WORLD - The African Mirror

Aug

20

2024

Dr Moumita Debanath: A Life Brutally Cut Short by Inhuman Violence

WORLD

IN the stillness of the night, on August 8th, 2024, Dr Moumita Debanath quietly finished her shift at the hospital where she had served tirelessly. Like any other night, she shared a simple meal with her juniors at 2 AM. Exhausted after hours of demanding work, she sought solace in the seminar room - an improvised space where doctors, like her, found brief respite amidst the unrelenting demands of their duty. Little did anyone know that this would be the last time Dr Debanath would close her eyes, unaware of the horror waiting to shatter her life forever. On the…

Aug

20

2024

By The African Mirror

Humanitarians increasingly pay the ultimate sacrifice, says aid community

WORLD

AS the aid worker community commemorated fallen colleagues at solemn ceremonies marking World Humanitarian Day (WHD) on Monday, the frontline staff putting their lives on the line today highlighted the risks of providing help to vulnerable communities. From ongoing emergencies in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, UN humanitarians shared with UN News what it means to be an aid worker, 21 years to the day since a bomb attack at the UN’s headquarters in Baghdad killed 22 humanitarian workers, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq. From Sudan, Leni Kinzli, Head of Communications and Spokesperson for the…

Aug

19

2024

By The African Mirror

UN Human Rights Chief urges accountability for rights violations in Bangladesh’s transition

WORLD

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk believes the transition in Bangladesh was a historic opportunity to ensure governance is anchored in human rights, inclusivity and rule of law, stressing the need for accountability for all those responsible for human rights violations and violence. “Accountability for violations and justice for the victims are key for the way forward and will need to be accompanied by a national healing process. All those responsible for human rights violations, including those who used or ordered the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, must be held to account and victims must be provided with reparations…

Aug

17

2024

By JACOB GOLDBERG and WILL WORLEY

Save the Children to cut hundreds of jobs as funding gap looms

WORLD

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian. By Jacob Goldberg and Will Worley SAVE the Children International (SCI) is preparing for mass layoffs at its London headquarters and five regional offices amid a major restructuring aimed at addressing a projected budget shortfall. “Without action in 2024, we face a forecasted gap on our operational budget of $15-$20 million in coming years,” says an internal organisational design proposal titled “Fit for the future”, obtained by The New Humanitarian. The proposal was presented to staff at SCI headquarters and regional offices on 5 August. The International Rescue Committee announced staff…

Aug

17

2024

By The African Mirror

America’s Black elite is buzzing about Kamala Harris on Martha’s Vineyard

WORLD

ERRIN HAINES EACH August, the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard is abuzz with talk of race, culture and politics. This year is no different – and after the past few weeks, the main topic is Vice President Kamala Harris and her potentially historic presidential campaign. From cottage porches to coffee shops to panel discussions and private fundraisers, Harris and the moment of possibility around her candidacy have been the conversation among islandgoers. “The excitement around Vice President Harris is palpable on the island,” said Angella Henry, a year-round resident of the town of Oak Bluffs who, with her husband, Dan,…

Aug

17

2024

By The African Mirror

“Horrific” attack by Israeli settlers on Jit village condemned

WORLD

ECHOING widespread condemnation internationally and within Israel of the attack reportedly by Israeli settlers on the village of Jit on Thursday which left a Palestinian man dead and about a dozen injured, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani described the incident as “horrific”. She noted that the killing “was not an isolated attack”, in reference to years of violence directed at Palestinian communities by Israeli settlers, maintaining that it was “the direct consequence” of Israel’s policy of occupation. Settler impunity “We have been reporting for the past years about settlers attacking Palestinian communities in their land in the West Bank with impunity and this really…

Aug

17

2024

By The African Mirror

NGOs call for donors to engage with Afghanistan’s Taliban government

WORLD

Ten international NGOs have issued a joint statement calling on donor countries to increase their diplomatic engagement with the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate government in Afghanistan. The statement was released ahead of the third anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul on 15 August 2021. The signatories of the statement include Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Danish Refugee Council, the International Rescue Committee, and a half-dozen other organisations. Ellie Ward, a humanitarian policy officer at the Norwegian Refugee Council, told The New Humanitarian that greater diplomatic efforts by donors are needed for organisations to be able to address…

Aug

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Flames of Fury: Indian women march against the darkness of sexual violence

WORLD

AS night fell across India, a sea of flickering candlelight illuminated city streets. Hundreds of thousands of women, their faces etched with determination, marched in unison, their voices rising in a powerful chorus against the brutal rape and murder of a young female doctor. This latest atrocity has reignited the smoldering anger over women's safety in a nation still grappling with the shadows of sexual violence, despite the implementation of tougher laws. The horrific assault on a 31-year-old trainee doctor within the very walls of a Kolkata medical college has sent shockwaves through the country. The tragedy bears chilling similarities…

Aug

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Hamas boycotts ceasefire talks

WORLD

IN a major setback for peace efforts in Gaza, Hamas has announced that it would boycott the upcoming ceasefire talks with Israel scheduled for Thursday in Qatar, according to Reuters. This decision dims hopes for a negotiated truce that could potentially prevent an Iranian attack on Israel. Reuters reports that Hamas, the Palestinian militant group controlling Gaza, is demanding a workable plan to implement a proposal it had previously accepted, rather than engaging in further negotiations. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters, "Hamas is committed to the proposal presented to it on July 2, which is based on…

Aug

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Ukraine’s shift from defensive to offensive, pounding Russia with missiles, drones

WORLD

IN a major significant shift in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, as Ukraine has launched successive attacks against Russian territory, marking a major change in the war. According Reuters, Ukraine has pounded Russia with missiles and drones, claiming to advance deeper into Russian territory in what is described as the largest foreign incursion into Russia since World War II. The Ukrainian offensive began on August 6, when thousands of Ukrainian troops crossed into Russia's western Kursk region. Reuters cites Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stating that his forces continue to advance and that he has ordered his generals to develop the next "key…