"Ammunition stockpiles ... can form a double problem. Where researched, it has been demonstrated that much of the ammunition circulating among armed non-state actors has been illicitly diverted from state security forces. And warehouses of ammunition, sometimes placed in densely populated areas, have recently exploded in a number of countries, causing thousands of casualties." Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon |
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| Technical Review Panel |
Information on global ammunition flows is difficult to obtain. More than 80 per cent of ammunition trade seems to remain outside of reliable export data. In contexts of sustained use, such as conflict situations, ammunition stockpiles are rapidly depleted, contrasting ..... |
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with the relative longevity of arms. Preventing their resupply in situations conflicting with the rule of law should be a matter of prime concern. What is more, stockpiles of ammunition can form a double problem in themselves. Much of the ammunition circulating among armed groups seems to have been illicitly diverted from state security forces. And warehouses of ammunition, sometimes placed in densely populated areas, have recently exploded in a number of countries, causing thousands of casualties. Therefore, security as well as safety measures with regard to ammunition stockpiles need to be urgently addressed. In 2008, the General Assembly adopted a report by a UN Expert Group on this issue, which tasked the UN to develop technical guidelines for the management of conventional ammunition stockpiles. This project is expected to be completed in 2010. |
