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"You are not born for yourself but for the world."

A Crumbling Nation

Here, in this cocooned ‘paradise’ we live in, it is easy to become detached from the critical situations within our continent. Being such a small civilisation, engulfed by the beauty of nature, surrounded by acres of ocean, confrontations such as torture, gang rapes, growing numbers of refugees are far from our worries.

 

Central African Republic, facing poor harvests, critical economic problems and now the growing disturbance of the Seleka rebels (an extreme alliance of Muslim militia), is experiencing a grave humanitarian situation. Since December last year when the rebels first entered the capital city, more and more people have been living in bushes with no health care.

 

After having destroyed businesses belonging to non-Muslims, the Seleka have caused major economic harm to the country. Civil servants have not been paid for months and now people do not have the capital to even buy the essentials. The little harvested crops remaining are not enough to feed everyone.

 

It is estimated that around 394,000 people have fled from their homes, living in either refugee camps or in bushes. With the continuing trends of violence, more people are emerging into Bossangoa, where sanitary conditions are extremely poor, facing the possibility of all kinds of infectious diseases. UNICEF and the Red Cross have provided them with tarps, medical supplies, basic food supplies to help increase the unsustainable emergency supplies for everyone. The FAO is also donating many of the food supplies as famine is becoming a growing concern.

 

UN humanitarian office coordinator John Ging, after his visit to CAR, was quoted as saying that "atrocities that are being committed against the civilian population are indescribable."

 

If more peacekeeping forces are not provided to push back the Seleka and calm the dispersing violence, the situation will become catastrophic. Security remains the most immediate priority and pressing concern; thousands of civilians are suffering severe human rights violation, children are being recruited to become soldiers, women and children are being sexually abused and torture has resulted on a striking level.

by Vicky Alis on 17/11/2013

"I'm gonna to tell God everything..."

by Vicky Alis on 22/02/2014

The ISS is a school that takes on board the issues of children being upset and hurt. The picture and caption below from the current Syrian conflict is heart-breaking.

 

As the International Columnist I have been following the 'Inside Syria' reportage on the news over the past few weeks and at the moment my heart feels very heavy. The on-going massacres occurring in Syria are beyond incomprehensible.

 

I had hoped that on the 10th of February peace agreements would gradually move the situation forward but that has not happened....

 

It is impossible to verify whether the image below is accurate and the quote for real but the picture paints a sad story about the pain and suffering occurring in Syria even as you are reading this.

The last thing a 3-year-old Syrian said before he passed away:

 

“I’m gonna tell God everything!”

 

If you would like to donate to help support the relief crisis efforts taking place in Syria consider one of the charities below:

"We are not born for ourselves but for the world."

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