Phosphorus Bombs & War Crimes
- March 16, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Phosphorus Bombs & War Crimes
Subject: Science & Tech
Context- Amid escalating tensions, a senior Ukrainian police officer has accused Russian forces of launching phosphorous bomb attacks in the eastern region of Lugansk.
Concept-
What is a phosphorus bomb?
- Phosphorus is a chemical that ignites when exposed to air, burning above 800 degrees Celsius.
- Similar to the napalm used in the Vietnam War, white phosphorus self-oxidizes.
- When white phosphorus comes in contact with human skin, it can cause both thermal and chemical burns.
- It is almost impossible to put out once it touches the skin, leading to extreme injuries and sometimes death.
- It can produce several chemicals when it comes in contact with the skin, such as phosphorus pentoxide.
- Phosphorus pentoxide reacts with water in the skin and produces phosphoric acid that is highly corrosive.
- The burn injuries caused by white phosphorus can damage underlying tissues that delay the healing process.
- White phosphorus can be systematically absorbed by the body and cause damage to the internal organs.
- The particles of white phosphorus may remain in the wound and reignite when in contact with the air.
What law says about the use of phosphorus bombs?
- International law prohibits use of white phosphorus shells in heavily populated areas but allows in open spaces to be used as cover for troops.
- The bombing of a civilian city with phosphorus bombs is a war crime and a crime against humanity, according to the Rome Convention.
- Additional Protocols to the 1977 Geneva Convention prohibited the use of white phosphorus munitions if they pose a threat to civilians.
- Phosphorus bombs can be used on battlefields to make smoke screens, generate illumination, mark targets or burn bunkers and buildings.
- If phosphorus munitions are used against people, they are then classed as a chemical weapon which is prohibited under Chemical weapons Convention 1997.
- White phosphorus has not been categorised as an incendiary or chemical weapon by international agencies but United Nation considers it so.
**** For further reading refer to Optimize IAS https://optimizeias.com/what-constitutes-a-war-crime/ & https://optimizeias.com/geneva-convention/.