Ukraine: White Phosphorus Bombs, A Weapon With Terrible Consequences – The HuffPost

afp.com/HAMZA AL-AJWEHLusing white phosphorus bombs on populations can be particularly deadly.WAR IN UKRAINE – Has the war in Ukraine reached a new stage? For several days, kyiv has been accusing Moscow of using phosphorus bombs. Asked about the question, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov assured this Friday, March 25, that Russia had “never violated any international convention”. If the use of phosphorus is proven (it has for the moment has not been independently confirmed), this would mark a new stage in the escalation of the conflict. Indeed, white phosphorus bombs, whose legal framework is vague, are renowned for their great danger. As explained in a report by the organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) published in 2018, “incendiary weapons are among the cruellest weapons used in armed conflicts in the world today”. This is why they are prohibited by many international conventions. A very destructive weapon The consequences for those targeted are catastrophic. Indeed white phosphorus is a particularly dangerous incendiary killer. Integrated into artillery shells, bombs, rockets or even grenades, this chemical element increases the lethal power of many weapons. Used for military purposes, then it can cause damage in two ways: by burning and inhaling steam, as well as by direct injury from the particles of their projectiles. When it comes into contact with oxygen, white phosphorus ignites and burns, producing dense white smoke that is particularly toxic. But that’s not all. Because it is highly soluble in fat, this chemical easily and very badly burns human flesh. Thus, “white phosphorus can cause horrific injuries no matter how it is used.” It is “highly soluble in fats and therefore in human flesh”, relates Human Rights Watch in a 2015 report. Once in the body, it is very difficult to get rid of. Even if a person receives treatment after a phosphorus burn, their chances of survival are slim, because the chemical particles continue to burn until they burn out or run out of oxygen. This is why “burns on only 10% of the body are often fatal”, specifies the NGO. Devastating effects on biodiversity Murderous for men, white phosphorus is also a danger for the environment. As explained in 2020 for RFI Armen Muradyan, rector of the Yerevan Medical University, “phosphorus smoke leaves an immediate impact in the biosphere before dispersing into the atmosphere”. In addition to the bombardments which destroy the entire impact zone, the white phosphorus burns and calcines, leaving only ashes in its path. Because it is a toxic chemical element for many living species, its impact is significant, also contaminating soil and water. But that’s not all. Once exposed to phosphorus, the whole living world is caught by the throat. Indeed, the dispersion of bomb fragments affects a large perimeter, even though the latter can see their effects occur several months after the bombardments. A vague legal frameworkDespite the danger it represents, white phosphorus is still used militarily, whether for explosive purposes or to obstruct infrared vision and weapon tracking systems via its illuminating and smoke-producing properties. Several countries are exploiting this potential, because bombs using this phosphorus are not considered chemical weapons. They are therefore not banned from use on the battlefield, but restricted for military purposes. Under national law, it is thus possible to use this type of weapon in open areas. Russia, in Chechnya as well as in Syria, but also the United States in Iraq or Vietnam have already made use of it. The limits on the use of white phosphorus relate to its use against civilians or in areas with a high population density, which is then prohibited. This is what Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons presents, signed in Geneva and entered into force in 1983. Same story for the Rome Convention, which considers the bombing of a civilian city with this weapon as a war crime and a crime against humanity. For these reasons, the Ukrainian ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko, assured on BFMTV on March 23 that his country had “evidence” of different white phosphorus attacks on the population, proof that must be sent to the Court. international criminal law. See also on the HuffPost: Macron “leaves French companies free” to leave Russia or not