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Hopes for ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war go up and down every day. But what gets predictably worse is the plight of Israeli hostages and Gazan civilians. Drowning in this malevolent soup is UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works Agency. It is vilified and defended in equal measure, depending on which side of the polarised divide you are on. My latest opinion piece below via The National News is not about the rights and wrongs of the Big Picture. But about the conundrum a humanitarian aid agency faces when it sits on the thin line between being a useful and essential good and flipping to become a toxified part of the problem it was set up to handle 75 years ago. That raises the question - not about the justification or refutation of the criticism against UNRWA - but what it should do now that is morally and practically right. Not for protecting its own position but ensuring that it is not inadvertently obstructing its higher mission to relieve Palestinian suffering. No agency should become indispensable or become higher than the cause it serves. Read:

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the country has faced a deepening humanitarian crisis, with human trafficking becoming a significant issue. Economic hardship and the international community's reluctance to provide aid have worsened the situation, leading families to sell children to survive. The Taliban's inconsistent governance and rigid cultural norms have left millions, especially women and children, vulnerable to trafficking. Addressing this crisis requires immediate humanitarian aid, a focus on human rights, and effective governance to prevent further exploitation and suffering. #Afghanistan #HumanRights #HumanTrafficking"

“Most of the children in Rafah have already been displaced multiple times by the fighting in Gaza, in direct contravention of international law. We know that as the war enters its 20th week many are injured, sick and malnourished and will struggle to find the wherewithal to move yet again. We estimate that at least 17,000 children in Gaza are now unaccompanied or have become separated from their families, a number that would surely increase in the event of further population displacement. It is imperative to refrain from further military escalation in and around Rafah and to ensure that all hostages still inside Gaza are urgently and safely released. If the parties do not heed this call, they will be responsible for the deaths of many more children, in addition to the thousands who have already perished. Parties to the conflict should urgently implement a permanent humanitarian ceasefire so that our group and other humanitarian agencies can help to roll out the massive, multi-agency operation that is so desperately needed. I strongly urge the authorities to allow more aid trucks through border checks, to lift restrictions on the movement of humanitarian workers, and to guarantee safety for people accessing and distributing aid. The destruction of Gaza and killing of civilians will not bring peace or safety to the region. That can only be achieved with a negotiated political solution, one that prioritizes the rights and well-being of this and future generations of Israeli and Palestinian children." UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell. Tap on link in bio to read in full. Credit: UNICEF Source: UNICEF (Instagram) #LIGITA27Februari2024 #LiterasiDigitalAnak2024 #LiterasiDigitalAnak #LIGITA2024 #LIGITA #KakSeto #KakIdam #LPAI #LiterasiDigital2024 #LiterasiDigital #SetoMulyadi #IdhamAzhari #LembagaPerlindunganAnakIndonesia

As the conflict between Israel and Palestine escalates, the toll on innocent civilians continues to rise. Families are being torn apart, homes destroyed, and lives shattered. The humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank is dire, with essential services disrupted and access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare severely limited. We must not lose sight of the human cost of this conflict. Every casualty, every displaced person, every child who loses their innocence to the horrors of war is a tragedy that should shake us to our core. As the world watches in horror, we must not turn a blind eye to the suffering of those caught in the crossfire. It is imperative that all parties involved prioritize the protection of civilians and adhere to international humanitarian law. The targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure must cease immediately, and efforts must be made to ensure that aid workers have unfettered access to those in need. As individuals, we may feel powerless in the face of such immense suffering, but we must not underestimate the impact of our voices and actions. We can support humanitarian organizations working on the ground, advocate for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and raise awareness of the human cost of war. At the end of the day, we are all part of the same human family, and the suffering of one is the suffering of us all. Let us stand in solidarity with the people of Israel and Palestine, and work towards a future where peace, justice, and dignity are not just distant dreams, but concrete realities. #Israel #Palestine #HumanitarianCrisis #PeaceNow

Today is Palestinian Children's Day. - Over 14,000 children have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October. - Over 1 million children in Gaza are facing starvation and have already begun to die from the famine induced by Israel's obstruction of humanitarian aid. - Violence towards Palestinian children isn't new. Since 2008, Israel has wounded 10s of 1,000s of children and they killed over 600 children just in 2014. - Israeli is the only country who systematically tries children in military court and children are often detained for extended periods of time where they are exposed to a wide range of torture, including sexual violence. Israel's violence towards Palestinians is nothing new but this current conflict is producing an entire generation who will have long-term, if not permanent, physical and psychological damage. This is in no one's best interest, and most certainly not in the interest of Israel's long-term security. This is genocide. This is a war crime. This is unforgivable.

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Today is Palestinian Children's Day. - Over 14,000 children have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October. - Over 1 million children in Gaza are facing starvation and have already begun to die from the famine induced by Israel's obstruction of humanitarian aid. - Violence towards Palestinian children isn't new. Since 2008, Israel has wounded 10s of 1,000s of children and they killed over 600 children just in 2014. - Israeli is the only country who systematically tries children in military court and children are often detained for extended periods of time where they are exposed to a wide range of torture, including sexual violence. Israel's violence towards Palestinians is nothing new but this current conflict is producing an entire generation who will have long-term, if not permanent, physical and psychological damage. This is in no one's best interest, and most certainly not in the interest of Israel's long-term security. This is genocide. This is a war crime. This is unforgivable.

Today, on #WorldHumanitarianDay, let us remember and honor the 284 humanitarian workers who lost their lives (according to the United Nations OCHA) in the #GazaStrip amid the ongoing genocide perpetrated by the #israeli forces in occupied #Palestine since October 2023. This figure includes 207 staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the main relief organization for Palestinians. It also includes workers from other organizations murdered while on duty, such as 27 staff and volunteers of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), seven workers of World Central Kitchen (WCK), and United Nations staff members other than those of the UNRWA, all in the Gaza Strip alone. The murder of these humanitarian workers while serving civilians and IDPs amid the #GazaGenocide is among a mountain of grave israeli violations of international humanitarian law, as part of the israeli persistent policy of absolute disregard for international law, and it continues to aggravate the systematic suffering and devastation across the Gaza Strip. Hopefully, justice will be served soon by holding accountable the murderers of the 284 workers alongside the murderers of the 40,730 innocent Palestinians (41 percent of whom are children and infants) killed by the israeli occupation forces within the span of 10 months. Let us remember and honor all other humanitarian workers killed in areas of armed conflicts around the world. Photo: Destruction of the UNRWA headquarters in the Gaza Strip, one of the up to 190 UNRWA installations damaged as a result of israeli attacks | Gaza City, occupied Palestine - 21 February 2024 | Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images. #WorldHumanitarianDay #ActForHumanity #UNRWA #UN #PRCS #IFRC #WCK #GazaGenocide #Palestine #Gaza #israeliOccupation #SettlerColonialism #israel #WarCrimes #Genocide #IHL #HumanRights #Humanity #Justice #CeaseFireNow

Children in conflict zones are facing a horrific reality. The UN’s annual Children and Armed Conflict report reveals an intensification of violence against children, with a 21% increase in grave violations in 2023. This means the killing, maiming, and recruitment of children have spiked at an alarming rate. From Israel and the Palestinian territories to Sudan and Ukraine, children are withstanding the worst of war. The report found that 32,900 violations were committed against children by state and non-state armed groups in 2023 in an array of conflicts. Making matters worse, access to these war-torn regions for humanitarian aid is more limited than ever. The report found a concerning 32% increase in denied access, leaving children with even fewer resources and protections. Children and civilians are #NotATarget. Child’s rights must be upheld and respected, even in the midst of conflict. And, we must work towards safe and unrestricted access for humanitarian workers, so children can access the support they desperately need.

Content warning: Genocide, tactical starvation "More than 100 Palestinians have been killed and some 700 others wounded after Israeli troops opened fire on hundreds waiting for food aid southwest of Gaza City, health officials say, as the besieged enclave faces an unprecedented hunger crisis." There is no area of social justice in which the Israeli genocide of Palestinian men, women and children does not constitute its most harrowing antithesis. As advocates for anything, our response to this genocide is declaration of what we will accept anywhere. Ceasefire now. End the genocide. End the occupation. Free Palestine. #DisabilityRights #PublicHealth #PlanetaryHealth #SocialJustice #iwd2024