Missing Childhoods: Child Kidnapping in Nigeria

Written by Iasmina-Măriuca Stoian

“The statistics are disturbing; the reality is devastating. It has been 9 years since the horrendous abduction of the Chibok girls, yet the nightmare continues as children are still being kidnapped, forcibly recruited, killed and injured– their futures torn away,” said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria.

Historical background

Situated on the West coast of Africa, Nigeria is a country with a rich history, that was also intertwined with its history as a British colony. Only after 1960, when it gained its independence, and it was declared a republic in 1963, Nigeria faced a difficult period of various dictatorships and political regimes that led to more political instability.

Additionally,  the country has faced issues such as cultural tensions, corruption and inequality. Recently, the numbers on child kidnappings have grown exponentially, particularly in conflict areas. These abductions not only have affected the families and the local communities but also have raised serious issues relating to the current administration and calls for urgent measures to be taken both at the national and international levels.

Despite the continuous efforts to address this issue, child kidnappings continue to remain one of the main challenges of the country, affecting not only the lives of children but also the country’s future. This article will look into the root causes that led to this serious issue, as well as the measures that were taken to combat the kidnappings and possible future measures to be taken by the government and international agents.

Understanding the issue

According to recent articles , more than 280 students were kidnapped from elementary schools in the northern region of the country, and seized by militants. This incident is reported to be bigger than the previous one[jc6] , also known as the Chibok girls abduction case. In 2014, Boko Haram, an Islamist jihadist group based in the northeastern region of Nigeria, abducted 276 girls from their dormitories, many of them still remaining missing to this day. This outrageous incident sparked international debate and led to the creation of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign on numerous social media platforms. The reality behind the abductions is even more horrific, leading to other crimes, such as rape, killing, and forced marriages.

Nine years after the Chibok girls incident, Amnesty International and UNICEF highlighted the lack of investigations by local authorities, abandonment of the cases and lack of action from the government. However, schools still are targets of abduction cases that are reported weekly, resulting in approximately 780 abducted children and 61 still held in captivity. [ii]Thus, international organizations are continuing to call for protection and justice for those children, as well as for measures to be taken by the Nigerian authorities.

This issue not only affects the lives of children and families, but it also associated with other issues in the country such as poverty, low rates of employment, political instability, and religious tensions. These challenges will be further discussed in the following paragraphs, explaining them in more detail.

Root causes

Poverty & unemployment

There is a strong link between poverty and unemployment and the issue of kidnapping in Nigeria. Recent rates indicate that almost 46% of Nigerians live in poverty, [iii] and this includes millions of youths who are unemployed and do not benefit from governmental help in any way.

Most of those children did not have access to education, finding their way of living on the streets, where they are most vulnerable. Kidnapping of children is used, besides for political bargains, also for economic gain (kidnapping for ransom), which seems to become more common as the economic gap between rich and poor families grows.

Religious & political factors

Religious differences and the constant tension between the Christian and Islamic citizens are also root causes of the kidnappings. The two religions have been in conflict for generations, thus leading to the abduction of numerous children who were secretly killed in the northern part of the country.

Boko Haram is an extremist terrorist group and their kidnappings are both religious and politically rooted, as declared by their leaders. They mostly target and abduct Christians, as well as people who do not recognize their ideology or political movement.

Methods and tactics of kidnappers

As methods, kidnapping of children can involve the use of offensive gadgets, weapons, specially designed technologies for tracking victims, as well as sensitive information about the targets in order to forcefully take them away from their families and instil fear in their minds. Moreover, kidnapping groups have an impressive organization strategy, in which they are structured on different teams, such as operation teams, guards, tax forces etc.

The reports show that most kidnappers carefully plan their abductions, calculating the costs and benefits of each action. Their preferences on targets vary between different factors that were previously mentioned, such as political, religious, and social backgrounds. This cost for each victim is calculated according to their Kidnap Ransom Value(KRV). In the context of child kidnapping, children from affluent families, with high social status, or from families that have bigger influence may have a higher KRV than others.

Impact on families and society

Child kidnapping can have a devastating effect on families and also on the community, instilling fear and anxiety. Apart from the evident trauma that is inflicted on the past victims, families are also affected. The emotional burden of not knowing the fate or the status of their relative who was abducted is a real trauma, that can cause stress, depression and anxiety in the long-term. Additionally, to the emotional impact, families can also be affected financially, having to face the costs of recovery, treatment or, in the cases of ransom kidnappings, the price they have to pay for having back their children.

On a larger scale, those abductions have also a long-term impact on the local communities. Kidnapped children, especially underaged girls, who can often be victims of other cruel acts, such as slavery, forced marriage and sexual molestation, have a higher impact on society. Thus, from affected families to a local community and later to the whole nation, this issue leads to insecurity, while insecurity leads to political tensions and instability.

Future challenges & solutions

Both present and past governments have tried so far to combat this issue of kidnapping children in Nigeria, through several measures. National and international bodies have collaborated and started several projects, to combat both terrorist threats by the Boko Haram group, and also the criminal activities associated with kidnapping. Other projects were designed to reduce poverty and to increase the quality and accessibility to education, in order to offer children an option and a chance not to end up living on the streets.

More effective solutions in combating this issue are to focus more and pay more attention to the root causes of kidnapping. This could include offering more employment opportunities for youth, investment projects in education, adoption of stricter and more protective laws and regulations and anti-kidnapping measures.

Conclusions

In conclusion, child kidnapping is a serious and complex issue that has different root causes, such as poverty, unemployment, religious and political tensions, and organized criminal group activities. The impact on families and society is enormous, leading to psychological and emotional long-term trauma. Thus, both international and national authorities should take urgent measures and also highlight the importance of international collaboration.

References

[i] See the articles from UNICEF titled “Devastating Reality: 9 Years After Chibok Abductions, Children in Northeast Nigeria Continue to Suffer the Brutal Consequences of Conflict”, and from CBS News “Witnesses in Nigeria say hundreds of children kidnapped in second mass-abduction in less than a week” for more details.

[ii] See the article from Amnesty International “Nigeria: Nine years after Chibok girls’ abducted, authorities failing to protect children”.

[iii] See Bello (2022) for more consideration.

 

 

From Pollution to Education: How Environmental Degradation in Lebanon Impacts the Education System

Written by Iasmina-Măriuca Stoian

Introduction

For the past two centuries to the present day, Lebanon has been subjected to the ever ongoing global environmental disasters and degradations, which have threatened the country’s infrastructure, national health and wellbeing as well as the overall economic climate. Most of them are also a result of the conflict period, more specifically from 2006. This article looks at the effects that environmental disasters have on education (such as destroyed school buildings and even threats to the health or the lives of students and teachers) . In country suffocating in the hazardous fog of pollution whilst suffering the effects of an extreme rise of commodity prices in their market economy, citizens live in a country that where health hazard is omnipresent and inevitable creates a population of sick and diseased people who have to then spend most of their income on healthcare, rendering them unable to afford any sort of education . It has become evident that there is an urgent need for the implementation of sustainable practices and policies in Lebanon, if the country hopes to improve its social welfare and economy. It is the responsibility of the Lebanese government to take the appropriate actions that will answer all needs of the Lebanese community. The pivotal question arises about whether our environment is being managed sustainably or if environmental concerns, along with the education sector, continue to be deprioritized. In order to have a sustainable future, both should be among the top priorities.

Current situation

Lebanon is facing severe environmental degradation due to systemic corruption, lack of effective regulation, unsustainable practices in agriculture and industry, but also from conflicts. From July 2006, the Post-Conflict Branch of the UN Environment Program started to monitor environmental issues associated with the conflict in Lebanon, by tracking potential environmental impacts on both sides of the border, in Lebanon and Israel. The assessment, conducted by the UN Environment and local partners, investigated issues related to solid and hazardous waste, industrial contamination, coastal and marine pollution, water resources, asbestos, and weapons used. The report found no evidence of depleted uranium or radioactive materials, but concerns remain about cluster bombs. In addition, the country heavily depends on generators for power consumption, and water and land have been polluted severely through human activities (deforestation). There is a large amount of disposal too. This has led to health problems, loss of biodiversity and increased exposure to natural disasters. Global cooperation and assistance, as well as the application of environmental legislation are indeed indispensable in helping Lebanon address its most pressing environmental challenges towards a healthier future.

Limited Access to Clean Water and Sanitation

According to the statistics made by USAID, Lebanon faces a significant water deficit, with only 48% of the population having access to safely managed water and 20% having access to safely managed sanitation. In schools, this lack of clean water and sanitation directly affects students who may not have access to safe drinking water or suitable sanitary facilities. These health risks, especially when specific ones recur time and again within a child’s life stream, can culminate in physical symptoms that keep sick children out of school. Schools also face challenges of providing their students and staff a safe environment as they lack access to water/sanitation with good quality infrastructure. USAID, among other organizations, along with local communities in Lebanon (plus other donors), are taking steps to provide populations access to safe drinking water and sanitation sources which would positively impact the students of tomorrow.

2020 Beirut explosion

On the 4th of August 2020, in the Port of Beirut, an explosion killed more than 200 people, injured more than 500 people, and affected approximately 280 educational institutions. What started as a simple warehouse fire of 2,750 tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate, later caused significant environmental damage, including air and water pollution due to the release of hazardous chemicals. Beirut, previously a cultural hub with famous universities, was heavily affected by the blast, worsening its pre-existing financial struggles and threatening faculty with job loss. Thus, the Beirut explosion remains a symbol of Lebanon’s deep-seated political corruption, negligence, and the broader issues existing in the country, also recognized as one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history.

Impact on health for students and teachers

The environmental disaster in Lebanon has significant health impacts on both students and teachers. The Beirut explosion released toxic chemicals into the air, leading to respiratory problems in nearby schools. Additionally, the country’s inadequate waste management has resulted in polluted water supplies, causing gastrointestinal illnesses among children. Schools located near landfills or industrial areas are particularly at risk, exposing students and teachers to harmful pollutants daily. These environmental challenges exacerbate existing health issues, leading to higher dropout rates and lower educational outcomes.

Existing initiatives and responses

In response to the current situation in Lebanon, several projects and initiatives have been launched and are still in the process of implementation, in order to address these challenges. Multiple international organisations, some of them being USAID or the United Nations. USAID’s project named Lebanon Water Project (LWP) finished in 2020 and aimed to improve access to safe drinking water, and to develop wastewater management. Other projects are also notable, for instance, the UNDP’s reforestation initiative aims to restore 10,000 hectares of forestland by planting 10 million trees, while UNICEF’s WASH programs have provided clean water and sanitation to over 200,000 people.

Conclusion

In summary, severe environmental degradation in the face of systemic corruption, conflict, and poor regulation has left deep impacts on both the infrastructure and health of the country, notably education. The explosion at Beirut and unrelenting problems with water scarcity and pollution raise awareness and underscore the acute need for effective environmental management and sustainable practices. Whereas most of the giant strides have been traversed by international organizations—the USAID, United Nations, or any other organization—through focused projects related to reforestation, water management, and sanitation, these must be scaled and folded into broader systemic reforms. Intervention in environmental crises in Lebanon is not only significant for natural and urban landscapes but also a healthy and fair educational environment. This shall ensure that in the securing of a sustainable future, the environmental and educational priorities of Lebanon align and are robustly attended to by comprehensive and long-term strategies and international cooperation.

References

    Cover Image by Tripoli, Lebanon on 1/31/2021 © Zwein Florient / Shutterstock

     

    Missing children of Dutch asylum shelters

    By Mayeda Tayyab

    In May 2024, Lost in Europe released the findings of their investigation into the disappearance of unaccompanied children in Europe. This investigation revealed that 51,433 children disappeared from refugee centres across Europe between 2021 and 2023, with Italy having the highest number of missing unaccompanied minors at 22,899 children (Van den Hof, 2024). Unfortunately, this is not the first time such a discovery has been done.

    Netherlands:

    15,404 unaccompanied refugee minors registered in the Netherlands in the last three years (Dutch News, 2024). 850 of these children have disappeared from asylum shelters without any trace (Van den Hof, 2024).

    Before 2024:

    This is not the first time the Dutch authorities have found themselves in this situation. In 2023, 360 minors had disappeared from refugee shelters in the Netherlands between 2022 and 2023, all of whom vanished from the Ter Apel reporting centre. That year, 4449 minors without parents or guardians had applied for asylum in the Netherlands (Dutch News, 2023).

    Government response: 

    The Human Rights Committee has asked the Dutch government to take urgent measures in investigating the trend of missing unaccompanied minors as well as addressing the root issues causing these disappearances. The Dutch government has also been asked to improve the quality of living standards and resources provided to children in the asylum shelters.

    The Dutch national rapporteur on human trafficking, Hermann Bolhaar, has criticised the Dutch refugee system and the government for their lack of implementing any protective and safeguarding measures, given the urgency of the situation and the danger unaccompanied children are finding themselves in.

    Missing-children-of-Dutch-asylum-shelters-Download

    Tlačová správa: Broken Chalk vyzýva Izrael a medzinárodné spoločenstvo na okamžité zastavenie paľby po nedávnom útoku v baptistickej nemocnici Al-Ahli

    18th Október 2023

    Dňa 7. októbra, počas festivalu odohrávajúceho sa tesne za hradbami pásma Gazy, spustil Hamas rozsiahli útok proti izraelskému územiu. Táto udalosť si vyžiadala tragickú stratu životov a to viac ako 250 izraelských civilistov, pričom mnohí ďalší boli unesení a držaní v zajatí v enkláve. V reakcií s útokom, Izrael spustil proti-vojenský útok, a to letecké nálety na Gazu a jej pásmo. Tieto útoky majú na svedomí ničivé následky, pričom sa odhaduje že v dôsledku pôvodného útoku Hamasu došlo k približne 3 000 palestínskym a 1 300 izraelským obetiam. Navyše to vyvolalo tragickú humanitárnu krízu pre viac ako 2 milióny Palestínčanov v najhustejšie obývanom meste na svete. 

    Pri zamyslení nad ľudskými stratami je srdcervúce poznamenať, že od začiatku konfliktu zomrelo v Gaze podľa odhadov ministerstva zdravotníctva viac ako 1 000 detí. Keďže polovica z 2,3 milióna obyvateľov Gazy je mladších ako 18 rokov, OSN a medzinárodné spoločenstvo musia zdvojnásobiť svoje úsilie s cieľom podporiť okamžité prímerie a dôkladne preskúmať dodržiavanie pravidiel medzinárodného práva oboma stranami. Generálny tajomník OSN António Guterres vyzval na okamžité humanitárne prímerie s dôležitým konštatovaním, „útoky Hamasu nemôžu ospravedlňovať kolektívny trest palestínskeho ľudu“.

    Výzvy, vyplývajúce z nedávnych rokovaní medzi Spojenými štátmi, Európskou úniou, Izraelom a Egyptom, sú hlboko znepokojujúce. Hlavným cieľom týchto rokovaní je uľahčiť prísun dôležitej humanitárnej pomoci z Egypta do Gazy otvorením hraničného priechodu Rafah; žiaľ, tieto rokovania narazili na značné prekážky, keďže Izrael od začiatku konfliktu 7. októbra štyrikrát zaútočil na hraničný priechod Rafah.  Na priechode Rafah uviazli stovky egyptských humanitárnych kamiónov, pričom egyptská vláda tlačí na Izrael a USA, aby uzavreli prímerie, aby sa k mnohým zraneným mužom, ženám a deťom mohla dostať neobmedzená humanitárna pomoc.

    Dňa 17. októbra zasiahla masívna explózia baptistickú nemocnicu Al-Ahli v Gaze,  kde lekári a sestry ošetrovali zranených Palestínčanov, vrátane žien a detí. Navyše táto nemocnica slúžila aj ako útočisko pre Palestínčanov. Tento incident sa stal miestom s najvyšším počtom obetí zo všetkých udalostí od začiatku súčasného konfliktu, pričom si vyžiadal životy 500 ľudí, ako hlásia palestínske zdravotnícke úrady. Obe hlavné vojenské strany v konflikte, Hamas a Izraelské obranné sily, tvrdia, že za incident je zodpovedná druhá strana.

    Keďže tento konflikt vyvolal bezprecedentnú humanitárnu krízu, pri ktorej takmer 2,2 milióna Palestínčanov zostalo bez prístupu k základným potrebám ako jedlo, voda a elektrina, organizácia Broken Chalk vyzýva okamžité kroky na zastavenie prebiehajúcich extrémnych porušení ľudských práv s cieľom dosiahnuť stabilitu v regióne a pre celé ľudstvo. Vyzývame izraelskú vládu a medzinárodné spoločenstvo, aby urýchlenie uzavreli prímerie a umožnili prechod humanitárnej pomoci cez hranicu v Rafahu, a poskytli tak pomoc mnohým vysídleným a postihnutým Palestínčanom. Navyše vyzývame izraelskú vládu, aby prísne dodržiavala pravidlá medzinárodného práva týkajúce sa ochrany nemocníc, novinárov a civilistov. Veríme, že je nevyhnutné, aby medzinárodné spoločenstvo viac kontrolovalo izraelskú vládu a zabezpečilo dodržiavanie ľudských práv. Je naliehavé, aby Izrael zrušil obliehanie Gazy a umožnil prístup vody, jedla, elektriny a paliva do palestínskych nemocníc.

    Broken Chalk verejnosti oznamuje s náležitou úctou.

    Dolu podpísaný,

    Broken Chalk

    Translated by Sarah Annamária Kuipers from original post in English (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。

    签署人

    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

    Comunicado: Broken Chalk pide el alto al fuego a Israel y los países de las Naciones Unidas después del último ataque al Hospital Al-Ahli

    18 de octubre 2023

    El 7 de octubre, Hamas lanzó un ataque en el territorio israelí, durante un festival a las afueras de la Franja de Gaza. Este suceso resultó en la trágica pérdida de más de 250 vidas de civiles israelíes, y el secuestro y captividad de incontables más en la comarca. En respuesta al ataque, Israel inició un conflicto a gran escala contra Hamas, derivando en ataques aéreos contra Gaza, y un asedio de sus fronteras. El conflicto ha tenido consecuencias devastadoras, incluyendo 3000 bajas palestinas atribuidas al ataque inicial de Hamas y 1300 civiles israelís. Este conflicto ha desencadenado una crisis humanitaria para más de 2 millones de palestinos en Gaza, la ciudad más densamente poblada del mundo.

    Reflexionando sobre el coste humano, resulta desgarrador destacar que más de 1000 niños han muerto en Gaza desde el inicio del conflicto, según las cifras reveladas por el Ministerio de Sanidad de Gaza. Dado que la mitad de los 2,3 millones de habitantes de Gaza son menores de 18 años, las Naciones Unidas (ONU) y la comunidad internacional deben multiplicar sus esfuerzos para fomentar un alto al fuego inmediato, y escudriñar la adherencia de ambas partes a las normas de derecho internacional. El secretario general de la ONU, Antonio Guterres, ha pedido un alto al fuego humanitario inmediato, afirmando que “los ataques de Hamas no pueden justificar el castigo colectivo del pueblo palestino”

    Los obstáculos de las conversaciones en curso más recientes, en las que participan Estados Unidos, la Unión Europea, Israel y Egipto son profundamente preocupantes. El objetivo principal de estas conversaciones es facilitar la entrada de ayuda humanitaria crítica desde Egipto a Gaza, mediante la apertura del paso fronterizo de Rafah; pero lamentablemente, estas conversaciones han sufrido dificultades, ya que Israel ha atacado el paso fronterizo de Rafah mediante ataques aéreos hasta en cuatro ocasiones distintas desde el inicio del conflicto el 7 de octubre. Cientos de camiones humanitarios egipcios están bloqueados en el paso de Rafah, y el gobierno egipcio está intentando presionar a Israel y Estados Unidos para que declaren un alto al fuego que pueda permitir que la ayuda humanitaria llegue sin restricciones a los civiles heridos.

    El 17 de octubre, una violenta explosión sacudió el Hospital Baptista Al-Ahli de Gaza, donde médicos y enfermeras atendían a palestinos heridos, entre ellos mujeres y niños, y donde muchos civiles buscaban refugio. Este incidente se convirtió en el escenario del mayor número de víctimas mortales en un solo suceso durante el transcurso del conflicto, cobrándose la vida de 500 personas, según informaron las autoridades sanitarias palestinas. Los dos principales actores militares del conflicto, Hamas y las Fuerzas de Defensa israelíes, afirman que el otro bando es el responsable del incidente. 

    Dado que este conflicto ha provocado una crisis humanitaria sin precedentes, con casi 2,2 millones de palestinos que se han quedado sin acceso a suministros básicos, como alimentos, agua y electricidad; Broken Chalk alza la voz para pedir que se tomen medidas inmediatas para poner fin a las constantes violaciones extremas de derechos humanos, con el fin de lograr la estabilidad en la región y para toda la humanidad. Apelamos al gobierno israelí y a la comunidad internacional para que establezcan urgentemente un alto al fuego y permitan el paso de ayuda humanitaria a través de la frontera de Rafah, que abastecerá a un gran número de palestinos desplazados y afectados. Pedimos al gobierno israelí que cumpla estrictamente las normas del derecho internacional relativas a la protección de hospitales, periodistas y civiles. Creemos que es imprescindible que la comunidad internacional ejerza un mayor escrutinio sobre el gobierno de Israel para garantizar que se respetan los derechos humanos. Es urgente que Israel suspenda el asedio a Gaza para permitir que el agua, los alimentos, la electricidad y el combustible lleguen a los hospitales palestinos.

    Broken Chalk lo anuncia al público con el debido respeto.

    Firmado por

    Broken Chalk.