Chard cherry farm's netting helps protect Ukrainians from bombs
Ms Tyler-Moore said it was back at Christmas time that she had seen a photograph of how wire and netting was being used in this way and decided to set up an appeal on the charity's Facebook page.She said: "Low and behold Whitehouse Farm Cherries said they had some they'd like to donate. "Didn't know how much so I sent someone out to have a look for me, thinking they would get it in a small van. "But he messaged me back and said, 'Sue, we're going to need a bigger lorry'." Somerset Aid for Ukraine sends loads out to the country every two months.
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The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
‘The children in Gaza are too weak to play or sing: hunger has stolen their childhood'
At the SOS Children's Village in southern Gaza, a group of children are crowding around a bus carrying energy biscuits and milk from UNICEF. 'You cannot imagine the happiness in the camp when they received those biscuits,' says Reem Alreqeb, who helps run the camp for displaced children in Khan Younis. 'It isn't that delicious, but the children felt good to taste them after three months without any sweets.' Since Israel announced a military takeover of the Gaza Strip, life has felt even more uncertain and tense for Ms Alreqeb and the children at the camp, many of whom have lost their families. If they are asked to move, all that remains is a bus with a few tents. They don't have enough food or basic supplies to bring with them. 'I'm doing my best to stay focused and grounded, especially for the sake of the children and families who rely on us,' she tells The Independent. This isn't the first time that SOS Children's Villages has been forced to move the children from Gaza in its care since the ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023. In May last year, they were forced to leave their permanent village in Rafah after a ground invasion began which displaced an estimated one million Palestinians. In just one day, they had to transport 170 people - including caregivers and their families - to a humanitarian zone in Khan Younis. On the final day of a three-day trip to bring bare essentials to the humanitarian zone, their car broke down as drones struck people overhead. 'The plane was shooting directly at the people who were around us,' Ms Alreqeb remembers. 'I thought that we were going to die at that moment.' Within three days, they managed to install tents and contract vendors to install bathrooms and water infrastructure, but that memory still haunts Ms Alreqeb. 'It was a nightmare,' she says. 'I still dream about those days and hope that I never have to experience it again.' In over a year, the number of children in the camp has increased to almost 50, and they receive between 10 and 15 new children every month. Working with UNICEF and social workers on the strip, they work to look after children who are unaccompanied and separated from their families before reunifying them with relatives. Until the children are reunited with family, they stay with caregivers in a caravan that they call a home where all their needs are supported. A lot of the children who arrive at the camp are often 'suffering from intensive hunger', says Ms Alreqeb, with some children suffering from such trauma that they become violent. 'We have a team who is very experienced at dealing with those children,' she adds, referring to the social workers and psychologist who form part of the staff. 'When these children receive the care they need, their behaviour improves.' Every day they wake up to the sound of bombardment, but Ms Alreqeb says the ultimate challenge for the past three months has been finding food after Israel's blockade in March. It is a daily issue for caregivers and aid workers to petition other International Non Governmental Organisations and street vendors to supply the camp with what little food remains in the war-torn strip. While they are just about able to get the bare minimum of nappies, milk, food and fuel, starvation is taking its toll on the children. 'Hunger has taken away the childhood [of Gaza's children]', Ms Alreqeb says. 'They don't have the power to play. Many children have stopped playing altogether. 'I see lots of children are too tired, weak and emotionally suffering,' she adds. 'The children no longer draw, no longer laugh, no longer sing, even. They've lost the things that make them laugh. They are frustrated and this makes us cry.' A week ago, there was a bright spot in the bleakness of starvation when the biscuits arrived from UNICEF. One child, five-year-old Mohammed, even danced as he hadn't seen a biscuit in three months. Ms Alreqeb says they are trying to secure more biscuits - not only for the children in their care, but for the 600 children at the school they run. She adds: 'We are advocating to provide them with the biscuits as we can imagine the effect of receiving such a small thing - what the effect will be.' As Israel looks to intensify its military expansion in the war-torn strip, the future remains uncertain and fragile for the children of Gaza. 'Without urgent support, those children will face a life of trauma, poverty and a loss of opportunities. A lot of children will lose the right to care and protection But we still have hope,' Ms Alreqeb says. Though bruised by years of war and worn down by hunger, when the children are asked about their dreams, they speak of becoming nurses, doctors and teachers. 'The children always ask me: 'Is the war going to be stopped? Are there people outside Gaza who will help us to stop it?' 'We still have hope that the people from around the world will advocate to stop the war.'
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Memorials held across the West to mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day
Memorials have been held across the West to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day) – signifying the end of World War Two. Crowds took part in a national two-minute silence at 12:00 BST led by the King, Queen and Prime Minister Keir Starmer from the National Memorial Arboretum in VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) was celebrated on 8 May 1945, thousands of military personnel continued to fight Japanese forces for three more surrender was ultimately sparked by the United States' nuclear strikes on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, the day was marked by veterans bearing military banners in the town's Italian Gardens. In the Gloucestershire towns of Quedgeley and Cheltenham, crowds gathered at war memorials. In Marlborough, Wiltshire, council dignitaries invited the public to join them in the silence from the steps of the town was preceded by a bugler playing the Last Post and the Kohima Epitaph was spoken from the steps. Ted Allen, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, said: "The war in Asia was almost the forgotten war. So while we celebrated the incredible relief in Europe in May this year it is absolutely right that we celebrate victory in Japan. We should never forget." Jane Norris, of the Royal British Legion, was among those who took part in the silence at Victoria Park, in Frome, Somerset. She said wreaths were laid and Rudyard Kipling's poem Recessional was read. "This was a sober, sombre reflection of the atrocities that went on and the endurance of people in the jungle and in the prisoner of war camps, not forgetting those who suffered when two atomic bombs fell," she said. Also at Victoria Park was Gina, who said her father served in Burma, now Myanmar. While most of the nation was celebrating the end of the war in Europe, her family knew the fighting was ongoing."It has to be remembered," she Painter, from Marlborough, said his father volunteered in the Navy's Fleet Air Arm. "I thought it would be nice to remember him for the service he did during the war and remembering how it affected him very deeply, especially collecting the prisoners of war from Japan," Mr Painter said. He said his father watched an atomic bomb go off. "He was in a ship in Japanese waters, so all these things really deeply affected him," Mr Painter said.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Community rallies around Bridgwater cake maker after fire
A cake maker has thanked the community for its support after a fire destroyed her family's belongings and items needed for her who runs her Cake Minx Cakery in Bridgwater, was alerted to the fire on Monday when her son saw smoke outside their 39-year-old said she ran downstairs and tried to put it out, but had to stand and watch as her garage, that housed some of her children's possessions and school clothes, went up in flames. Kelly Llewellyn, from Polden Bower School, which has donated uniform vouchers to the family to replace the destroyed items, said: "No young person should face additional hardship during such a difficult time." "The school community is built on compassion and support, and ensuring the family had what they needed reflects those core values," she added. Diana said it had been "upsetting" to see the damage caused by the fire."It's just a big pile of ash now," she said."I knew I had insurance, there was nothing I could do about it - I was just glad that no-one was hurt." She said the community's support had been "unbelievable", with people offering money and clothes. "The hairdressers across the road offered to wash all of our clothes and a lovely lady dropped off a freezer so that I can continue with my cake business."Polden Bower School got in touch with me and offered to give me vouchers," she added. Devon and Somerset Fire Service were called out to the incident on Monday afternoon and said it had been caused by a faulty tumble dryer."Three appliances from Taunton and Bridgwater fire stations attended," it said."On arrival, the garage was well alight, and crews used a hose reel jet and safety jet to extinguish the fire, which also caused external damage to the outside of the house."
