Gaza Turns into World’s Deadliest Place for Children: UK

Thu Aug 22 2024
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Monitoring Desk
UK, Ambassador James Kariuki, Gaza, UN Security Council meeting
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WASHINGTON: UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador James Kariuki on Thursday said that Gaza has become the deadliest place in the world for children.

Women and children continue to bear the brunt of the brutal conflict that started on October 7 last year that so far left over 40,265 Palestinians out of which nearly a third of these casualties are children. “We call on Israel to take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties”, he said at the UN Security Council meeting on Gaza.

The situation is further dire with Gaza on the brink of a polio outbreak. This adds to the already severe threats of ongoing bombardment, famine risk, and deteriorating sanitary conditions. Regional tensions are also high, with the potential for devastating consequences if Iran escalates military actions.

He said that urgent action is needed on the fronts.

Immediate Ceasefire: All parties must focus on the negotiations led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar. These talks are crucial for securing a ceasefire, rescuing hostages, facilitating aid access, and de-escalating regional tensions. We also call on Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and other Iranian-aligned militia groups to de-escalate their threats against Israel.

Address Polio Outbreak Risk: Gaza is at risk of a polio outbreak, with over 640,000 children under 10 needing vaccinations. We urge cooperation with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and other partners to facilitate vaccine distribution.

Israel must ensure safe and unhindered aid access and implement an effective deconfliction mechanism to ensure the safe delivery of aid and vaccines. Recent evacuation orders have created chaos in Gaza, making humanitarian efforts increasingly difficult.

Combat Settler Violence in the West Bank: The recent violence in the Palestinian village of Jit is unacceptable. “We call on Israel to address settler violence and have imposed sanctions on eight individuals and two entities involved”, he said. The expansion of settlements in the West Bank is a clear violation of international law.

British and French officials who visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories last week emphasized the need for a ceasefire, immediate humanitarian improvements, and accountability for settler violence. “We hope for unified support on these critical issues.”

 

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Afghanistan continues to pose multiple security threats to neighborly countries. Afghan interim government commonly known as the Taliban regime recently celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover of Kabul. Taliban’s speedy takeover and the quick meltdown of the Ashraf Ghani regime both are remembered as meaningful surprising events in the checkered history of Afghanistan. The subsequent withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan triggered numerous intriguing questions. The apparent hasty withdrawal of American forces though celebrated as a victory by the Taliban however it could not bring any stability to Afghanistan. Though withdrawal took place under Joe Biden’s watch, however, the grounds were prepared by the Trump administration prior to leaving the white house consequent to election defeat. The arrival of the Taliban in Kabul as an uncontested force on 15th Aug 2021 made the whole American campaign a shadowy affair stretched over almost two decades. Critiques are justified in questioning the outcome of such a lengthy military and political campaign orchestrated by the USA in Afghanistan. No satisfactory response has ever surfaced from the State Department and Pentagon sides about the quick meltdown of the Afghan National Army. It is obvious that the surprisingly expeditious winding up of the Ashraf Ghani regime further exposed the weaknesses of the whole American prescription applied to heal Afghanistan. The multiple damaging effects of the ill-conceived strategy on the war-torn society of Afghanistan are not too difficult to understand. Present-day Afghanistan is more polarized and unsettled under the Taliban’s unelected regime. The demolition of the political façade in August 2021 was not a sudden development but rather a much-expected outcome of the dubious Doha agreement. Analysts having fair insight into the Afghan dynamics were apprehensive about the American deal with the Taliban while Ashraf Ghani was very much present in the office of President. Simply put, the American direct agreement with the Taliban in Doha was actually the beginning of the end of Ashraf Ghani's regime. Bitterness in bilateral ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been constantly growing over the issue of cross-border terrorism. Against all the positive expectations of Islamabad, the interim Afghan government has not responded against the Khawarij which comprises the banned TTP and its numerous splinter groups. Ironically, the Taliban regime is providing all sorts of support to those Khawarij terrorists who are involved in attacks on Pakistani security forces, unarmed civilians and military installations. Facts and figures clearly reflect the alarming rise in cross-border terrorist attacks inside Pakistan after the arrival of the Taliban on Kabul’s throne. Pakistan has rightly questioned the liberty of action granted to the Khawarij terrorists on Afghan soil by the interim Taliban setup. These genuine security concerns have been conveyed to the Taliban regime through all available channels. Repeated engagements from the Pakistan side via diplomatic, political, religious and media channels, nothing positive could not gain any breakthrough in finishing the bloody cycle of terrorism. Growing security concerns gradually taking the shape of anger in Pakistan because huge losses to men and materials are crossing the limits of patience. Unwise rulers of Kabul are acting against the interests of a neighbor like Pakistan who always stood alongside Afghan brethren in hours of need. It seems that sympathizers of Khawarij (banned TTP) are now dominating the interim Afghan government and saner elements have lost their say in the decision-making process. Multiple reports released by the UN, EU and international watchdogs have revealed undeniable information about the active presence of global terrorist groups in Afghanistan. The Taliban regime is in denial mode and seems in a mood to continue with the present harmful policies. The loud arrogance of Taliban officials on the highly objectionable stance about cross-border terrorism is endangering regional peace. In a recent statement, the military chief of the interim Afghan government Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat has denied any presence of banned TTP elements in Afghanistan. This absurd denial is credible evidence of the Taliban’s contradicting stance about the presence of Khawarij (Banned TTP) on Afghan soil. How Qari Fasihullah Fitrat can ask for evidence of Khawarij’s existence while Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzadah urged Afghans through a fatwa to refrain from joining the terrorism spree of banned TTP against Pakistan last year. 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