Using role play, songs and cartoons, Italian peacekeepers are teaching Lebanese children to recognise and avoid the one million or so unexploded bombs in the streets and fields of Lebanon. But Italy is also one of Lebanon’s, and Syria’s, major arms suppliers.

Beirut (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In Lebanon Italian peacekeepers are teaching the local population how to avoid unexploded or buried bombs. But Italy has also been one of the country’s major arms suppliers in the last few years.

The humanitarian services division of the Italian UNIFIL contingent has been organising a series of awareness campaigns on the dangers of cluster bombs and land mines left over from last summer’s war with Israel.

The Lebanese Army and UN peacekeeping forces have cleared almost 1 million cluster bombs. But up to a million bombs and other unexploded munitions remain in the southern part of the country where they continue to litter streets, homes, tobacco fields and olive groves. Reports about civilians killed or maimed by such devices are frequent.

As part of the Italian forces’ campaign, students in several southern Lebanese schools are being instructed on the various forms and shapes of cluster bombs. Role playing, songs and quizzes are utilized by Italian peacekeepers to help raise awareness on the issue.

The Italian team has even come up with creative ideas to engage preschoolers by involving the cartoon character "Dora the Explorer" in discussions about cluster bombs.

In the presentation, Dora and her companion Boots the monkey go on a high-stakes journey in a field in the South. In their quest, Dora and Boots face a number of problems pertaining to cluster bombs and need the children's input and help to be able to continue their adventure.

A spokesperson for the Italian contingent said such campaigns were essential to raise awareness among youngsters about the dangers of cluster bombs, "since this age group is most likely to fall victim to unexploded munitions because they are very active and end up venturing into sown fields."

"We have a moral and humanitarian responsibility with regard to the people of the south, and we are determined to fulfill it," the spokesperson said.

Experts also add that between 2000 and 2004 Italy was Lebanon’s top supplier of weapons and the third largest exporter in the world after Russia and China, according to UN foreign trade figures.

Arms sales to Iran, Sudan, Libya, Syria and Lebanon were worth US$ 327 million, 86 from Russia, 73.8 from China and 34.1 from Italy, especially to Syria (US$ 20 million) and Lebanon (US$ 13 million), mostly in light weapons and ammunitions.

Amnesty International reports that in 2004 and during the first months of 2005 Italy increased its weapons exports by 16 per cent, including to countries in conflict like India and Pakistan.

• lebanon
• italy
• peacekeepers
• mines
• cluster
• bombs
• teaching
• children
• dora
• boots
• arms
• exports