In response to report that the U.S. has put a hold on transferring cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia, Paul Kawika Martin, senior director for policy and political affairs, with Peace Action (the nation’s largest grassroots peace organization), made the following statement.
“The U.S. putting a pause on transferring horrible cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia is a step in the right direction. The U.S. should permanently stop transferring or using civilian-killing cluster munitions and sign The Convention on Cluster Munitions. Cluster bombs indiscriminately kill noncombatants and can litter large areas with brightly colored unexploded bomblets that tend to injure or kill children. Human rights groups have observed the use of cluster bombs by Saudi Arabia in Yemen with devastating results to civilians especially children.”