Raed Mokaled, who lost his five year-old son Ahmad in a cluster bomb explosion while celebrating his birthday, said that the death season was approaching. Raed was referring to cluster bomb ammunition scattered in fields in southern Lebanon. He said soon families would start picnicking on the weekends to enjoy the spring weather where the shapes and small size of what Raed Calls "the sleeping enemy" are appealing to children, who mistake them for toys. According to Human Rights Watch, the lethal weapon was used in 24 countries for more than 40 years causing unacceptable harm to civilians. They were last deployed in Lebanon in the 2006 Hezbollah-Israeli war.
Toy Bomb. A Photo story by ŠLaura Boushnak/LightMediation Contact - Thierry Tinacci - LigthMediation Photo Agency +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry@lightmediation.com
2079-01: A portrait of Rasha Zayoun at her bedroom. Rasha, 17, lost her left leg when a bomblet exploded as she played with it, believing it was a toy. Her father had found it while harvesting wild thyme in a field near her house in the southern Lebanese village of Marakeh, and had taken it home in his bag of herbs.
Toy Bomb / 2079-01: A portrait of Rasha Zayoun at her bedroom. Rasha, 17, lost her left leg when a bomblet exploded as she played with it, believing it was a toy. Her father had found it while harvesting wild
2079-07: Lebanese medics wheel Rasha into an ambulance to go to the hospital few days following her operation. Almost one year after Rasha's accident, she had to undergo operations on both legs to remove
2079-08: Lebanese nurses change the bandage on Rasha's legs few days following her operation. Almost one year after Rasha's accident, she had to undergo operations on both legs to remove shrapnel. Rasha,
2079-02: Rasha receives physiotherapy at her bedroom. Rasha had to go through many physiotherapy sessions to learn walking again. Rasha, 17, lost her left leg when a bomblet exploded as she played with
2079-15: A car drives past a cluster bomb model on display in the street. Cluster munitions are large weapons, which are deployed from the air or from the ground and release dozens or hundreds of smaller submunitions. According to Human Rights Watch, the lethal weapon was used in 24 countries for more than 40 years causing unacceptable harm to civilians. They were last deployed in Lebanon in the 2006 Hezbollah-Israeli war.
2079-03: Rasha receives physiotherapy at her bedroom. Rasha had to go through many physiotherapy sessions to learn walking again. Rasha, 17, lost her left leg when a bomblet exploded as she played with
2079-04: Rasha receives physiotherapy at her bedroom. Rasha had to go through many physiotherapy sessions to learn walking again. Rasha, 17, lost her left leg when a bomblet exploded as she played with
2079-05: Rasha receives physiotherapy at her bedroom. Rasha had to go through many physiotherapy sessions to learn walking again. Rasha, 17, lost her left leg when a bomblet exploded as she played with
2079-06: Rasha receives physiotherapy at her bedroom. Rasha had to go through many physiotherapy sessions to learn walking again. Rasha, 17, lost her left leg when a bomblet exploded as she played with
2079-18: Nour, 5, and farah, 4, look at their brother Mohammed receiving physiotherapy at their home in the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, in Tyre. Mohammed, who comes from a poor and illiterate family, tries to avoid physiotherapy, which he says is painful. He lost both legs when he was sitting behind his father on a motorbike and drove over a cluster bomb near Tyre in the last week of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
Toy Bomb / 2079-09: Rasha lies down inside an ambulance on her way to the hospital. Almost one year after Rasha's accident, she had to undergo operations on both legs to remove shrapnel. Rasha, 17, lost
Toy Bomb / 2079-10: Rasha, her brother and two sisters watch tv. Rasha, who spends most of her time lying down following her operation said that some day she would like to get married. Rasha, 17, lost her
Toy Bomb / 2079-11: Rasha adjusts her prosthetic leg in front of her two sisters and cousin. Rasha, 17, lost her left leg when a bomblet exploded as she played with it, believing it was a toy. Her father had
Toy Bomb / 2079-12: Rasha holds her hip in pain as she tries to sit down few days following her operation. Almost one year after Rasha's accident, she had to undergo operations on both legs to remove shrapnel.
2079-27: Cluster bomb detonate by bomb experts from a British ordnance clearing company, after it was found in the southern Lebanese village of Adsheetl. The UN and human rights groups say Israel dropped about four million cluster bomblets during its war with the militant Shiite group Hezbollah. Up to one million of the devices failed to explode.
Toy Bomb / 2079-13: A portrait of Rasha in front of her blood-stained carpet where the cluster bomb exploded. Rasha, 17, lost her left leg when a bomblet exploded as she played with it, believing it was a
Toy Bomb / 2079-14: The blood-stained carpet where a cluster bomb exploded and tore off the leg of Rasha Zayoun. Rasha, 17, lost her left leg when a bomblet exploded as she played with it, believing it was
Toy Bomb / 2079-15: A car drives past a cluster bomb model on display in the street. Cluster munitions are large weapons, which are deployed from the air or from the ground and release dozens or hundreds
Toy Bomb / 2079-16: The prosthetic legs of Mohammed lie on the sofa at his home in the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, in Tyre. Given the precarious economic situation of most people after a
2079-05: Rasha receives physiotherapy at her bedroom. Rasha had to go through many physiotherapy sessions to learn walking again. Rasha, 17, lost her left leg when a bomblet exploded as she played with it, believing it was a toy. Her father had found it while harvesting wild thyme in a field near her house in the southern Lebanese village of Marakeh, and had taken it home in his bag of herbs. The blast wounded her mother Alia, and brother Qassem, 21 who were in the room at the time.
Toy Bomb / 2079-17: A portrait of Mohammed, 11, at his home in the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, in Tyre. Mohammed lost both legs when he was sitting behind his father on a motorbike and
Toy Bomb / 2079-18: Nour, 5, and farah, 4, look at their brother Mohammed receiving physiotherapy at their home in the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, in Tyre. Mohammed, who comes from a poor
Toy Bomb / 2079-19: Mohammed receives physiotherapy at his home in the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, in Tyre. Mohammed, who comes from a poor and illiterate family, tries to avoid
Toy Bomb / 2079-20: Mohammed attends an English class. Mohammed lost both legs when he was sitting behind his father on a motorbike and drove over a cluster bomb near Tyre in the last week of the 2006
2079-22: Mohammed and his best friend Essam walk on the beach. Mohammed does not go to school anymore and spends most of his time with Essam. He lost both legs when he was sitting behind his father on a motorbike and drove over a cluster bomb near Tyre in the last week of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
Toy Bomb / 2079-21: Mohammed surrounded by his classmates. Mohammed lost both legs when he was sitting behind his father on a motorbike and drove over a cluster bomb near Tyre in the last week of the
Toy Bomb / 2079-22: Mohammed and his best friend Essam walk on the beach. Mohammed does not go to school anymore and spends most of his time with Essam. He lost both legs when he was sitting behind
Toy Bomb / 2079-23: Mohammed and his best friend Essam play on the beach. Mohammed does not go to school anymore and spends most of his time with Essam. He lost both legs when he was sitting behind
Toy Bomb / 2079-24: Mohammed, 11, plays video games with his sisters Noor, 5 and Farah, 4, in their bedroom in the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh in Tyre. Mohammed lost both legs when he was
2079-28: A member of an ordnance disposal team attends a drill. Money is dwindling for demining companies after two years of mine clearance work that began after the 2006 summer war...even though many mines remain in the ground. UN experts have warned that in the absence of new funds, demining will drop sharply ... threatening people in the south, where tens of thousands of cluster bombs, land mines, unexploded shells and other ordnance remain undiscovered.
Toy Bomb / 2079-25: Mohammed's sister Mirna, looks at him while he's talking with his neighbor at his bedroom in the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh in Tyre. Mohammed lost both legs when he was
Toy Bomb / 2079-26: A portrait of Mohammed at his home in the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh in Tyre. Mohammed still can not walk properly with tye prostheric legs. He lost both legs when he was
Toy Bomb / 2079-27: Cluster bomb detonate by bomb experts from a British ordnance clearing company, after it was found in the southern Lebanese village of Adsheetl. The UN and human rights groups say
Toy Bomb / 2079-28: A member of an ordnance disposal team attends a drill. Money is dwindling for demining companies after two years of mine clearance work that began after the 2006 summer war...even
2079-43: Hussein watches TV as he sits next to his prosthetic leg. Hussein's leg was blown off in a cluster bomb explosion, in April 2008. Two of his cousins, his brother and himself were playing with the cluster bomb, which was found in a field close to their village. The shapes and small size of cluster bombs are appealing to children who mistake them for toys.
Toy Bomb / 2079-29: A member of an ordnance disposal team attends a drill. Money is dwindling for demining companies after two years of mine clearance work that began after the 2006 summer war... even
Toy Bomb / 2079-30: Two red marks indicate the possible location of cluster bombs in a field. Money is dwindling for demining companies after two years of mine clearance work that began after the 2006
Toy Bomb / 2079-31: Diab Diab, 26, a Lebanese member of a British ordnance clearing company, rests in his hospital room, four days after his accident. Diab lost one of his eyes and injured his leg when a cluster
Toy Bomb / 2079-32: Diab Diab, 26, a Lebanese member of a British ordnance clearing company, rests in his hospital room, four days after his accident. Diab lost one of his eyes and injured his leg when a cluster
2079-35: Two Lebanese women walk past Ahmad. Ahmad, was wounded in a cluster bomb incident in 2005 while looking for scrap metal in a field. He lost his sight and one of his legs. The last conflict in Lebanon drew widespread attention to the effects of cluster munitions on civilian populations. However, it was not the first time that Lebanon had been hit by these weapons.
Toy Bomb / 2079-33: Farmers work in a field. A new study issued by the London-based advocacy group Landmine Action, says that cluster bombs have cost Southern Lebanon farmers at least $ 22 millions.
Toy Bomb / 2079-34: Farmers work in a field. A new study issued by the London-based advocacy group Landmine Action, says that cluster bombs have cost Southern Lebanon farmers at least $ 22 millions.
Toy Bomb / 2079-35: Two Lebanese women walk past Ahmad. Ahmad, was wounded in a cluster bomb incident in 2005 while looking for scrap metal in a field. He lost his sight and one of his legs. The last
Toy Bomb / 2079-36: Ahmad at the balcony of his home. Ahmad, was wounded in a cluster bomb incident in 2005 while looking for scrap metal in a field. He lost his sight and one of his legs. The last conflict in
Toy Bomb / 2079-37: Ahmad extends his hand to find his way out. Ahmad, was wounded in a cluster bomb incident in 2005 while looking for scrap metal in a field. He lost his sight and one of his legs. The last
Toy Bomb / 2079-38: A portrait of Ahmad and his fiancé at their new home. Ahmad, was wounded in a cluster bomb incident in 2005 while looking for scrap metal in a field. He lost his sight and one of his legs.
Toy Bomb / 2079-39: A portrait of Ahmad and his fiancé at their new home. Ahmad, was wounded in a cluster bomb incident in 2005 while looking for scrap metal in a field. He lost his sight and one of his legs.
Toy Bomb / 2079-40: Ahmad's fiancé helps him walk out of the door at their new home. Ahmad, was wounded in a cluster bomb incident in 2005 while looking for scrap metal in a field. He lost his sight and
2079-52: Mahdi's father shows his son's wound scar. Mahdi, 7, was wounded in the back in a cluster bomb explosion while playing with a friend in a field next to their home, one month following the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. According to the UN demining organization forty people were killed and 252 wounded by cluster bombs dropped during the 2006 war in Lebanon. Handicap International says children make up 24% of casualties.
Toy Bomb / 2079-41: Lebanese soldiers distribute posters and pamphlets to students at an elementary school. The Lebanese army carried out an awareness campaign about unexploded ordnance across
Toy Bomb / 2079-42: Lebanese soldiers distribute posters and pamphlets to students at an elementary school. The Lebanese army carried out an awareness campaign about unexploded ordnance across
Toy Bomb / 2079-43: Hussein watches TV as he sits next to his prosthetic leg. Hussein's leg was blown off in a cluster bomb explosion, in April 2008. Two of his cousins, his brother and himself were playing
Toy Bomb / 2079-44: Hussein watches TV next to his two brothers. Hussein's leg was blown off in a cluster bomb explosion, in April 2008. Two of his cousins, his brother and himself were playing with the
Toy Bomb / 2079-45: Hussein's father and a family's friend check the prosthetic leg. Hussein's leg was blown off in a cluster bomb explosion, in April 2008. Two of his cousins, his brother and himself were
Toy Bomb / 2079-46: Mohammed plays with his brother's sticks. Hussein's leg was blown off in a cluster bomb explosion, in April 2008. Two of his cousins, his brother and himself were playing with the cluster
Toy Bomb / 2079-47: A portrait of Hussein at his tent in the garden of his home. Hussein's leg was blown off in a cluster bomb explosion, in April 2008. Two of his cousins, his brother and himself were playing
Toy Bomb / 2079-48: The prosthetic leg of Hussein lies on the floor after his brother Mohammed played with it. Hussein's leg was blown off in a cluster bomb explosion, in April 2008. Two of his cousins, his
2079-23: Mohammed and his best friend Essam play on the beach. Mohammed does not go to school anymore and spends most of his time with Essam. He lost both legs when he was sitting behind his father on a motorbike and drove over a cluster bomb near Tyre in the last week of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
Toy Bomb / 2079-49: A portrait of Salimeh at her home. Salimeh, 63, received injuries in her head, stomach and arm when a cluster bomb exploded in the backyard of her home on the last day of the 2006
Toy Bomb / 2079-50: Salimeh, shows her wound scar. Salimeh, 63, received injuries in her head, stomach and arm when a cluster bomb exploded in the backyard of her home on the last day of the 2006
Toy Bomb / 2079-51: A portrait of Mahdi. Mahdi, 7, was wounded in the back in a cluster bomb explosion while playing with a friend in a field next to their home, one month following the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah
Toy Bomb / 2079-52: Mahdi's father shows his son's wound scar. Mahdi, 7, was wounded in the back in a cluster bomb explosion while playing with a friend in a field next to their home, one month following the
Toy Bomb / 2079-53: A portrait of Ibrahim at his home. Ibrahim, was wounded in the leg and eye in cluster bomb explosion while looking for wood in a field in 2007. According to the UN demining organization forty
Toy Bomb / 2079-54: Ibrahim shows his wound scar. Ibrahim, was wounded in the leg and eye in cluster bomb explosion while looking for wood in a field in 2007. According to the UN demining organization forty
Toy Bomb / 2079-55: Hossam tries his prosthetic leg after being fixed at a rehabilitation center. Hossam lost one of his legs and sight in a cluster bomb explosion in 2000. The last conflict in Lebanon drew
Toy Bomb / 2079-56: A nurse fixes the prosthetic leg of Hosam at a rehabilitation center. Hossam lost one of his legs and sight in a cluster bomb explosion in 2000. The last conflict in Lebanon drew widespread
2079-57: A mural shows Ahmad and reads in Arabic: Lets not forget how Ahmad was killed?. Ahmad was killed in a cluster bomb explosion on his fifth birthday from injuries sustained while playing in a park near his home in 1999.
Toy Bomb. Raed Mokaled, who lost his five year-old son Ahmad in a cluster bomb explosion while celebrating his birthday, said that the death season was approaching. Raed was referring to cluster bomb ammunition scattered in fields in southern Lebanon. He said soon families would start picnicking on the weekends to enjoy the spring weather where the shapes and small size of what Raed Calls "the sleeping enemy" are appealing to children, who mistake them for toys. According to Human Rights Watch, the lethal weapon was used in 24 countries for more than 40 years causing unacceptable harm to civilians. They were last deployed in Lebanon in the 2006 Hezbollah-Israeli war. The UN Mine Action Coordination Centre in South Lebanon (MACC-SL) estimates that between 32% and 40% of cluster ammunition failed to explode in the latest conflict. This would mean that the recent conflict added approximately 1.5 million unexploded submunitions to the mines and ordnance already on the ground from previous wars. Fourty people were killed and 252 wounded by cluster bombs dropped during the 2006 war in Lebanon. Cluster munitions are imprecise weapons, designed to strike a greater surface area than many other conventional weapons by dispersing smaller, but still lethal, submunitions. Scattered on the ground, these submunitions create a large footprint. Within that footprint, they kill and injure both military personnel and civilians. Its use, which creates a vicious circle of impact on communities and medical costs related to incidents, are a heavy burden on poor families. Education opportunities
decrease, unemployment rises, as does psychological trauma and isolation for those who become victims, leading to increased poverty and risk-taking. Seventeen-year-old Rasha was dumped by her fiancĂŠ after loosing one of her legs in a cluster bomb incident. Rasha, has to bear daily physiotherapy to learn walking again, which she says is painful. She still has to go through several operations to remove shrapnel inside her other leg. Handicap International research reveals that there are serious humanitarian problems with cluster munitions. Given the precarious economic situation of most people after a conflict, cluster submunitions also affect the most vulnerable group - the poorest of the poor. More than 60 percent of all casualties occur when people carry out their daily livelihood activities or have no choice but to work on contaminated land. The majority of victims are poor, uneducated males at work representing 76.8 percent of total confirmed casualties. Many of these are boys under the age of 18. A new study issued by the London-based advocacy group Landmine Action, says that cluster bombs have cost Southern Lebanon farmers at least $ 22 millions. Twenty seven year-old Ahmad lost his leg and sight three years ago by a cluster bomb when he was looking for scrap metal to sell before traveling to Africa for work. " I can handle loosing a leg or arm, but loosing my sight, this is too much to accept. I am useless. I can do nothing," Ahmad said. However, It was the enormous damage caused to civilians during the month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that led a number of governments, headed by
Norway, to back the Oslo Process, which aims to come up with a treaty by the end of 2008. The treaty was agreed by 109 countries in Dublin on May 31 and will be signed officially in December 2008. The three biggest producers of cluster bombs - the United States, Russia and China - oppose ban proposals and have veto power on the U.N. Security Council. None of the three were represented at the talks in Dublin. Raed said "I do not want people to forget how Ahmad died".