CHAIR REPORT

QUESTION OF: The use of white phosphorus in military practices with reference to the CWC

FORUM: GA1 (Disarmament Committee)

STUDENT OFFICER: Derya Çelikkol

1. Overview/Background Information

It is believed that the first use of phosphorus as a weapon was the Fenian Fire of Ireland. Phosphorus and calcium bi-sulphide was mixed and wrapped with a wet rag, and it caught fire when the rag dried out. White phosphorus was first widely used by U.S. military in incendiary bombs, and mortar shells in the later scene of the Second World War.

Use of white phosphorus in munitions is generally preferred because of the smoke they create when in contact with oxygen and its flammability. White phosphorus is mostly used in marking targets, illuminating dark places, monitoring troop positions, and as camouflage, since it’s the most effective smoke screening agent known. Still, terrible results occur when it comes in contact with human flesh, such as severe tissue damage. It is also used in bombs called phosphorus bombs. These bombs burst into flames in collision and are considered as incendiary weapons. They are also used in artillery and mortars.

Since the ways the white phosphorus munitions are used are very diverse, there has been a lot of controversy about its regulations. In 2005, the spokesman for the United Nations Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (the organization that oversees the Chemical Weapons Convention), Peter Kaiser, has stated that “…It is not forbidden by the CWC if it is used within the context of a military application which does not require or does intend to use the toxic properties of white phosphorus. White phosphorus is normally used to produce smoke, to camouflage movement. If that is the purpose for which the white phosphorus is used, then that is considered under the Convention legitimate use. If on the other hand the toxic properties of white phosphorus are specifically intended to be used as a weapon, that of course is prohibited, because the way the Convention is structured or the way it is in fact applied, any chemicals used against humans or animals that cause harm or death through the toxic properties of the chemical are considered chemical weapons."

In general, Phosphorus, napalm, and such incendiary agents are not considered as Chemical Weapons, as they mostly affect through thermal energy. On the other hand, it is concluded that White Phosphorus’s effects are mainly through non-thermal energy, in a report by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Thus, since it causes

indiscriminate and vital injuries especially when deployed in urban areas, as it was in Falluja, White Phosphorus should actually be considered as a Chemical Weapon agent, and use of it would be a violation of the Geneva Protocol

Effects of White Phosphorus include, wide, deep and painful burns on human flesh (the white phosphorus continues to burn unless deprived of oxygen, and it may even cause burning right down to the bone) even if it’s just a incandescent particle which was cast off from the weapon’s explosion. Illness or even death may occur if exposed to heavy smoke concentrations for an extended period. It is stated in the Toxicological profile of white phosphorus by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,

“Exposure to white phosphorus may cause burns and irritation, liver, kidney, heart, lung, or bone damage, and death. Breathing white phosphorus for short periods may cause coughing and irritation of the throat and lungs. Breathing white phosphorus for long periods may cause a condition known as "phossy jaw" which involves poor wound healing of the mouth and breakdown of the jaw bone. Eating or drinking small amounts of white phosphorus may cause liver, heart, or kidney damage, vomiting, stomach cramps, drowsiness, or death. We do not know what the effects are from eating or drinking very small amounts of white phosphorus-containing substances over long periods of time. Skin contact with burning white phosphorus may burn skin or cause liver, heart, and kidney damage.”

2. Related Countries and brief explanations of their relations to the topic at hand

Afghanistan

United States of America

White phosphorus is used by US military in the Afghanistan war. An 8-year-old girl was admitted to hospital with chemical burns all over her face after a shell fired by Western troops targeted their house. The U.S. medical staff in Bagram airbase stated that they have found traces of white phosphorus on the girl’s face and neck. Moreover, the use of white phosphorus by the Western forces was confirmed by Colonel Gregory Julian, a spokesman for the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General David McKiernan,

"In the case of white phosphorus it is used on the battlefield in certain applications ... It is used as an incendiary to destroy bunkers and enemy equipment; it's used for illumination."

It has been confirmed by the Dept. of Defense spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Barry Venable to the BBC that the United States of America had used white phosphorus munitions towards

insurgent groups in Iraq in 2004 during the battle of Fallujah. He also admitted that white phosphorus “was used as an incendiary weapon against enemy combatants” as well as "a potent psychological weapon against the insurgents in trench lines and spider holes…."

It is also stated by Captain James T. Cobb, First Lieutenant Christopher A. LaCour and Sergeant First Class William H. Hight that “WP (white phosphorus) proved to be an effective and versatile munition. We used it for screening missions at two breeches and, later in the fight, as a potent psychological weapon against the insurgents in trench lines and spider holes when we could not get effects on them with HE. We fired “shake and bake” missions at the insurgents, using WP to flush them out and HE to take them out. Iraq

The United States have classified Iraq’s anti-personnel use of white phosphorus munitions in 1991 as a chemical weapons attack.

According to the ANSA, white phosphorus, and also chemical weapons that are mentioned in the CWC was used in the Halabja poison gas attack during the Iran – Iraq War in 1988, by the Saddam Hussein regime.

Russian Federation

White phosphorus munitions were used in Chechnya during the December 1994 Battle for Grozny by Russian forces. A high percent of Russian artillery or mortar rounds fired was a smoke or white phosphorus round.

Israel

Although the President of Lebanon, Emile Lahoud, claimed that Israel had used phosphorus shells against civilians in Lebanon during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict; Israel stated that they had only used phosphorus shells “against military targets in open ground” and that their use of the white phosphorus bombs was permitted under the international conventions.

2. Possible Solutions

The delegates must set the regulations in a manner that will in no way harm anyone.

4. UN Involvement (such as UN treaties, UN resolutions, conventions, events, and so on)

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

The CWC is an international treaty which regulates the usage of chemicals and chemical originators as munitions. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the CWC. Currently, 188 states are a party of the treaty. The treaty firstly defines the chemicals and chemical precursors that the munitions have to be made out of and also the legal and illegal ways of using them. For example, it is illegal to use white phosphorus as a weapon in armed conflict. But using them for producing smoke or camouflaging movements is not banned since the toxic properties of white phosphorus are not required under those circumstances.

The Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW)

The use of incendiary weapons is regulated in the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III of the CCW) which is a part of the convention. Firstly it defines incendiary weapons as “any weapon that is primarily designed to set fire to objects or to cause burn injury to persons...” Also, Article 1(b)(i)1 states that munitions “which may have incidental incendiary effects, such as illuminants, tracers, smoke or signaling systems” are not defined as incendiary weapons. White phosphorus munitions can be regulated in both of these groups in accordance with their usage.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

The ICRC states that in both international and non-international armed conflicts, the usage of chemical weapons is prohibited. Also about incendiary weapons, it is stated that “…the anti-personnel use of incendiary weapons is prohibited, unless it is not feasible to use a less harmful weapon to render a person hors de combat (it refers to soldiers who are incapable of performing their military function).”

                                                             

1 1. "Incendiary weapon" means any weapon or munition which is primarily designed to set fire to objects or to cause burn injury to persons through the action of flame, heat, or combination thereof, produced by a chemical reaction of a substance delivered on the target. (a) Incendiary weapons can take the form of, for example, flame throwers, fougasses, shells, rockets, grenades, mines, bombs and other containers of incendiary substances. (b) Incendiary weapons do not include: (i) Munitions which may have incidental incendiary effects, such as illuminants, tracers, smoke or signalling systems; 

6. Works Cited (MLA format)

Pictures&info http://www.albasrah.net/maqalat/english/0305/us_used_chemical_weapons_in_iraq.pdf

http://members.optushome.com.au/spainter/Turner.html

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/2005/2-2AARlow.pdf

http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-39498520090508?sp=true

www.globalsecurity.org

http://www.ccwtreaty.com/KeyDocs/protocol3.html

http://ihl.ihlresearch.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewpage&pageid=2105

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article591095.ece (article)

http://en.allexperts.com/e/w/wh/white_phosphorus_(weapon).htm