Human Rights Watch: Should the United States urge the 10-member coalition to stop using cluster munitions?

Human Rights Watch recently released a statement regarding the use of cluster bombs and its effects on innocent lives in parts of Yemen. The New York-based organization calls on the 10-member coalition, including their supporters, to stop using cluster munitions.

Human Rights Watch visited the Saada province in northern Yemen in May and found out several disturbing evidences, which alleges the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen on using cluster bombs.

"The Saudi-led coalition and other warring parties in Yemen need to recognize that using banned cluster munitions is harming civilians," said HRW's senior emergencies researcher Ole Solvang.

Solvang added that what makes these cluster bombs dangerous among civilians is the fact that such weapons "can't distinguish military targets from civilians."

RT explained that some parts of the cluster munitions do not detonate and remain dormant until they explode when children and other innocent civilians pick them up and become victims of these weapons.

The outlet also cited the fact that the Human Rights Watch has already called on the Saudi-led coalition's use of cluster bombs in the past. Back then, the organization mentioned that the United States government had a part in supplying such weapons to bomb the Houthi positions in Yemen.

The 10-member coalition, which includes Saudi Arabia, has not yet signed the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the use of cluster munitions. The recent bombing incidents in Yemen took the lives of two civilians in the first attack and four civilians and a child in the second. Given these figures, the HRW is calling on the 10-member coalition, including its supporters such as the United States, to stop the use of cluster bombs.

"They should promptly join the treaty and carry out its provisions," said the Human Rights Watch.

"Increasing evidence of cluster munition use raises concerns not just for civilians now, but for when the fighting is over," warned Solvang.