Honourable senators, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, an estimated 6.8 million Syrians, or almost one third of the entire population, require urgent humanitarian assistance. About 3.1 million, or around 50 per cent, of those who currently require assistance are children. Over the past year, humanitarian needs have risen by 5.8 million people, up from 1 million estimated to be in need in March of this year. Almost half of this increase occurred during the first four months of this year.
Yesterday I blogged about Malala Yousafzai, a courageous girl from Pakistan who was targeted and shot by a Taliban gunman. Malala’s story has captured the world’s attention. The New York Times published an editorial today. “Words only have meaning if they are backed up by actions,” the editors wrote. “What will he(Pakistani Army chief, General [...]
“I am sad watching my uniform, school bag and geometry box,” wrote Malala Yousafzai in a February 8, 2009 diary entry published by BBC Urdu. “I felt hurt on opening my wardrobe and seeing my uniform, school bag and geometry box. Boys’ schools are opening tomorrow. But the Taliban have banned girls’ education.” According to [...]
In 2002, I was appointed an Envoy to the Peace Process in the Sudan. As part of my job I went to Northern Uganda. When I arrived in the evening I saw hundreds of children walking,
The children were as young as six years old. Everywhere I looked there were young children walking with a purpose? They were not dawdling or lingering. They were walking towards a goal. The person accompanying me explained to me that they were Commuter children.
In 2002, I was appointed the Special Envoy to the peace process in Sudan by the Government of Canada. While serving in this capacity I was given the opportunity to work closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Sudanese people as well as diplomatic communities.While working in Sudan I gained insight into the many unfortunate realities that people living in all parts of this country are confronted with.