World Day Against Child Labour - MCE: Protecting Children Is Humanitarian Duty
Mohamed Mandour
The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, affirms that safeguarding children and preserving their childhood from exploitation and suffering is a religious, moral, and profound humanitarian obligation shared by societies, institutions, and individuals alike.
On the World Day Against Child Labour, observed annually on June 12, the Council declares that addressing child exploitation and forced labor is a collective responsibility and demands unified efforts to develop sound policies, enact stringent laws, ensure social protection and quality education, foster a culture of societal responsibility toward children, and intensify initiatives to combat poverty and ignorance, which rank among the leading causes of child labor.
The Council praises the programs and initiatives by various nation states and institutions that empower families and promote education, thereby helping curb this grave issue and fostering a safe environment for every child's healthy development.
The Council's statement also emphasizes that in Islam, a child is a dignified being entitled to care, education, protection, and growth in a secure and nurturing environment. Which is proven by the Prophetic Hadith, 'Each of you is a shepherd, and each is responsible for their flock' (narrated by Al-Bukhari), which powerfully highlights adults' duty to nurture children, shield them from harm, and protect them from the burdens of poverty or deprivation, ensuring their rightful childhood remains intact.
Furthermore, the Council underscores the critical role of religious, educational, and media institutions in raising awareness and educating communities to combat this issue, actively shaping a collective consciousness that prioritizes child protection which is especially vital in today's world, where wars and conflicts intensify the suffering of countless innocent children.
The Document on Human Fraternity, which was co-signed in 2019 in Abu Dhabi by His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, alongside the late Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church at the time, asserts that children's fundamental rights to family upbringing, nutrition, education, and care constitute a moral duty and responsibility for families and society.
These rights must be upheld, defended, and guaranteed for every child worldwide, without exception. Additionally, any practice that undermines their dignity or violates their rights must be condemned, and vigilance is required to address the risks and violations they face in any form.
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See - Sada Elbalad
a day ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
World Day Against Child Labour - MCE: Protecting Children Is Humanitarian Duty
Mohamed Mandour The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, affirms that safeguarding children and preserving their childhood from exploitation and suffering is a religious, moral, and profound humanitarian obligation shared by societies, institutions, and individuals alike. On the World Day Against Child Labour, observed annually on June 12, the Council declares that addressing child exploitation and forced labor is a collective responsibility and demands unified efforts to develop sound policies, enact stringent laws, ensure social protection and quality education, foster a culture of societal responsibility toward children, and intensify initiatives to combat poverty and ignorance, which rank among the leading causes of child labor. The Council praises the programs and initiatives by various nation states and institutions that empower families and promote education, thereby helping curb this grave issue and fostering a safe environment for every child's healthy development. The Council's statement also emphasizes that in Islam, a child is a dignified being entitled to care, education, protection, and growth in a secure and nurturing environment. Which is proven by the Prophetic Hadith, 'Each of you is a shepherd, and each is responsible for their flock' (narrated by Al-Bukhari), which powerfully highlights adults' duty to nurture children, shield them from harm, and protect them from the burdens of poverty or deprivation, ensuring their rightful childhood remains intact. Furthermore, the Council underscores the critical role of religious, educational, and media institutions in raising awareness and educating communities to combat this issue, actively shaping a collective consciousness that prioritizes child protection which is especially vital in today's world, where wars and conflicts intensify the suffering of countless innocent children. The Document on Human Fraternity, which was co-signed in 2019 in Abu Dhabi by His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, alongside the late Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church at the time, asserts that children's fundamental rights to family upbringing, nutrition, education, and care constitute a moral duty and responsibility for families and society. These rights must be upheld, defended, and guaranteed for every child worldwide, without exception. Additionally, any practice that undermines their dignity or violates their rights must be condemned, and vigilance is required to address the risks and violations they face in any form. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
Egypt Independent
4 days ago
- Egypt Independent
Aid to Gaza hangs by a thread amid looting and starvation
CNN — Israel's blockade of Gaza may have been partially lifted – and a new US-backed plan to deliver aid has begun. But there are multiple indications that the plight of Gazans is rapidly worsening. Restrictions imposed by the Israeli military on aid routes, ongoing airstrikes, a lack of security and the continuous displacement of tens of thousands of people are aggravating an already alarming situation, according to the UN and other aid agencies. The supplies that do get in risk getting looted. 'People in Gaza are starving. This demands the urgent opening of all crossings and allowing unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations to deliver aid at scale, through multiple routes,' the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest assessment. One woman, Umm Zuhair, who was trying to get food for her family on Sunday at one of newly established aid distribution sites, told CNN: 'We're so hungry that we're willing to risk getting shot just for a kilo of flour.' The number of children in Gaza with acute malnutrition is rising, the UN reported Saturday, while a lack of fuel threatens to close hospitals that are still operating. The Israeli agency handling the inspection of aid going into Gaza, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), said Saturday that 350 trucks containing humanitarian aid had entered the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing in the last week – less than 20 per cent of the volume of goods getting into Gaza before the conflict. And even the aid that gets in frequently does not make it to the most desperate. UN agencies report continuing difficulties with getting distribution routes within Gaza agreed with the Israeli military. OCHA said that out of 16 truckloads ready for distribution last Thursday, five were rejected, including fuel and water, and six failed to reach their destination. Additionally, the looting of aid convoys in Gaza has risen sharply in recent weeks. 'Operations have faced unprecedented levels of insecurity and a very high risk of looting, with partners reporting that most looting incidents are conducted by desperate civilians,' according to OCHA. People carry relief supplies from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in central Gaza on Sunday. Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images Nahed Shehaibar, head of the Private Transport Association in Gaza, said on Saturday that transport of aid had been suspended 'for the third consecutive day due to repeated attacks on trucks, including gunfire that has damaged and put several trucks out of service.' Last week the association reported that one driver was killed and another injured while trying to deliver aid, but Shehaibar said on Sunday that 11 trucks of commercial goods had reached merchants in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza successfully. The distribution of aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the US and Israeli-backed aid initiative that started operating late last month, has been dogged by security issues. On Sunday, GHF said it operated three distribution sites – two in southern Gaza and one in central Gaza – to hand out more than 17,000 boxes of food. In addition, GHF said in its daily update that it gave more than 10,000 meals to community leaders north of Rafah in what the organization called a pilot test of 'direct-to-community distribution.' But many people who went to the Netzarim site in central Gaza left empty-handed. Mohammad Salim told CNN: 'I went at 6 a.m. and found nothing. What's happening is shameful. I'm holding an empty cardboard box – there's nothing inside, not even lentils.' He said some people took more than they needed and complained there was no ID-based distribution system, as operated by the UN. CNN has previously reported that GHF has no system in place to screen aid recipients. Nader Musleh, who had walked from Al-Mawasi several kilometers away, agreed. 'Some people took five or 10 boxes, and there's no organization at all,' he said. Mohammad Abu Akouz was one of several civilians who alleged that some people were injured after coming under Israeli tank fire as they made their way to the site. An Israeli military official told CNN that Israeli forces fired what they called 'warning shots' from an armored vehicle approximately a kilometer from the distribution site. The official said the area is an active war zone. GHF said it had been unable to open its sites on Saturday, accusing Hamas of making threats against its operations, including against drivers and Palestinian workers. It said the threats had made it impossible to proceed without putting innocent lives at risk. A driver familiar with the operation, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told CNN on Sunday that Hamas had 'threatened the bus drivers responsible for transporting workers to the three American aid distribution points, warning them not to continue the transfers.' The drivers had been scheduled to move 180 employees to the three distribution sites, he added. GHF said on Friday that it had distributed more than 140,000 boxes of food, with each box intended to feed a family for half a week. The boxes contain pasta, lentils and cooking oil, among other products. GHF says its goal is to distribute boxes containing enough food for 4.5 million meals each day. Palestinians pray during a funeral for those who were killed on their way to a Gaza aid hub at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, on June 1. Abdel Kareem Hana/AP After last week's shootings, GHF appealed to people not to arrive at distribution points 'before the official opening time or gather near the gates ahead of schedule. This is for your safety and the safety of others.' The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Saturday in a post on X that gathering outside distribution centers outside of announced hours was 'strictly prohibited,' and warned that the areas around the aid hubs were closed military zones between 6 p.m. (11 a.m. ET) and 6 a.m. (11 p.m. ET). The UN says that the use of the Israeli and American-backed GHF has militarized aid distribution and is inadequate for the huge task of feeding families in Gaza. GHF has no presence in northern Gaza. In its latest assessment, OCHA said that 90 per cent of families in Gaza lack the cash needed to buy what little food remains available in markets. 'Meat, dairy, vegetables and fruit are nearly absent from people's diets,' it said. Half of the community kitchens in Gaza have been forced to stop cooking due to lack of supplies or displacement orders, according to OCHA. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) – the main agency for supplying aid in Gaza – said Saturday that a nutrition study had found that the percentage of children under 5 suffering from acute malnutrition had risen from 4.7% in the first half of May to 5.8% in the second half of the month. UNRWA said the number of children forced to fend for themselves had pushed an increasing number into 'dangerous survival strategies. Children are reported working on the streets, participating in looting or gathering within large crowds in search of food supplies at insecure distribution points.' It's not just food that is running chronically short. Dr. Mohamed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, told CNN on Sunday that the few hospitals in Gaza still operating 'will completely shut down within two days if fuel does not enter.' He added that 'a large number of the wounded cannot be treated due to the lack of blood supplies and medical equipment,' and medical staff faced difficult choices about which patients to save. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said Sunday that Al-Shifa Hospital and the Baptist Ahli Hospital, both in northern Gaza, were at risk of shutting down service within 24 hours. It said that would mean the collapse of what remains of the healthcare system in Gaza City. In the south, the Health Ministry said the Nasser Medical Complex was operating on a limited fuel supply that will last no more than two days.
Al-Ahram Weekly
06-06-2025
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Eid begins in Gaza with outdoor prayers amongst ruins and food growing ever scarcer - War on Gaza
Palestinians across the war-ravaged Gaza Strip marked the start of one of Islam's most important holidays with prayers outside destroyed mosques and homes early Friday, with little hope the Israeli genocidal war will end soon. With much of Gaza in rubble, men and children were forced to hold the traditional Eid al-Adha prayers in the open air and with food supplies dwindling, families were having to make do with what they could scrape together for the three-day feast. 'This is the worst feast that the Palestinian people have experienced because of the unjust war against the Palestinian people,' said Kamel Emran after attending prayers in the southern city of Khan Younis. 'There is no food, no flour, no shelter, no mosques, no homes, no mattresses ... The conditions are very, very harsh.' The holiday begins on the 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during the Hajj season in Saudi Arabia. For the second year, Muslims in Gaza were not able to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the traditional pilgrimage. Since the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza started on October 2023, the occupation army has killed more than 54,600 Palestinians, most of them women and children, with over 125,500 others injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli brutal war has destroyed large parts of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population of roughly 2 million Palestinians. After blocking all food and aid from entering Gaza for more than two months, Israel began allowing a trickle of supplies to enter for the UN several weeks ago. But the UN says it has been unable to distribute much of the aid because of Israeli army restrictions on movements and because roads that the military designates for its trucks to use are unsafe and vulnerable to looters. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome said Thursday that Gaza's people are projected to fall into acute food insecurity by September, with nearly 500,000 people experiencing extreme food deprivation, leading to malnutrition and starvation. 'This means the risk of famine is really touching the whole of the Gaza Strip,' Rein Paulson, director of the FAO office of emergencies and resilience, said in an interview. The UN says that the number of Gaza children facing acute malnutrition has soared since February, with more than 2,700 now suffering from it. Over the past two weeks, shootings have erupted nearly daily in the Gaza Strip in the vicinity of new hubs where desperate Palestinians are being directed to collect food. Witnesses say nearby Israeli troops have opened fire, killing more than 80 people. The US so-called Humanitarian Foundation, a newly formed group of mainly American contractors that Israel wants to use to replace humanitarian groups in Gaza that distribute aid in coordination with the UN, said Friday that all its distribution centers were closed for the day due to the ongoing Israeli violence. It urged people to stay away for their own safety, and said it would make an announcement later as to when they would resume distributing humanitarian aid. * This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
