By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – According to the UN on Friday warned that the fear and anxiety caused by the ongoing war in Gaza is causing a range of speech problems including stuttering amongst young children.
A speech therapist Amina Al-Dahdouh was meeting in a modest tent in a makeshift camp for displaced people west of the town of Al-Zawaida in Deir al-Balah governorate in Gaza, children whose lives have been turned upside down by a deadly war and widespread destruction.
She is helping children regain confidence in speaking.
Ms. Amina noted that an increasing number of people, young children are finding it difficult to express themselves as a result of the almost year-long war which has raged around them.
“Stuttering is the problem that has increased the most,” said Amina Al-Dahdouh.
She estimates that that 6 out of 10 children in the camp currently suffer from speech difficulties.
There is plenty of demand for her services in the camp where family members, some of whom have been displaced multiple times, are sheltering from attacks by Israeli forces.
Demand rising.
“Currently, I am treating more than 50 children with speech problems here in the camp, and there are other children from different camps who want to come here to receive treatment,” she said.
She added that “I provide services here three days a week, and I will provide three more days for children in other camps.”
Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinians, many of whom were children.
According to Amina Al-Dahdouh, parents are less inclined to focus on treating their children’s speech problems as the war continues, as they struggle to secure a living or access food and water.
Children appear to be the most affected, Ms. Al-Dahdouh said speech problems across the Strip exist across all age groups and may become more apparent once the conflict is over.
A mother of one young child, Amal Awad, told that her daughter Fatima began showing signs of speech issues in the early days of the war.
“She could no longer pronounce letters or speak properly because of the war and fear,” she said.
“In the early stages of the war, she stopped speaking completely because she was so scared. She became silent most of the time. When I tried to talk to her more, I noticed that she was pronouncing letters incorrectly,” she explained.
She confirmed that her daughter has improved significantly since she began receiving treatment from Mrs. Al-Dahdouh, adding: “Even the people living in the tents around us have noticed a significant improvement in her speech.”
UN has warned of the long-term effects of war on children, including on their mental and physical health.
UNICEF said that over 500,000 children were in need of mental health and psychosocial support in the Gaza Strip.”
It estimated that more than one million children need that support.
Youth discussed global challenges ahead of UN Summit of the Future
By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – Youth on Friday gathered at the UNGA ahead of the the Summit of the Future an unprecedented opportunity for world leaders to address current and emerging global challenges, and reform outdated international institutions.
The youth from across the world packed into the UN General Assembly Hall for the start of two “action days” ahead of the Summit, which begins on Sunday.
Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, described the Summit of the Future as a once-in-a-generation chance to reshape the multilateral system and put young people at its heart.
“Ten years ago, a day like today would have been unimaginable: a day on the official programme of the United Nations dedicated to youth,” he said.
“A day when this house recognizes that any agenda – whether it’s gender, climate, peace and security, sustainable development or human rights – has the youth agenda as a cross-cutting element of it.”
Young people have been “instrumental in shaping the landscape” in preparation for the Summit, said Terry Otieno, a social advocate from Kenya and member of the Major Group for Children and Youth at the UN.
Leaders are expected to adopt a Pact for the Future that covers sustainable development and related financing; peace and security; science, technology and innovation; youth and future generations, and transformation of global governance.
A Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations will be in annex.
They are examining proposals to reform the international financial architecture and the UN Security Council, which were established some eight decades ago, at a time when many countries were still under colonial rule.
Young activist Areej from Yemen remarked that children born years from now will be affected by decisions made today.
“What we do now will shape their world, whether that world is defined by conflict, poverty and fear, or by hope, security and opportunity,” she said. “We must ask ourselves: are we ready to take action so that every child can flourish?”
Young people believe that their participation in UN affairs is best described as “tokenism”, according to a live poll taken in the room prior to a dialogue with Secretary-General António Guterres.
Caleb Brathwaite, president of the Barbados Youth Development Council was not surprised by the results, recalled that the Secretary-General said the current multilateral system “was built by our grandparents”.
He feared that the Pact for the Future will be “a mere agreement”, and appealed for action, including establishing branches of the UN Youth Office across the globe.
Caleb Brathwaite urged young people to “keep our governments’ feet to the fire” to ensure that the chapter of the Pact that covers youth and future generations is realized.
“The most sort of insidious thing about tokenism is that our stories get to be shared with others, but they don’t actually inform action going forward,” said Daphne Frias, a youth activist and organizer.
“Our voices occupy rooms, but then they fall on silent ears.”
Daphne said it is truly time to listen to her generation. She also pointed out that not only do young people face obstacles in engaging with the UN.
They encounter barriers in seeking employment with the global body in terms of education, language and other requirements.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that currently “there is a growing interest and the creation of some mechanisms to listen to young people”, but added “there is a lot yet to be done.”
He said that young people participate in decision-making processes requires implementing several reforms, which is “not easy” in an intergovernmental organization like the UN.
Mr. Guterres said guaranteeing that young people, civil society and others can participate in decision-making processes is a central aspect of the Summit of the Future and the proposed reforms.
“This is the task that our Office now has to engage very strongly,” he said.
He expressed total commitment to the days of negotiation and consensus-building ahead.
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