Female Genital Mutilation and its Effects on Education

Written by Juliana Campos, Nadia Annous and Maria Popova.

FGM, or the full-term Female Genital Mutilation is a practice performed on women and young girls involving removal or injury to the female genital organs. It is not performed for medical reasons, nor does it bring any health benefits. FGM is generally considered a human rights violation and a form of torture with long lasting effects on girls’ physical and mental health, often leading to early marriage and hindering girls’ access to education in over 30 countries worldwide. 

What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)?

According to the World Health Organisation, FGM consists of total or partial removal of the external genitalia or injury to the female genital organs. There are four types of FGM: 

  • Partial or total removal of clitoral glands; 
  • Partial or total removal of clitoral glands and labia minora; 
  • Infibulation, which consists of narrowing the vaginal opening; 
  • All other harmful procedures to female genitalia for non-medical purposes. 

In total, it is estimated that over 200 million women have undergone this procedure worldwide. Currently, FGM is performed in over 30 countries around Africa, the Middle East and Asia, with most occurrences being registered in Somalia, Guinea, Djibouti and Egypt. Most victims of FGM fall between the age range of 0 to 15 years old.

FGC Types. “Classification of female genital mutilation”, World Health Organization, 2014.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Immediate and long-term complications

FGM has no health benefits, on the contrary, it can lead to a number of short and long-term complications to women. The adverse effects of the procedure are both physical and psychological, as FGM interferes with the natural functions of the female body and brings several damages to a healthy and normal genital tissue. Short-term health complications include excessive pain and bleeding, swelling, fever and infections. Oftentimes, the practitioners performing FGM use shared instruments, which leads to transmission of HIV and Hepatitis. Long-term complications include urinary and vaginal infections, pain during intercourse and complications during childbirth, especially in women who have undergone infibulation, as the sealed vagina is ripped open for intercourse and stitched back again after childbirth or widowhood. Neonatal mortality rates are also higher in places where FGM is practiced, as it can lead to increased risk of death for the baby.

How does FGM affect schooling? 

FGM has a direct effect on girls’ education, starting by the long period of recovery needed after the procedure. A full recovery can take up to several months, by the end of which girls may feel it is pointless to return to the same school year. The longer education is disrupted, the lower are the chances of a return to school and many girls end up taking on other responsibilities such as house chores or informal work instead.

Another effect on girls’ education caused by FGM is the increased social pressure for marriage. Especially in low-income households, marriage can mean better financial stability and higher social status. As a result, education is no longer a priority for these girls’ families, causing many FGM victims to enter early marriages, which may lead to early pregnancies, diminishing the chances of a return to school to near zero. 

Besides physical health complications, the psychological trauma caused by such an invasive and painful procedure, often performed without anaesthesia, may be paralysing for these girls, possibly leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, difficulties in socialisation and an overall impact on girls’ confidence. 

Why is FGM still practiced? 

There are different reasons as to why FGM remains such a common practice in certain regions, most of which reflect cultural or social factors. For instance, FGM is considered a requirement for women to be eligible for marriage, serving as “proof” that they have been kept “pure”. As a result, many families may feel as if they should conform to this practice in order to protect their daughters from social exclusion. In countries like Somalia where, according to UNICEF, 98% of girls between the ages of 5 and 11 have undergone FGM, not being part of that astonishing statistic can outcast these young girls from their communities.

Since the 1990’s, FGM has been the center of political debates as the international community and feminist groups press governments for a ban on this practice. However, besides guaranteeing social status, there is also a culture aspect behind FGM. It is seen as an honourable rite of passage, a way for these communities to connect to their ancestors and it creates a sense of belonging which can be difficult for outsiders to comprehend. 

As a result, local political leaders who are openly against FGM are accused of caving in to external pressure and reduce their chances of being elected, making it unlikely that there will be a change in laws before there is a change in these societies’ cultural mindsets. This is evidenced by the fact that FGM is still practiced in many countries where it is officially illegal, such as Egypt, Ghana, Senegal and Burkina Faso.

How can education help end FGM? 

Many girls are forced to undergo FGM at an age when they don’t understand the risks of the procedure. In fact, due to the alarmingly low literacy rates in some communities, it is likely that neither parents nor practitioners are able to make scientifically informed choices regarding these young girls’ health. It is evident, therefore, that education and access to information may be the strongest tools for prevention against Female Genital Mutilation.

Though information can be spread orally and not necessarily through formal education, taboos still hinder open discussions on female reproductive health. That is why it is important for healthcare professionals to educate local practitioners and parents in an accessible way. As education is also an empowering tool, it is crucial that girls are invited into these conversations and informed of their human right to make decisions over their own bodies.

What is being done to stop FGM?

Evidently, the process of educating people about the dangers of FGM must be done respectfully, by listening to these communities and understanding what this rite of passage means as a tradition. That is what NGOs such as the Association for the Promotion of Women in Gaoua (APFG) have done. APFG contributors in Burkina Faso have managed to persuade FGM practitioners to maintain the sacred rituals of the rite but leave out genital cutting. That way, girls are protected from the complications of FGM and the community’s tradition is kept. 

It is equally as important to support survivors all around the world, women who are still dealing with the long lasting physical and mental impacts caused by FGM. The NGO Terre de Femmes or TDF, a German organisation working on raising awareness against Female Genital Mutilation, works to protect and support FGM survivors in Europe, particularly in countries with the highest rates of affected individuals, namely France, Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. TDF also advocates against Female Genital Mutilation by writing petitions and increasing political pressure for countries to either ban FGM or ensure existing laws are upheld. 

In conclusion…

Female Genital Mutilation results in numeral short and long-term complications for women, including a significant disruption in girls’ education. It is an extremely dangerous practice affecting thousands of girls each year, girls who have been denied the basic human right to physical integrity. 

Still today, perhaps due to cultural stigmas around female reproductive health, FGM is not as openly discussed as other gender related issues and efforts to tackle its impacts are still insufficient. Educating practitioners, parents and girls themselves by providing information on the dangers of FGM is a powerful tool against this harmful procedure. Furthermore, it is crucial to take FGM’s social, political and cultural complexities into consideration and, most importantly, amplify FGM victims’ voices.

REFERENCES

Cover Image by UN Women/Ryan Brown via Flickr

*Upon request, the article may be translated into other languages. Please use the comments section below*

Afghanistan: Gender Inequality in Education

Written by Juliana Campos and Derin Erk. 

The Taliban Government and Women’s Rights

After over two years under Taliban rule, Afghan women continue to endure profound challenges: limited mobility and freedom of speech, lack of autonomy and a ban on education. Even if a 20 year gap separates the Taliban’s first government, overthrown in 2001, from their reclaim of power in 2021, not much seems to have changed in their interpretation of Islamic law, though officials continue to vehemently deny human rights are being violated.

Taliban representatives claim the western media is responsible for corrupting popular opinion on their government and that UN reports do not convey the reality of today’s Afghanistan. According to them, the ban on women’s education is a temporary measure, while the government prepares an “Islamic environment” that complies with their interpretation of Sharia law and meets the demands of the Afghan people. However, after two years, no progress has been made and there seems to be little indication the Taliban will indeed address the very urgent issue of gender inequality in Afghanistan and lift restrictions such as the ban on education for women. 

What Does The Education Ban Mean for Afghan Women?

Education equips women with the tools to make more informed choices, to lead healthier lifestyles and it protects them against abuse by teaching them to recognize violent behaviour and to fight for their physical and mental integrity. Not only is it an empowering tool on an individual level, educating women benefits entire communities. Being the primary caregivers in many societies, well instructed women are able to better prepare themselves for life-changing decisions such as marriage and pregnancy, raising healthier children, in happier households.

Furthermore, education allows women to take on a more active role in their nation’s economy and development, by granting them the practical knowledge needed to use their talents and creativity to open their own businesses, for example. Taliban spokesperson Suhali Shaheen claims that 8.500 business licenses have been granted to Afghan women under their ruling and that over 800.000 women are currently working in Afghanistan.[1] The government has yet to publish these official reports and their sources, but even if they prove to be accurate, if the ban on education isn’t lifted, these numbers will certainly face a dramatic decrease in the next few years.

The fact remains that many women who remember the severe restrictions imposed in the late 1990’s by the Taliban fear being once again deprived of the knowledge that previously allowed them a small sense of economic, emotional and political independence. The impacts of such strict rules imposed by the Taliban have already been recorded during their previous period in power between 1996 and 2001. If nothing is done to change the current scenario, the world risks witnessing another generation of illiterate Afghan women, completely excluded from social life and deprived of formal education. 

By reinstalling laws which limit women’s freedom in society, banning women from working, studying and being seen in public without a male chaperone (the Mahram), the Taliban severely worsens gender inequality in Afghanistan and denies women the chance to develop emotionally and intellectually, besides directly affecting the country’s economy.

The United Nations’ Take on Women and Girls’ Education Under the Taliban

The UN has been vocal about the situation in Afghanistan, particularly on Afghan women’s rights. It considers the Taliban takeover in 2021 a reversal of women’s freedoms. Indeed, it seems the little progress made in the past 20 years has suffered a complete turn over in a matter of months.

Though UN’s statements help spread awareness and reliable information, the organisation has not directly intervened on a larger scale and has not shown intention to do so, as of today. As previously mentioned, the Taliban has accused the UN of misrepresenting the situation in Afghanistan in their reports and while this is a debatable statement, one thing is for certain: women and girls are barred from receiving education. Other areas in Afghan women’s social lives may be more tricky to evaluate from far away, as many of them spend a great portion of the time inside their homes, but the state of females’ access to secondary education and higher education is clear; there is no such access.

Are There Prospects for Change?

The simple answer would be that if the international community does not intervene, there aren’t many grounds for optimism. Interviews given by Taliban representatives have made it clear that they will not be giving up the right to rule given to them by God, according to their beliefs. Therefore, it is expected that their policies on women and their rights and freedoms will continue, as it is unlikely the government will ever be overthrown by the Afghan people, who are forbidden to speak against the regime. 

Conclusion 

It is unfortunate to conclude that the Taliban government’s restrictions on women’s rights and women’s education stand strong after two years. Being banned from attending schools and universities will not only greatly hamper women’s quality of life and their well being, but also difficultate their conquest of social and financial independence through education. Moreover, the Afghan nation as a whole will greatly suffer the effects of this ban, as including women in state affairs, the economy, and social life in general is an important pillar in a country’s development.

There is little to no prospect of change for the near future as the Taliban remains determined and strong in its seat. Perhaps the most effective measure the international community can take is advocating for women’s rights and spreading awareness about what is happening in Afghanistan today.

References

Cover Image by Graham Crouch/World Bank.

*Upon request, the article may be translated into other languages. Please use the comments section below*

Education Monitor: Around The Globe between the 1st and 15th of September, 2023

Broken Chalk proudly presents the twelfth edition of “Education Monitor: Around the Globe” between 1st and 15th of September, 2023. Broken Chalk aims with this letter to increase public awareness of  Educational problems, challenges, and violations in the scope of the world. This newsletter is unique. This is a weekly newsletter in which we attempt to monitor and convey educational news from around the world in a concise manner. This monitor will be published biweekly with the effort of our young and enthusiastic team. You can contribute to our work if you like. If you witness any violations in the scope of education, you can write the comment part of this post. Broken Chalk will try to address the issue in its next monitor edition. To Download it as pdf : Education Monitor: Around The Globe between 1st and 15th of September, 2023

Broken Chalk Platform, in March 2019, was founded by a group of educators abroad who experienced and have been experiencing severe human rights violations in Turkey and had to ask for asylum currently in several countries.

These education volunteers also suffered greatly and started their new lives in their new countries without human rights violations. They gained respect just because they were considered human beings in those countries. However, they left one part of their minds and hearts in their homeland. They assigned themselves a new duty, and the human rights violations they left behind had to be announced to the World. A group of education volunteers who came together for this purpose started their activities under the Broken Chalk platform’s umbrella. However, the Broken Chalk platform was not enough to serve their aims. Therefore, they completed their official establishment as a Human Rights Foundation in October 2020.

Broken Chalk is now much more than a platform, and we have reviewed and enlarged our vision and mission within this framework. Violations of rights would be the first in our agenda in the field of Education all over the World. At the point we reached today, Broken Chalk opened its door to all individuals from all across the globe, from all professions, and to all individuals who say or can say ‘I also want to stand against violations of human rights in Education for our future and whole humanity, where our generations grow up together.’

Education is essential because it can help us eliminate the evils from society, introduce, and increase the good. We want to draw the public’s and stakeholders’ attention to the fact that Education is in danger in several different parts of the World. The attacks are wide-reaching, from the bombing of schools to the murder of students and teachers. Raping and sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, and forced recruitment also occurred, instigated by armed groups. Attacks on Education harm the students and teachers but also affect the communities in the short and long term.

We invite all individuals who want to stop human rights violations in Education to become Volunteers at Broken Chalk.

Educational Challenges in Puerto Rico

Written By Samantha Orozco and John Whitlock

Historic background

Puerto Rico is located northeast of the Caribbean Sea and is considered one of the Greater Antilles. Its location boasts beautiful beaches and landscapes but is also prone to hurricanes and other natural hazards that have severely affected its residents. Puerto Rico’s official language is Spanish and it is home to a diverse and multicultural population, with most of its inhabitants of Puerto Rican descent and a significant community of African, European, and Latin American ancestry.

After the Spanish-American War, the United States (US) officially annexed the then Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines in December 1898, initially subjecting Puerto Rico to rule by the US military and a governor appointed by the President. In 1917, the US Congress voted to grant Puerto Ricans official citizenship status, while still denying them the representative rights that usually accompany full citizenship. The island’s inhabitants could not elect their own governor until 1947.

To this day, Puerto Ricans are not able to participate in US elections, have no voting representation within the US Congress, and do not hold the right to “equal treatment” in the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. The island is now an “unincorporated territory” with “quasi-colonial” status, according to former Puerto Rican high school teacher and US Secretary of Education John King.  This causes serious consequences in the education system due to limited support from the US federal government and the unfortunate impact of natural hazards, the negative and systematic effects of which have not been adequately addressed.

Education System Overview

The Puerto Rican education system is roughly based on the American model. School attendance is mandatory from ages 6 to 18, and divided into six years of elementary education, three years of junior high school, and three years of high school. Academic calendars and grading scales are very similar to their US equivalents. After numerous failed attempts by the US to convert the Puerto Rican education system to English, Spanish has remained the language in which public schools operate. The high school diploma is known as the “Diploma de Escuela Superior” a literal translation from its mainland English counterpart. 

A key difference between challenges to the Puerto Rican school system and the mainland US system is the percentage of children experiencing poverty. According to the Census, 44% of Puerto Ricans live in poverty. Whereas 17% of children live below the poverty line in the US, this percentage is at 55% in Puerto Rico and even higher in rural areas. In 2017, a quarter of Puerto Rican children did not have access to the internet and half did not have access to a home computer.

Today, those who do have a home computer may have unreliable power due to damages to the electrical grid caused by disasters and mismanagement. High school drop-out rates are much higher on the island, especially from households with lower incomes: according to the U.S. Department of Education, the dropout rate among high school students is one-third, which is more than twice the current percentage in mainland US. In 2015, the secondary education net enrollment rate was 66.6% as opposed to 80.5% in mainland US.

This data was published in 2009-2010, which is the most recent information available due to the limited production of up-to-date statistics by the local government. Moreover, federal counts frequently omit Puerto Rico from their calculations. It is likely that the dropout rate in Puerto Rico has likely increased even further since, as hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the situation. For those students who graduate high school, outcomes are not equal to those on the mainland US.

According to the Youth Development Institute of Puerto Rico, 51% of high school graduates pursue university education, whereas 67% of suburban Americans and 63% of rural and urban Americans attend college. Many Puerto Rican graduates who are able to attend college come from privileged backgrounds which enable them to attend private schools and hire college application consultants.

This is in line with the islands’ rank as the third-highest income-unequal in the world, following South Africa and Zambia. Additionally, it is particularly difficult for Puerto Rican students to pursue a college education in the mainland US. As US and Puerto Rican high school graduation tests are not harmonized, Puerto Rican high school students are required to take a Spanish language test that nearly no US mainland universities consider valid. Initially aimed to create a standardized college admissions test for the Spanish-speaking world and implemented for a trial run in Puerto Rico, this test was never expanded beyond.  Because of this, and underfunding, most public high school guidance counselors in Puerto Rico do not have knowledge of mainland admission requirements and cannot help students in that way.  

In the last year of reported data, “only 694 high school graduates from all of Puerto Rico went to college on the mainland or abroad in 2016. That’s about 2 percent. The island’s population is 3.2 million, according to the Census Bureau.” 

A positive aspect of the Puerto Rican education system is that the University of Puerto Rico is more accessible and affordable than comparable universities in the mainland US where the average tuition at a public institution is $25,707 per year (for students with family residence in the state) or $44,014 per year (for students without family residence in the state). In comparison, students at the University of Puerto Rico pay $4,366 in tuition in-state, and $8,712 out-of-state. However, according to advocacy group Excelencia in Education, less than half of students who enroll in Puerto Rican universities earn degrees after six years, compared to the US mainland where 58 percent of college students graduate. 

Natural hazards in Puerto Rico

Natural hazards have wreaked havoc in Puerto Rico for many years. Despite being aware of this situation, efforts to mitigate the damage have not been effectively implemented and disaster has been the result. Most of the resources allocated for education are used for repairing school infrastructure, but they remain insufficient.

A clear example of this is the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which struck in 2017 and six years later still affects the territory. Maria severely impacted access to education in Puerto Rico and exposed deficiencies in both the state and institutional aspects of the system. There was an inability to respond to emergencies and a lack of efficiency in seeking solutions that would allow the population to continue their education.

At the time, according to a report made by Kavitha Cardoza (2023), the damage caused by Maria led to the closure of many schools due to infrastructure problems, leaving thousands of students with no opportunity to continue their studies and resulting in a high dropout rate. This created a vicious cycle, as student attrition reduced enrollment, which in turn led to the closure of schools that did not have enough students to operate.

In addition to hurricanes and floods, Puerto Rico has also experienced earthquakes. In 2020, a series of earthquakes contributed to the destruction of the already precarious school infrastructure. Just as the system was trying to recover from the ravages of Maria, it had to face the closure of schools for three months while engineers verified the safety of those still in operation. The most recent natural catastrophe in Puerto Rico was recorded in September 2022 when Hurricane Fiona struck the island, causing damage to infrastructure and the temporary closure of the few schools that were still functioning.

An aerial view of the damage left behind after Hurricane Maria is seen from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, Black Hawk helicopter as AMO agents respond to the humanitarian needs of the people of Puerto Rico October 2, 2017. Photo by Mani Albrecht via Flickr

Bureaucracy and abandonment

Despite its status as an incorporated territory in the United States, discussions about Puerto Rico’s true status and the ongoing debate about its future, whether to be considered a state or attain independence, have not ceased. The only certainty thus far is that Puerto Rican residents are not considered equal to citizens of the U.S. mainland.

The Puerto Rican educational system faces challenges ranging from insufficient investment to talent migration and disparities in educational opportunities. In theory, Puerto Rico has autonomy in managing its resources. However, for many important decisions, authorities find themselves dependent on aid from the federal government.  Due to the implementation of PROMESA, an act passed by the Obama administration in 2016, an unelected Financial Management and Oversight Board makes all decisions about how funding is used in Puerto Rico.  “The FMOB has proposed an array of measures to “shock the system” into growth”.

These measures include but are not limited: to wage controls, reduction in government services, closing public schools, cuts to the University of Puerto Rico, over 100 percent increases in university tuition and other fees, laying off thousands of public employees, furloughing public employees of two days per month, and cuts of 10 percent from pensions of retired workers. Puerto Rico heavily relies on federal funds to maintain and improve the quality of education, and this insufficient investment has led to a lack of resources and deteriorated infrastructure in many schools. For the start of the 2023-2024 school year, it is estimated that 588 out of the 856 functioning schools opened with infrastructure damage, meaning that 69% of schools are still not in optimal conditions to receive students.

The migration of students and educational professionals to the U.S. mainland has been an additional challenge. The pursuit of better economic opportunities on the mainland has resulted in a decrease in school enrollment in Puerto Rico and a loss of talent in the classrooms. This trend negatively impacts schools and, ultimately, the quality of education provided on the island. This is compounded by poor working conditions for educational staff as well as a lack of investment in the professionalization and training of teachers.

The lack of equal educational opportunities is another critical issue. The fact that Puerto Ricans do not have access to the same resources and educational programs as other United States citizens has led to significant disparities in access to quality education, perpetuating inequality. This is evident in the exclusion of standardized test results in Puerto Rico from national compilation. The implementation of federally imposed educational standards and standardized assessments does not always consider the peculiarities of Puerto Rico’s educational system. This can lead to unfair assessments and the imposition of inappropriate measures that do not adapt to the island’s reality. Special education and support for students with disabilities have also faced challenges, such as the lack of resources and trained personnel to provide the necessary support.

Reparation of a fence at the Escuela República del Perú in Puerto Rico, on November 8, 2018. Photo by Ruben Diaz Jr. Via Flickr

The efforts to restore the Education System

The uncertainty surrounding the political status of Puerto Rico has influenced the stability and educational policies and created additional challenges in long-term planning and decision-making. However, in May of this year, the federal administration initiated a program to decentralize the Puerto Rican educational system, which should be viewed as the beginning of sustainable efforts to ensure a dignified education in Puerto Rico. This is in response to the imminent educational crisis affecting Puerto Rico, which must be addressed regardless of the territory’s political future.

The Biden-Harris Administration has played a significant role in supporting Puerto Rico’s education, providing substantial funding through the American Rescue Plan Act and other programs. As stated by the U.S. Department of Education, public school teachers received a 30% salary increase, school repairs were expedited, and technical assistance was provided to improve the management of federal programs and funds. This move towards decentralization is seen as a historic commitment by the government of Puerto Rico to create a 21st-century educational system that better prepares students for the future. So far, $4.9 billion has been allocated to Puerto Rico since taking office. This includes $3 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act and $1.2 billion from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act -CRRSA- 2021.

The Future

As challenges in infrastructure, inequality, and quality persist, the future of this education system and its ability to create better opportunities and outcomes for its students is largely dependent on the future stance of the US towards Puerto Rico. The Biden administration has made promises of a better, more equitable relationship between Puerto Rico and the mainland U.S., but it remains to be seen whether those are implemented in practice. According to Chris de Soto, a Senior Advisor of the Office of the US Secretary of Education,

“Following two natural disasters and a global pandemic, it is critical that trust is rebuilt with students and families across the island. The public should be aware of how federal funds are contributing to the educational recovery of their schools and actually see the benefits in classrooms across the island.  While progress has been made, we know there is more work to do.” 

In recent years, US funding to the Puerto Rican education system has increased. In 2022, Puerto Rico’s education system received federal aid funds amounting to $2.62 billion which is five times higher than education funding allocated to Utah, a state with a similar population size, highlighting the US government’s understanding that the Puerto Rican education system is in a more dire situation than the mainland U.S. The key focus remains the prioritization of educational investment in mitigation and contingency plans to strengthen the resilience of the population against the imminent risk of being struck again by natural disasters. Indeed, Puerto Rico’s education system has endured challenges, the reason why the commitment of authorities to a brighter future for the next generations has to remain unwavering.

References

Thông cáo báo chí: Broken Chalk kêu gọi ngừng bắn ngay lập tức từ Isreal và cộng đồng quốc tế sau cuộc khủng hoảng nhân đạo tại bệnh viện Al-Ahli Baptist

Ngày 18 tháng 10 năm 2023.

Ngày 7 tháng 10, Hamas đã phát động một cuộc tấn công lớn vào lãnh thổ Israel ngay trong một lễ hội bên ngoài bức tường bao quanh dải Gaza. Sự việc này khiến hơn 250 công dân Israel thiệt mạng, cùng nhiều người khác bị bắt cóc và giam giữ. Ngay sau đó, Israel đã đáp trả bằng một cuộc xung đột toàn diện, liên tục không kích vào các mục tiêu ở khu vực này và tăng cường bao vây phong toả vùng lãnh thổ Palestine. Những cuộc tấn công này đã gây ra hậu quả tàn khốc với ước tính khoảng 3000 người Palestine và 1300 người Israel thương vong. Cuộc xung đột này cũng là sự khởi đầu cho một cuộc khủng hoảng nhân đạo cho hơn 2 triệu người dân Palestine đang cư ngụ tại Dải Gaza, một trong những thành phố có mật độ dân cư đông nhất thế giới.

Nhìn lại về những tổn thất về con người, thật đau lòng khi Bộ Y Tế Gaza ước tính có hơn 1000 trẻ em đã thiệt mạng ở Gaza kể từ khi xung đột bắt đầu. Với một nửa trong số 2,3 triệu dân số của Gaza dưới 18 tuổi, Liên Hợp Quốc và cộng đồng quốc tế cần phải tăng cường nỗ lực trong việc thiết lập lệnh ngừng bắn ngay lập tức và xem xét về những vấn đề vi phạm luật pháp quốc tế từ cả hai phía. Tổng thư ký Liên Hợp Quốc Antonio Guterres đã kêu gọi ngừng bắn nhân đạo và tuyên bố rằng “các cuộc tấn công của Hamas không thể biện minh cho hành động trừng phạt tập thể nhằm vào người dân vô tội tại Palestine.”

Cùng lúc đó, những cuộc đàm phán đang diễn ra gần đây giữa Hoa Kỳ, Liên minh châu Âu, Israel, và Ai Cập đang gặp phải những thách thức đáng lo ngại. Mục tiêu chính của những phiên thảo luận này là để tạo điều kiện cho viện trợ nhận đạo, vận chuyển nhu yếu phẩm từ Ai Cập đến Gaza thông qua việc mở cửa khẩu Rafah. Đáng tiếc, Israel đã ngăn chặn những nỗ lực đạt được trên bàn đám phán bằng 4 cuộc không kích vào cửa khẩu từ ngày 7 tháng 10. Hàng trăm xe tải cứu trợ của Ai Cập đã bị kẹt lại tại cửa khẩu Rafah và chính phủ nước này cũng đang tạo áp lực lên Israel và Hoa Kỳ để thiết lập lệnh ngừng bắn và để những hoạt động cứu trợ nhân đạo cho người dân và trẻ em diễn ra hiệu quả.

Tuy nhiên, vào ngày 17 tháng 10, một vụ nổ lớn làm rung chuyển bệnh viện Al-Ahli Baptist ở Gaza, nơi các bác sĩ và y tá đang thăm khám người dân Palestine bị thương, bao gồm phụ nữ, trẻ em, và những người khác vẫn đang tìm nơi trú ẩn. Cuộc tấn công này đã gây ra tỷ lệ tử vong cao nhất từ khi xung đột xảy ra và cướp đi sinh mạng của 500 người, dựa theo báo cáo của cơ quan y tế Palestine. Cả hai phe quân đội chính trong cuộc chiến tranh, Hamas và Lực lượng Phòng vệ Israel, đều tuyên bố phe bên kia chịu trách nhiệm cho sự tổn thất bi thảm này.


Vì cuộc xung đột này đã gây ra một sự khủng hoảng nhân đạo chưa từng có với gần 2,2 triệu người Palestine bị bao vây và không được tiếp cận những nhu yếu phẩm cần thiết để sinh tồn, Broken Chalk lên tiếng kêu gọi các hành động nhằm ngăn chặn các hành vi vi phạm nhân quyền cực đoan đã và đang diễn ra, và thiết lập lại trật tự dân sự trong khu vực và trên toàn thế giới. Chúng tôi kêu gọi chính phủ Israel và cộng đồng quốc tế ngay lập tức tiến hành ngừng bắn và cho phép viện trợ nhân đạo được thực hiện thông qua cửa khẩu Rafah, hỗ trợ cho người dân Palestine đã phải di tản hay chịu ảnh hưởng từ chiến tranh. Chúng tôi kêu gọi chính phủ Israel tuân thủ chặt chẽ các quy tắc của luật pháp quốc tế về việc bảo vệ bệnh viện, nhà báo, và dân thường. Chúng tôi tin rằng cộng đồng quốc tế cần phải kiểm soát chặt chẽ hơn những hành động của chính phủ Israel nhằm đảm bảo quyền con người được duy trì. Israel cần ngay lập tức gỡ bỏ cuộc bao vây ở dải Gaza để các nhu yếu phẩm như nước, điện, thực phẩm, và các nhiên liệu khác được cung cấp đến các bệnh viện Palestine.

Broken Chalk trân trọng thông cáo.

Ký tên

Broken Chalk

Dịch bởi Thao Pham từ trang tin: https://brokenchalk.org/press-release-broken-chalk-calls-on-the-immediate-ceasefire-by-israel-and-the-international-community-following-the-latest-crisis-at-al-ahli-baptist-hospital/ .

بیان صحفي: المنظمة غیر الحكومیة بروكن تشاك تدعو إلى وقف فوري لإطلاق النار من قبل إسرائیل والمجتمع الدولي في أعقاب الأزمة الأخیرة في مستشفى الأھلي المعمداني

٨ أكتوبر٢٠٢٣

ي ٧ أكتوبر، شنت حماس ھج ًوما كبی ًرا على الأراضي الإسرائیلیة خلال مھرجان خارج الأسوار
المحیطة بقطاع غزة مباشرًة. وأسفر ھذا الحدث عن خسائر مأساویة في أرواح أكثر من ٢٥٠ مدنیا
إسرائیلیا، مع اختطاف واحتجاز كثیرین آخرین في الجیب. ردا على ذلك، بدأت إسرائیل صراعا
واسع النطاق مع حماس، مما أدى إلى غارات جویة على غزة وحصار حدودي شامل. كان للصراع
عواقب مدمرة، حیث نسبة الخسائر الفلسطینیة المقدرة بنحو ٣٠٠٠ ضحیة إلى الھجوم الأولي
لحماس، إلى جانب خسارة أكثر من ١٣٠٠ قتیل مدني إسرائیلي. وقد تسبب في أزمة إنسانیة
.مأساویة لأكثر من ٢ ملیون فلسطیني في المدینة الأكثر كثافة سكانیة في العالم
و بالتأمل في التكلفة البشریة، من المفجع أن نلاحظ أن أكثر من ١٠٠٠ طفل لقوا حتفھم في غزة
منذ بدایة الصراع، كما تقدر وزارة الصحة في غزة. نظ ًرا لأن نصف سكان غزة البالغ عددھم
١٨ ع ًاما, ویجب على الأمم المتحدة والمجتمع الدولي أن ٢.٣ ملیون نسمة تقل أعمارھم عن
یضاعف جھوده لتشجیع وقف فوري لإطلاق النار وأن یدقق النظر في التزام الجانبین بقواعد
القانون الدولي. دعا الأمین العام للأمم المتحدة أنطونیوغوتیریش إلى وقف فوري لإطلاق النار
الإنساني، مشی ًرا إلى أن ھجمات حماس لا یمكن أن تبرر العقاب الجماعي للشعب الفلسطیني
إن تحدیات المناقشات الجاریة مؤخرا والتي تشمل الولایات المتحدة والاتحاد الأوروبي وإسرائیل
ومصر تثیر قلقا عمیقا. الھدف الأساسي من ھذه المناقشات ھو تسھیل دخول المساعدات الإنسانیة
الحیویة من مصر إلى غزة من خلال فتح معبر رفح؛ للأسف، واجھت ھذه المفاوضات عقبات
كبیرة, كما استھدفت إسرائیل معبر رفح بضربات جویة في أربع مناسبات منذ بدایة الصراع في ٧
أكتوبر. علقت مئات الشاحنات الإنسانیة المصریة عند معبر رفح، حیث ضغطت الحكومة
المصریة على إسرائیل والولایات المتحدة لوقف إطلاق النار حتى تصل المساعدات الإنسانیة غیر
.المقیدة إلى العدید من الجرحى, النساء والأطفال
في ١٧ أكتوبر، ھز انفجار ھائل مستشفى الأھلي المعمداني في غزة، حیث كان الأطباء
والممرضات یرعون الفلسطینیین المصابین، بما في ذلك النساء والأطفال، ولا یزال فلسطینیون
آخرون یبحثون عن مأوى. أصبح ھذا الحادث مو ًقعا لأكبر عدد من القتلى في أي حدث واحد منذ
بدایة الصراع الحالي، مما أودى بحیاة ٥٠٠ شخص، كما ذكرت السلطات الصحیة الفلسطینیة.
یدعي كل من الفاعلین العسكریین الرئیسیین في الصراع، حماس وقوة الدفاع الإسرائیلیة، أن
ً عن الحادث
.الجانب الآخر كان مسؤولا
وبما أن ھذا الصراع قد تسبب في أزمة إنسانیة غیر مسبوقة، حیث بقي ما یقرب من ٢.٢ ملیون
فلسطیني بدون إمكانیة الوصول إلى المواد التمھیدیة مثل الغذاء والماء والكھرباء, بروكن تشاك
ترفع صوتھا للدعوة إلى اتخاذ إجراءات فوریة لوقف الانتھاكات الجسیمة المستمرة لحقوق الإنسان
لتحقیق الاستقرار داخل المنطقة وللبشریة جمیعا. ندعو الحكومة الإسرائیلیة والمجتمع الدولي إلى
وقف إطلاق النار على وجھ السرعة والسماح للمساعدات الإنسانیة بالمرور عبر حدود رفح بمصر،
وتوفیر العدید من النازحین والمتضررین الفلسطینیین. ندعو الحكومة الإسرائیلیة إلى الالتزام
الصارم بقواعد القانون الدولي المتعلقة بحمایة المستشفیات و الصحفیین والمدنیین. نحن نعتقد أنھ
من الضروري أن یمارس المجتمع الدولي المزید من التدقیق على حكومة إسرائیل لضمان احترام


حقوق الإنسان. ومن الملح أن ترفع إسرائیل الحصار عن غزة للسماح بوصول المیاه والغذاء
.والكھرباء والوقود إلى المستشفیات الفلسطینیة
.بروكن تشاك یعلن ذلك للجمھور مع الاحترام الواجب
موقعة من
بروكن تشاك

Taarifa kwa Vyombo vya Habari: Chaki Iliyovunjika (Broken Chalk) Inatoa Wito wa Kusitishwa Mara Moja kwa Mapigano ya Israeli na Jumuiya ya Kimataifa Kufuatia Mgogoro wa Hivi Punde katika Hospitali ya Al-Ahli Baptist

18 Ocktoba 2023

Tarehe ya 7 Oktoba, Hamas ilianzisha mashambulizi makubwa katika eneo la Israel wakati wa tamasha nje ya eneo jirani la ukanda wa Gaza. Tukio hili lilisababisha vifo vya zaidi ya raia 250 Waisraeli, huku wengine wengi wakitekwa nyara na kushikwa mateka katika eneo hilo. Kwa kujibu, Israel ilianzisha mzozo kamili dhidi ya Hamas, na kuanzisha mashambulizi ya anga huko Gaza na kuzingirwa kwa mpaka. Mzozo huu umekuwa na matokeo mabaya, huku takriban Wapalestina 3,000 wakipoteza maisha kutokana na shambulio la awali la Hamas, sambamba na kupoteza maisha ya zaidi ya raia 1,300 Waisraeli. Imesababisha mzozo mbaya wa kibinadamu kwa zaidi ya Wapalestina milioni 2 katika jiji lenye watu wengi zaidi ulimwenguni.

Tukitafakari juu ya gharama ya kibinadamu, inasikitisha kuona kwamba zaidi ya watoto 1,000 wamekufa huko Gaza tangu kuanza kwa vita, kama inavyokadiriwa na Wizara ya Afya ya Gaza. Kwa vile nusu ya wakazi milioni 2.3 wa Gaza wako chini ya umri wa miaka 18, Umoja wa Mataifa na jumuiya ya kimataifa lazima ziongeze juhudi zao ili kuhimiza usitishaji mapigano mara moja na kuzichunguza pande zote mbili juu ya ufuasi wao wa sheria za kimataifa. Katibu Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa, Antonio Guterres, ametoa wito wa kusitishwa mara moja kwa mapigano ya kibinadamu, akisema kuwa, “Mashambulio ya Hamas hayawezi kuhalalisha adhabu ya pamoja ya watu wa Palestina.”

Changamoto za mijadala inayoendelea hivi majuzi inayohusisha Marekani, Umoja wa Ulaya, Israel, na Misri zinatia wasiwasi sana. Lengo la msingi la mijadala hii ni kuwezesha kuingia kwa misaada muhimu ya kibinadamu kutoka Misri hadi Gaza kwa kufungua kivuko cha Rafah; cha kusikitisha ni kwamba, mazungumzo haya yamekabiliwa na vikwazo vikubwa, kwani Israel imelenga kivuko cha Rafah kwa mashambulizi ya angani mara nne tangu kuanza kwa mzozo tarehe 7 Oktoba. Mamia ya malori ya kibinadamu ya Misri yamekwama kwenye kivuko cha Rafah, huku serikali ya Misri ikiishinikiza Israel na Marekani kusimamisha mapigano ili misaada ya kibinadamu isiyo na kikomo ifikie wanaume, wanawake, na watoto wengi waliojeruhiwa.

Mnamo tarehe 17 Oktoba, mlipuko mkubwa uliitikisa Hospitali ya Al-Ahli Baptist huko Gaza, ambapo madaktari na wauguzi walikuwa wakiwahudumia Wapalestina waliojeruhiwa, wakiwemo wanawake na watoto, na Wapalestina wengine ambao walikuwa wakitafuta makazi. Tukio hili limekuwa eneo la idadi kubwa zaidi ya vifo vya tukio lolote tangu kuanza kwa mzozo wa sasa, na kusababisha vifo vya watu 500, kama ilivyoripotiwa na mamlaka ya afya ya Palestina. Wahusika wakuu wa kijeshi katika mzozo huo, Hamas na Jeshi la Ulinzi la Israeli, wanadai kuwa upande mwingine ulihusika na tukio hilo.

Wakati mzozo huu umeleta mgogoro wa kibinadamu ambao haujawahi kushuhudiwa, huku takriban Wapalestina milioni 2.2 wakiachwa bila kupata huduma za utangulizi kama vile chakula, maji, na umeme, Chaki Iliyovunjika(Broken Chalk) inapaza sauti yake kutaka hatua za haraka zichukuliwe kukomesha ukiukaji wa haki za binadamu unaoendelea ili kuleta madhara. Utulivu ndani ya kanda na kwa wanadamu wote. Tunatoa wito kwa serikali ya Israel na jumuiya ka kimataifa kufanya haraka ili kusitisha mapigano na kuruhusu misaada ya kibinadamu kupita kwenye mpaka wa Rafah, kuwapatia Wapalestina wengi waliokimbia makazi yao na walioathirika. Tunatoa wito kwa serikali ya Israel kutii kikamilifu sheria za kimataifa kuhusu kulinda hospitali, waandishi wa habari na raia. Tunaamaini ya kwamba ni muhimu kwamba jumuiya ya kimataifa ifanye uchunguzi zaidi kwa serikali ya Israel ili kuhakikisha kuwa haki za binadamu zinazingatiwa. Ni dharura kwamba Israel iondoe mzingiro wa Gaza ili kuruhusu maji, chakula, umeme, na mafuta kufikia hospitali za Palestina.

Chaki Iliyovunjika (Broken Chalk) inatangaza kwa uma kwa heshima inayostahili.

Imetiwa sahihi na Chaki Iliyovunjika (Broken Chalk)

Chaki Iliyovunjika (Broken Chalk)

Translated by Lyndah Muthama from https://brokenchalk.org/press-release-broken-chalk-calls-on-the-immediate-ceasefire-by-israel-and-the-international-community-following-the-latest-crisis-at-al-ahli-baptist-hospital/

Communiqué de presse : Broken Chalk fait appel à Israël et à la Communauté Internationale pour un cessez-le-feu immédiat après la dernière crise à l’hôpital Al-Ahli.

18 Octobre 2023

Le 7 octobre, le Hamas a lancé une attaque importante sur le territoire israélien lors d’un festival qui se déroulait juste en dehors des murs de la bande de Gaza. Cette attaque a provoqué la mort tragique de plus de 250 civils israéliens, avec en complément des otages retenus prisonniers dans l’enclave de Gaza.  En réponse, Israël a amorcé un conflit total contre Hamas, à travers des raids aériens sur la bande de Gaza et un siège sans réserve à la frontière. Le conflit a eu des conséquences dévastatrices : environ 3 000 victimes palestiniennes et 1 300 victimes civiles israéliennes, ces dernières sont attribuées aux attaques effectuées par le Hamas. Cela a déclenché une crise humanitaire désastreuse pour plus de 2 millions de Palestiniens à Gaza, une des villes la plus densément peuplée au monde.

En analysant les pertes humaines, il est navrant de constater que plus de 1 000 enfants sont morts depuis le début de la guerre, selon les estimations du ministère de la Santé de Gaza. La moitié de la population de Gaza, composée de 2.3 millions d’habitants, est âgée de moins de 18 ans. Il est donc important que les Nations Unies et la communauté internationale redoublent d’efforts pour encourager un cessez-le-feu immédiat, et pour exiger le respect du droit international par les deux parties concernées. Le Secrétaire général des Nations Unies, Monsieur Antonio Guterres a demandé un cessez-le-feu humanitaire immédiat, en déclarant que « Les attaques de Hamas ne peuvent pas justifier la punition collective du people Palestinien. »

Les discussions en cours impliquent les États-Unis, l’Union Européenne, Israël et l’Égypte, mais ces discussions s’avèrent difficiles. Le but principal de ces discussions est l’entrée d’aide humanitaire par l’Égypte dans le territoire de la bande de Gaza, à travers l’ouverture du passage de Rafah ; malheureusement, ces négociations sont très compliquées, car Israël a ciblé quatre fois le passage de Rafah avec des raids aériens depuis le début du conflit le 7 octobre.  Des centaines de camions humanitaires égyptiens sont bloqués au passage de Rafah, pendant que le gouvernement Égyptien fait pression sur Israël et les Etats-Unis pour qu’ils soutiennent un cessez-le-feu, de manière à ce que l’aide humanitaire puisse aider les enfants, femmes et hommes blessés.

Le 17 octobre, une lourde explosion a ébranlé l’hôpital Al-Ahili à Gaza où les médecins et les infirmiers venaient en aide aux Palestiniens blessés, parmi lesquels des femmes et des enfants, et où d’autres palestiniens se réfugiaient.  Cet incident est l’événement le plus meurtrier ayant  eu lieu depuis le début du conflit, car cette explosion a causé la mort de 500 victimes, selon les autorités palestiniennes de la Santé. Les acteurs militaires principaux du conflit, le Hamas et les forces de défense israéliennes, se rejettent la responsabilité de cette explosion.  Puisque ce conflit a entraîné une crise humanitaire sans précédent, avec environ 2.2 millions de Palestiniens privés de l’accès aux besoins essentiels comme la nourriture, l’eau et l’électricité, Broken Chalk lance un appel à une action immédiate afin d’arrêter immédiatement les multiples transgressions des droits de l’Homme en cours et pour apporter une stabilité dans cette région et dans le monde entier. Nous faisons appel au gouvernement israélien et à la communauté internationale pour soutenir de toute urgence un cessez-le-feu et pour permettre à l’aide humanitaire d’accéder au passage de Rafah, pour subvenir aux besoins essentiels de nombreux Palestiniens réfugiés et affectés dans la région Sud de Gaza. Nous demandons au gouvernement israélien de respecter rigoureusement les normes du droit international qui concernent la protection des hôpitaux, des journalistes et des civils. Nous pensons que la communauté internationale doit exercer un suivi plus rigoureux du gouvernement d’Israël pour assurer le respect des droits de l’Homme. Il est urgent qu’Israël lève le siège mis en place sur la bande de Gaza afin de permettre l’afflux d’eau, nourriture, électricité et combustibles aux hôpitaux Palestiniens.

Broken Chalk fait cette annonce au public concerné avec le respect qui leur est dû.  

Signé par

Broken Chalk.

Traduction en français par Eliana Riggi et Daphné Rein de l’article en anglais : https://brokenchalk.org/press-release-broken-chalk-calls-on-the-immediate-ceasefire-by-israel-and-the-international-community-following-the-latest-crisis-at-al-ahli-baptist-hospital/

新闻稿:在阿赫利浸信会医院发生最新危机后，Broken Chalk呼吁以色列和国际社会立即停火

18th October 2023

10月7日，在加沙地带围墙外的音乐节活动期间，哈马斯对以色列领土发动了重大袭击。这一事件造成250多名以色列平民悲惨丧生，还有许多人在聚集地被绑架和囚禁。作为回应，以色列发起了与哈马斯的全面冲突，导致对加沙的空袭和全面的边境包围。这场冲突造成了毁灭性的后果，估计有3000名巴勒斯坦人因哈马斯最初的袭击而伤亡，同时还有1300多名以色列平民丧生。它为世界上人口最稠密的城市的200多万巴勒斯坦人引发了一场悲惨的人道主义危机。

这场冲突的造成的人员伤亡不仅如此。令人痛心的是, 据加沙卫生部统计，自冲突以来，已经有超过1000名儿童死亡。由于加沙230万人口中有一半未满18岁，联合国和国际社会必须加倍努力，鼓励立即停火，并审查双方是否遵守国际法规则。联合国秘书长安东尼奥·古特雷斯呼吁立即人道主义停火，称“哈马斯的袭击不能成为集体惩罚巴勒斯坦人民的理由。”

美国、欧盟、以色列和埃及最近正在进行的讨论所面临的挑战令人深感担忧。这些讨论的主要目标是通过开放拉法过境点，以便重要的人道主义援助从埃及进入加沙;令人遗憾的是，这些谈判面临重大障碍，因为自10月7日冲突开始以来，以色列已经四次对拉法过境点进行空袭。数百辆埃及人道主义卡车被困在拉法过境点，埃及政府向以色列和美国施压，要求停火，以便无限制的人道主义援助能够到达许多受伤的男人、女人和儿童手中。

10月17日，加沙的阿赫利浸信会医院发生了巨大的爆炸，当时医生和护士正在那里照顾受伤的巴勒斯坦人，包括妇女和儿童，以及其他仍在寻求庇护的巴勒斯坦人。据巴勒斯坦卫生当局报告，这一事件成为当前冲突开始以来任何单一事件中死亡人数最多的事件，造成500人死亡。冲突中的两个主要军事角色，哈马斯和以色列国防军，都声称对方应对这次事件负责。

由于这场冲突带来了前所未有的人道主义危机，近220万巴勒斯坦人无法获得食物、水和电等基本供应，Broken Chalk呼吁立即采取行动，制止持续的极端侵犯人权行为，不仅是为该地区，也是为全人类社会带来安定。我们呼吁以色列政府和国际社会紧急停火，允许人道主义援助通过拉法边境，为许多流离失所和受影响的巴勒斯坦人提供帮助。我们呼吁以色列政府严格遵守有关保护医院、记者和平民的国际法规则。我们认为，国际社会有必要对以色列政府进行更多的监督，以确保人权得到维护。以色列迫切需要解除对加沙的围困，以便让水、食品、电力和燃料进入巴勒斯坦的医院。

Broken Chalk 秉持着尊敬致全社会。

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Broken Chalk

Translated by: Xinyu Huang from https://brokenchalk.org/press-release-broken-chalk-calls-on-the-immediate-ceasefire-by-israel-and-the-international-community-following-the-latest-crisis-at-al-ahli-baptist-hospital/

Comunicat de presă: Broken Chalk solicită încetarea imediată a focului din partea Israelului și a comunității internaționale în urma ultimei crize de la Spitalul Baptist Al-Ahli

18 Octombrie 2023

Pe 7 octombrie, Hamas a lansat un atac semnificativ asupra teritoriului israelian în timpul unui festival, chiar în afara zidurilor din jurul Fâșiei Gaza. Acest eveniment a dus la pierderea tragică a peste 250 de civili israelieni, iar mulți alții au fost răpiți și ținuți captivi în enclavă. Ca răspuns, Israelul a inițiat un conflict pe scară largă cu Hamas, care a dus la atacuri aeriene asupra Gazei și la un asediu amplu la graniță. Acest conflict a avut consecințe devastatoare, cu aproximativ 3.000 de victime palestiniene atribuite atacului inițial al Hamas, precum și   peste 1.300 de civili israelieni uciși. Drept consecință, s-a declanșat o criză umanitară tragică pentru peste 2 milioane de palestinieni în orașul cel mai dens populat din lume.

Reflectând asupra pierderilor de vieți umane, este sfâșietor să constatăm că peste 1.000 de copii au murit în Gaza de la începutul conflictului, după cum a estimat Ministerul Sănătății din Gaza. Având în vedere că jumătate din populația de 2,3 milioane din Gaza are sub 18 ani, Națiunile Unite și comunitatea internațională trebuie să își intensifice eforturile pentru a promova o încetare imediată a focului și pentru a asigura respectarea de către ambele părți a regulilor dreptului internațional. Secretarul general al ONU, Antonio Guterres a solicitat o încetare imediată a focului umanitar, afirmând că „atacurile Hamas nu pot justifica pedeapsa colectivă a poporului palestinian.”

Provocările discuțiilor recente în curs de desfășurare, care implică Statele Unite, Uniunea Europeană, Israel și Egipt, sunt profund îngrijorătoare. Scopul principal al acestor discuții este de a facilita intrarea ajutorului umanitar critic din Egipt în Gaza prin deschiderea trecerii Rafah. Din păcate, aceste negocieri s-au confruntat cu obstacole semnificative, deoarece Israelul a vizat trecerea Rafah cu lovituri aeriene de patru ori de la începutul conflictului din 7 octombrie. Sute de camioane umanitare egiptene sunt blocate la trecerea Rafah, iar guvernul egiptean face presiuni asupra Israelului și SUA să înceteze atacurile, astfel încât ajutorul umanitar nerestricționat să ajungă la numeroși bărbați, femei și copii răniți.

Pe 17 octombrie, o explozie masivă a zguduit Spitalul Baptist Al-Ahli din Gaza, unde medicii și asistentele aveau grijă de palestinieni răniți, inclusiv femei și copii, iar alți palestinieni căutau în continuare adăpost. Acest incident a devenit locul celui mai mare număr de decese din orice eveniment de la începutul conflictului actual, cu moartea a 500 de persoane, conform rapoartelor autorităților sanitare palestiniene. Ambii principali actori militari din conflict, Hamas și Forța de Apărare Israeliană, susțin că cealaltă parte este responsabilă pentru incident.

Datorită crizei umanitare fără precedent provocate de acest conflict, cu aproape 2,2 milioane de palestinieni care rămân fără acces la provizii de bază, cum ar fi hrană, apă și electricitate, Broken Chalk cere acțiuni imediate pentru a pune capăt încălcărilor extreme ale drepturilor omului și pentru a aduce stabilitate în regiune și pentru întreaga umanitate. Facem apel la guvernul israelian și comunitatea internațională să implementeze de urgență o încetare a focului și să permită ajutorului umanitar să treacă prin granița Rafah, asigurându-se că numeroși palestinieni strămutați și afectați primesc asistența necesară. Facem apel, de asemenea, la guvernul israelian să respecte cu strictețe regulile dreptului internațional privind protejarea spitalelor, jurnaliștilor și civililor. Considerăm că este necesar ca guvernul Israelului să fie mai bine monitorizat de către comunitatea internațională, pentru a se asigura respectarea drepturilor omului. Este urgent ca Israelul să înceteze asediul asupra Gazei pentru a permite apă, alimente, electricitate și combustibil să ajungă în spitalele palestiniene.

Broken Chalk aduce la cunoștință acest document publicului cu respectul cuvenit.

Semnat,

Broken Chalk