Pakistani Children’s Blood-Written Notes Urge Global Action On Gaza

News Desk

Lahore: Two Pakistani children, 10-year-old Ubaydah al Fiddhah Hafia and her 12-year-old brother Ghulam Bishar Hafi, have drawn attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and other war-torn regions through poignant notes written in their own blood.

According to a press release issued by UN-KAKHTAH in Pakistan Spokesperson Dr FM Bhatti, the children’s protest notes will be presented to international platforms, including the United Nations, to mark the 16th anniversary of World Humanitarian Day on August 19.

The protest, titled ‘Humanitarian Eyes Needed to See the Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza’ and ‘A Voice for the Voiceless’, reflects the children’s plea for global action. These notes highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis in conflict zones like Congo, Haiti, Myanmar, and Sudan, where children continue to suffer due to systematic brutalities.

The first note is set to be presented on Monday, August 19, while the second was already submitted during the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression earlier this year.

The minors, inspired by their father Prof Aurangzeb Hafi, who has been involved in humanitarian efforts, aim to raise awareness of the plight of children caught in the crossfire of war. Their blood-written notes serve as a stark reminder to the world of the desperate need for action, echoing the UN’s theme for WHD 2024, #ActForHumanity.

The protest targets the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where approximately 700,000 children are facing starvation. The notes condemn the “Neo-Hitlerian” tactics used in conflicts, resulting in the deaths of children and widespread humanitarian violations.

“ The softest and easiest prey in wars are children,” the young protesters noted, calling on the global community to act decisively.

The UN 2024 Humanitarian Access Score report has already highlighted the unprecedented levels of civilian and humanitarian worker casualties in Gaza and beyond. From attacks on essential services such as health and education to water and sanitation facilities, millions are being deprived of basic human rights in conflict zones across the world.

The UN Global Humanitarian Overview 2024 report further underlined the challenges faced by humanitarian workers, who continue to face violence and impunity in their efforts to provide aid in war zones. The report stated that 2023 and 2024 are the deadliest years on record for humanitarian workers, urging an end to violations of international humanitarian law.

Aurangzeb Hafi has described their protest as a symbolic plea for justice, calling it the “final confession” of failure to protect the innocent victims of war. The children’s handwritten blood notes are meant to jolt the global conscience, ignite a global commitment, and prompt immediate action to stop the bloodshed of innocent lives in conflict zones.