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Gaza - The Ceasefire is Over - "This is a War on Children" : James Elder UNICEF Spokesperson Gaza



 

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  1. Kul GautamDecember 2, 2023 at 11:20 AM

    Colleagues,

    I trust we have all seen the most heart-wrenching reports by UNICEF spokesperson Jim Elder from ground zero in Gaza widely covered on BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, UN/UNICEF News, and on Twitter/X: @1James_Elder.

    I am so proud of his very humane and heartfelt depiction of the situation as a "War on Children", "Has humanity given up on the children of Gaza?" and his call on those with influence to do something to end the carnage. It resonates with the sentiments of millions of fair-minded folks who watch him on TV & other social media.

    A duly edited collection of his first-hand reports from the epicenter of the worst carnage of children so far in the 21st century, could make for a film like the award-winning "Killing Fields" on the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia.

    I hope UNICEF itself will consider making a documentary film on the "War on Children in Gaza" largely based on Jim Elder's reporting. Even Hollywood could utilize excerpts from his reporting to prepare a feature film possibly starring one or more UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors. Such a film could be part of the "Never Again..." sequel that humanity must see.

    https://twitter.com/1james_elder/status/1730475560323678402
    https://twitter.com/1james_elder/status/1730599659628827023
    https://twitter.com/1james_elder/status/1730456404610224417

    ======================

    Kul Chandra Gautam

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  2. AnonymousDecember 2, 2023 at 12:02 PM

    I appreciated Fouad’s summary last week of UNICEF’s engagement in the dreadful situation of children in Gaza. It came shortly after the staff’s strong negative commentary and petition about the ED’s public statements. Many staff members and retirees sympathised and/ or endorsed the staff’s comments, others were not in agreement or felt the statements should not have been so forthright. Either way, they seem to have had an effect for, since the staff comments, UNICEF’s statements have been clear and uncompromising about children and their rights while remaining firmly inside the confines of international humanitarian law and its principles – by which UNICEF is bound. Of course, I don’t know what happened in the conversations that followed the commentary and the ED’s response, but I do know that all the children affected by the conflict once again have a committed advocate in the shape of UNICEF. And I am reassured that UNICEF is fulfilling the mandate given to it by the UNCRC.

    I don’t know how the contretemps developed but I do know that many staff and retirees were feeling dismayed by UNICEF’s invisibility in the international media – while not doubting the presence of the courageous staff on the ground. While knowledge of humanitarian law and even its principles is still too scarce in the organisation, there are international humanitarian lawyers on staff, many others with extensive experience of the law and principles in practice, and, of course, many skilled communicators – James Elder being to the fore now. Together, I believe they could show UNICEF how it can be as courageous on the global stage as staff are on the ground while respecting international humanitarian and human rights law. Anyone who works in UNICEF should feel able to speak out clearly and uncompromisingly for children and their rights and we should support them to do that.

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  3. Gulbadan HabibiDecember 2, 2023 at 7:46 PM

    Each time I see Jim Elder reporting on Instagram from Gaza hospitals on masses number of injured or dead children, I am very proud of him, I pray for his safety at the same time my heart breaks to pieces. War does not
    respect humanity, it does not care who is hurting, small humans, big humans old humans, male humans or female humans. War machinery injurs and kills indescriminately. But war machinery is made by men. Control of injuries, death and destruction is in the hands of men not in the hands of machines. I regret that humans have become so paralized to make logical thinking. 😪

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