Child casualties in Gaza: Why the humanitarian crisis demands global attention

 

Since October 7, 2023, over 21,000 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza, and 235 have been killed in the West Bank. Photo credit: religiondigital.org

Children in Gaza are being shot, injured, and killed in a conflict they neither chose nor understand. Hospitals report rising numbers of children with gunshot wounds, many arriving without parents, many treated in chaotic conditions with limited supplies.

In every war, children are supposed to be protected, yet in Gaza they have become some of the most frequent victims. Their suffering exposes a humanitarian crisis that demands global attention.

Child Marriage and Gender-Based Violence: Silent Crises Destroying Generations

 

A vulnerable young girl being forced into marriage with an adult man who might even be her father.

 

Child marriage and gender‑based violence remain two of the most persistent and devastating human rights violations worldwide. Despite decades of advocacy, millions of girls continue to face forced unions, physical abuse, emotional trauma, and systemic inequality. 

These issues are not isolated cultural practices; they are interconnected forms of oppression that shape the trajectory of entire societies. Globally, an estimated 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 every year, according to UNICEF.

Why Writers and Journalists Face Threats Around the World

 

A writer at a desk surrounded by papers and soft light, representing the worldwide targeting of journalists.

We live in a sick and shameful world, not because humanity lacks intelligence or resources, but because the systems that govern our lives have been corrupted by greed, selfishness, and the relentless pursuit of power.

 

The greatest tragedies of our time are not natural disasters or accidents; they are deliberate actions carried out by governments, institutions, and powerful groups who place profit above human dignity.

 

Reflections on Social Justice, Equality, and the Struggle to Be Heard

 

Black people are more likely than any other race to die, to be incarcerated, and to experience oppression globally.

People and institutions may oppress those who speak or write the truth due to a complex interplay of power dynamics, fear of consequences, and the maintenance of control. Individuals in positions of authority often feel threatened when the truth undermines their power or exposes wrongdoing, leading to retaliation against truth-tellers.

An Open Letter to Sophie Wilmès on Belgium's Colonial Legacy

 

Sophie Wilmès, former Prime Minister of Belgium, speaking at a public event.

Dear Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes, certain things are going on in the country, which I consider it necessary to let you know, since from the colonial era, the Belgian government has committed and supported so much crime to the extent that the government can no longer acknowledge what a crime is and what is not.

 

There are three great politicians I deeply respect in Belgium. They are the Mayor of Antwerp, Bart De Wever; the former Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michel; and the current Health Minister, Maggie De Block.

 

Race, Equality and Social Change in Belgium

Defaced statue of King Leopold II following the demonstrations over the brutal murder of George Floyd 

In Ghana, my country of birth, there is a proverb which says: "Out of every misfortune comes a blessing," that means even though it's unfortunate George Floyd, the African-American, brutally murdered by white police officers is dead and gone, yet the outcome of his death has changed the mind of how many people view black people.

Examining Belgium's colonial record and modern-day discussions

Queen Mathilde of Belgium


Queen Mathilde of Belgium unfollowed me on Twitter yesterday because she couldn’t stand the truth. The Belgian government and the Minister of Justice, Annemie Turtelboom, both support crime. 


In Brussels stands a statue of Leopold II, after killing 10 million Africans, including women and children, yet there is no statue of Hitler for committing a similar crime.  Bye-bye Queen Mathilde.

Apartheid, Accountability, and the Legacy of F.W. de Klerk

An image of F.W. De Klerk

In the political reality of our world, justice has never been equal. It bends, it selects, and it protects those who benefit from its fragility. Frankly speaking, there has never been anything called “justice” for the Black man or the South African under apartheid. 

 

If true justice existed, F.W. de Klerk, former president of South Africa during the apartheid era, should have faced trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for the crimes committed under his leadership, including the killing of defenseless children.

 

Why Equality and Justice Remain Essential in Modern Communities

Black gangs



In every institution that accommodates people with different backgrounds, including schools and even hospitals, there is likely to be racism. 


I couldn’t believe it in my hospital bed in Rome, Italy, in the early nineties, a nurse refused to give me my daily medication, because of the color of my skin. She completely neglected me and gave the task to someone else to do.

DAVID CAMERON CAN KEEP HIS AID, GHANA SAYS 'NO' TO HOMOSEXUALITY

Is that what Europe and America want Africa to legalize when they are still dealing with the Aids and Ebola crisis?


In a recent interview with the BBC, British Premier David Cameron threatened to cut aid to anti-gay countries and declared that “countries receiving British aid should adhere to proper human rights.”


Can David Cameron define what it means by proper human rights? If a country doesn’t want to embrace a culture that they are familiar with or accept homosexuality on its soil, is that an abuse of human rights? 

Can David Cameron accept when the Ghanaian government tells him to stop the deportation of illegal immigrants because it is an abuse of human rights?

David Cameron has forgotten that he has a big task on his shoulders to deal with the problems of alcoholism, teenage pregnancy, and crime in his country, rather than interfering in the Ghanaian government’s policy on gay issues. 

His request to legitimize homosexuality in Ghana is meaningless. The Ghanaian government can take that.

The West and many advanced countries think that they can tell Africa what to do. If Cameron wants Ghana to legitimize homosexuality, he must first leave his wife and begin to enjoy the 'back' of men, then the whole of Ghana will follow him and take his advice. 

Africa has suffered enough. The continent is still fighting against AIDS, malaria, and other deadly diseases; it is, therefore, clear that there is no room for homosexuality.

Ghanaian and religious leaders should fight against homosexuality in Ghana and let Cameron keep his aid. Ghanaians will not die from famine. Yesterday was slavery and Apartheid. 

They are dead and gone. Today, they are enforcing homosexuality in a country that is totally foreign to such acts. Cameron should begin to respect Ghana and understand the country’s cultural values. 

Above all, homosexuality has nothing to do with human rights; it is a human's choice.

Steve Biko: The Legacy of a Political Hero

The great Steve Biko: He sacrificed his life to make what South Africa is today.

 

In the political history of South Africa, many are those who fought against the evil apartheid, oppression, mass arrests, detention without trial, etc. 

Along the line with Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Chief Buthelezi, etc, in the struggle to emancipate blacks from hardships was Steve Bantu Biko, who died in detention before he could see the fall of apartheid years ago in South Africa.

Although Steve Biko is gone, his great achievement and his part in the struggle to free South Africa, under the previous white minority rule, will always be remembered. 

Sierra Leone still needs international support years after the war

Child soldiers holding weapons during the Sierra Leone civil war

The war in Sierra Leone is over, but the result is disastrous. A grim picture of victims of war with physical and psychological scars is all over the provinces. As said by one of the victims, calling for international help.


"If you can permit me, I can send some photos of war victims still on the streets of Freetown and other big towns, having no proper care, no shelter, and no food. They only survive by begging on the street for their daily lives."

In 2008, when I visited Freetown, what I saw was really sad to narrate. How could people be so cruel? What crime has the baby or child committed to deserve amputation of both wrists? The victim's mind is still filled with sad emotions of bitterness about what happened to them. 

They can forgive but can't forget what exactly took place in Sierra Leone. The war victims are all over the provinces with amputated hands and legs. Sad to say that, the less fortunate ones had both hands amputated.  

This is the biggest problem the government of Sierra Leone is presently facing. The people need international help in terms of feeding, shelter, clothing, medical care, and education for children roaming the streets without a certain future.

This horrific war that claimed thousands of lives and maimed both children and adults could have been prevented. The developed countries were very slow to respond to the cry of the Sierra Leoneans until they observed how serious the war was becoming. 

To halt the brutal war, many musicians, including Lucky Dube, the South African reggae star, and the great Joseph Hill of Culture-Jamaica (both deceased), sacrificed their lives to play peace concerts in the capital, Freetown. Joseph Hill told the rebels to put down their weapons, and they obeyed.

At one point, the rebels told the government of Tejan Kabbah that "You are lucky that Paa Hill is here (referring to Joseph Hill), else we shall destroy this city within twenty-four hours." 

Even though the government is working to promote the welfare of the people, especially children, youth, and women, in their quest to achieve Social Justice, Advocacy, Human Rights, and Social Improvement in a participatory approach, irrespective of Tribe, Race, Gender, and Religion, Sierra Leone still needs international help.