Afghans warned over US cluster bombs that resemble food aid - 10/30/2001

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http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/10/29/ret.bomb.warnings/index.html

WASHINGTON -- The United States has begun broadcasting warnings to people in Afghanistan informing them how to tell the difference between unexploded cluster bomb units and airdropped food parcels -- both of which are yellow.

The warning, broadcast in the Persian and Pashto languages from a flying radio transmitter, comes amid reports of mounting civilian casualties as a result of the U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan.

Several aid groups as well as the U.N. have expressed fears that unexploded bombs could be picked up or disturbed by civilians, especially children attracted to them by their bright coloring.

The U.S. transmissions, broadcast from a specially fitted out C-130 'Hercules' aircraft, say that the military is taking care not to drop food aid and cluster bombs in the same area.

"Please, please exercise caution when approaching unidentified yellow objects in areas that have recently been bombed" it goes on to say.