400,000 mines lie in the area. MACC aims to clear all known cluster munitions by December.
Coomaraswamy added that children she had visited in the Southern town of Bint Jbeil had suffered considerable psychological damage.
"I asked one what his plans for the future were and he said: `I plan to survive.` So there is hopelessness there too," she said.