30-10-2001
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.
The cluster bombs units used in Afghanistan are metal, shaped like a soft
drink can and packed with high explosive.
The food aid packages, known as Humanitarian Daily Rations, are square and
covered in yellow plastic.
Cluster bombs contain about 200 small so-called 'bomblets' designed to
scatter themselves over a large area, targeting troops concentrations and
military vehicles.
Villlage hit