How do peacekeepers operate in Africa? – DW – 05/30/2025
May 30, 2025
This year, the world marked International Day of UN Peacekeepers with an eye on the future of peacekeeping. But how do blue helmets currently operate in Africa, and what have their challenges been? Eddy Micah Jr. talks to Malawi Defense Forces Major Tadziwana Kapeni and DW's Ben Shemang in Abuja.
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DW
4 days ago
- DW
How India's Gen Z is redefining spirituality – DW – 07/31/2025
Young people in India have a huge interest in spirituality and religion, but they are doing it differently than older generations. For many Gen Zers, it is a personalized experience rather than a ritualistic compulsion. Rohit Singh was born into a Hindu family, but he doesn't identify as religious. The 24-year-old does, however, occasionally go to the local temple as well as gurudwara, a place of worship and assembly in Sikhism. Singh also believes in astrology, and this month joined his cousins on the Kanwar Yatra, an annual pilgrimage of devotees of Lord Shiva, one of the three major Hindu deities revered in India. "I am not religious, I am spiritual," he told DW. "I don't go to the temple as frequently as my parents, I go sometimes for the calm and peaceful vibe. I started going when I was unable to find a job and my mental health was at its worst." The resident of Gurugram, a tech and finance hub just outside the capital, New Delhi, still hasn't found a job. But he says his spirituality has helped his mental health. "A lot of my friends are like me. We just want some solace," he says. Interest in religion is declining worldwide. A study by Pew Research Center showed that religious affiliation fell globally by 1% in the decade spanning 2010 to 2020. In the same period, the percentage of people who showed no religious affiliation grew from 23% to 24.2%. But in India, it's a different story. In the same Pew study, the global population of Hindus — 95% of whom live in India, where they form 80% of the population — held steady, whereas the number of Muslims, who represent more than 14% of Indians, grew. Unlike many around the world, India's youth, which makes up 65% of its population, seem to be reconnecting with religion and spirituality. But they are doing it in their own way. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A YouGov-Mint survey showed 53% of India's Gen Z — which refers to people born roughly between 1997 and 2012 — believe religion is important and 62% of them pray regularly. An MTV Youth Study in 2021 found that 62 % of India's Gen Z believe spirituality helps them gain clarity. Almost 70% said they felt more confident after prayer. "Gen Z has a lot of different vocabulary that they can lean on to explain what they are feeling, which is different from previous generations," counselling psychologist Manavi Khurana told DW. "Terms like healing, grounding, getting in touch with the self. Spirituality, religion, wellness and well-being all get mixed up, though they have intersections as well," Khurana added. She is the founder of the mental health organization Karma Care in Delhi, which has a mix of Millennial (people who were born roughly between 1981 and 1996) and Gen Z clients. "There's also a lot of people connecting to Hinduism given the current political climate," Khurana said. "A lot of people find solace in religion. If they have absolutely lost hope, they find religion or some mantras or beliefs that help them find that hope. They may not have a lot of other support systems at this time," she explained. But whether religion is helpful in each case is "always a 'yes and no' answer," Khurana said. "If spirituality leads to extremism, it's not the best scenario. But if someone uses it as a way to get in touch with themselves and as a coping mechanism, it is very important," she said. Young Indians don't seem to be shying away from religion — they are reinventing and customizing it. Surya, 27, is a solo traveler and influencer with more than 290,000 followers on Instagram. Many of her trips are spiritually inclined. Surya has traveled to a number of major Hindu pilgrimage sites and festivals, including the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj this year, Kedarnath and the Haridwar Kumbh in 2021. She says while social media platforms and influencers have made religion more accessible to younger generations, there's more to it than that. "Spirituality is no longer seen as 'boring' or only for the old. It's becoming a way to find peace in a chaotic modern life," she told DW. "Today's youth aren't following blindly. They're asking why, exploring how, and embracing what resonates personally. Instead of attending temples because they 'have to,' they may visit Varanasi, Rishikesh, or Isha (Foundation) to feel something real," she added. During an address to the parliament this year, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the youth are "embracing their traditions, faith, and beliefs with pride, reflecting a strong connection to India's cultural heritage." He was speaking before the Maha Kumbh Mela, which was held from January to February this year and saw thousands of younger attendees. Modi's right-wing, Hindu nationalist government has pumped funds into developing and promoting important religious sites such as Ayodhya. The states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have also announced plans to revamp sites of religious, historical and mythological significance. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video With social media playing such an important role in young people's interest in and engagement with spirituality, some critics say these public platforms make the experience less authentic or performative. Psychologist Khurana says that while there may be an element of truth to this, that does not make the youth's relationship with religion or spirituality inauthentic. "Just because a lot of Gen Z communicate via Instagram or the internet and that is their way of community, we can't totally write it off as performative," she said, pointing out that young people have been "brought up around phones and raised by technology." Yoga, meditation, astrology and even spiritual leaders and speakers using relatable language all appeal to the country's youth. According to a 2023 survey by OMTV, a spiritual storytelling app, 80% of Indians aged 18 to 30 engage with spiritual or religious content online. "Gen Z's world is noisier and faster than any before. So, their entry points to spirituality look different. They may not read entire scriptures, but they'll listen to a 60-sec clip of Gita wisdom. They might not sit in a temple for hours, but they'll do a 10-minute guided meditation at night. That doesn't make it less real, just modern," Surya said.
DW
5 days ago
- DW
Uganda's spiritual and ecological sanctuaries – DW – 07/30/2025
Sacred sites like Kabaka's Lake and Ssezibwa Falls preserve cultural and spiritual heritage in Uganda - and are home to unique and fragile ecosystems. Nestled at the edge of Kampala, Kabaka's Lake is more than a historical landmark—it's a living bridge between culture and ecology. Created in 1886 by King Mwanga II of Buganda, it now serves as a spiritual symbol for the Baganda people. Every day, Lameck Kalule removes garbage from the lake, driven not by a wage but by reverence for his king. In return, the lake fosters biodiversity, offering refuge to open-billed storks, marabou birds, and egrets, all thriving in its rain-fed waters. Kalule's quiet stewardship shows how sensing a spiritual connection with nature can lead to conservation. 🛡️ How Ugandan sacred sites how helping to preserve nature Kabaka's Lake is not the only example. Thirty kilometers east, the Ssezibwa Falls echo a similar harmony between nature and culture. Steeped in legend—where twin rivers are said to have sprung from a woman's womb—the falls are guarded by spiritual caretaker Mubiru Basaawa. Certain trees here are protected by ancient taboos, believed to carry irreversible consequences if felled. Environmental scientist Mary Therese Kaggwa views such beliefs as nature's insurance policy, turning sacred landscapes into de facto conservation zones and even biodiversity banks that could support future restoration efforts. Beyond myth and ritual, these sites are increasingly used to educate the next generation. Students visiting Ssezibwa Falls are confronted with both environmental decay and resilience, learning how spiritual reverence can translate into practical action. As student Timothy Balukalo notes, forests absorb carbon dioxide—an essential fact often overlooked until seen firsthand. UNESCO also acknowledges that identity, pride, and spirituality can galvanize conservation efforts. In places where legislation falters, culture steps in, proving that the path to preservation may lie not in lawbooks, but in stories, rituals, and hearts. This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.
DW
24-07-2025
- DW
Amid Gaza's forced scarcities, Palestinians fight to survive – DW – 07/24/2025
Gaza's displaced are facing severe food shortages and limited aid amid the ongoing conflict. Aid deliveries remain limited, leaving many families struggling to access basic necessities in a worsening humanitarian crisis. Every day is filled with anxiety and exhaustion. The constant Israeli bombardment, lack of sleep and search for food are overwhelming for Gaza's displaced population. "The day revolves around thinking about where to find food for my family," said Raed al-Athamna, a displaced Palestinian father in Gaza City, who spoke to DW by phone since foreign journalists are not allowed in Gaza. "There is nothing to eat. There is no bread, as I cannot afford to buy flour. It is too expensive. Today, we had some lentils for the kids and my mom, but tomorrow, I don't know." Al-Athamna, who previously worked as a driver for foreign journalists in Gaza, said he no longer had the words to describe the situation. "There are Israeli airstrikes and shelling all the time. I've seen people fainting in the streets because they haven't eaten. Social media is full of videos of people just collapsing." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video DW last spoke with al-Athamna in May, just after the Israeli government first permitted some aid trucks into Gaza after a nearly three-month blockade. At the time, he thought the situation could not get any worse for Gaza's 2.1 million people. Two months on, al-Athamna described the situation as "really bad. You cannot find a piece of bread, it is a very difficult situation. I am here with my grandkids, they are crying, they keep saying: 'We want a piece of bread.' And if you cannot give them anything, they don't understand. This breaks your heart." International health and aid organizations have repeatedly sounded the alarm over conditions and the lack of vital supplies in Gaza during the 21-month conflict. According to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, almost 88% of Gaza is now under evacuation orders or designated as military zones. These areas include most of Gaza's agricultural land, concentrating the displaced population in increasingly limited space and complicating humanitarian access. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that a large proportion of Gaza's population was starving. "I don't know what you would call it other than mass starvation, it's man-made and that's very clear," he stated. Ross Smith, emergency director at the World Food Program (WFP), said Monday that Gaza's hunger crisis "has reached new and astonishing levels of desperation." He said that "a third of the population are not eating for multiple days in a row, this includes women and children." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video On Thursday, Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry reported that so far in July 48 Palestinians had died from malnutrition, with 59 dying of malnutrition since the start of 2025. That number is up from 50 in 2024 and four in 2023 when Israel started its war against the Hamas militant group in Gaza following Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli officials have disputed such claims, characterizing them as propaganda. Eyad Amin, a father of three young children who has found shelter in Gaza City, is desperate. "Food is unavailable, and when it is available, it's very expensive," the 43-year-old told DW. Amin, a former stationery shop owner, managed to buy some vegetables but at prices most people cannot afford. "Today I bought two potatoes, two tomatoes, and a few green peppers. These simple items cost me 140 shekels [around €36/$42]," he said. Like most Palestinians in Gaza, Amin has no income but gets assistance from relatives abroad. Those without such support face greater hardship. Sherine Qamar, a mother of two children in northern Gaza City, relies on support from her parents. "We practically live without food, and what we eat is just to survive. We have all lost a lot of weight, I personally lost 15 kilograms [33 pounds] in the last four months," she said. Medical care presents additional challenges. "When my children get sick due to malnutrition or things like the flu, we cannot find any medicine in hospitals or pharmacies, and we have to wait long hours at international organizations and hospitals to obtain painkillers," Qamar told DW. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In March, Israeli authorities closed Gaza's crossing, citing concerns about aid diversion by Hamas. These restrictions were partially lifted in May, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming Israel was acting to prevent a "starvation crisis." Aid distribution shifted from established UN mechanisms to the controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which distributes pre-packed food boxes from three locations in Israeli-controlled militarized zones. Currently, an average of 28 aid trucks enter Gaza daily, according to UN figures, which aid organizations have said falls short of population needs. MedGlobal, a US-based NGO operating nutrition centers in Gaza, reported that "cases of acutely malnourished children have nearly tripled" since the beginning of July. "There is no more buffer," John Kahler, MedGlobal co-founder and a pediatrician who worked in Gaza last year, told DW. "When you get a virus suddenly you have diarrhea, that will push you over the edge because you don't have any physical reserve left." "The terrible thing in Gaza," he added, "is that everyone knows that food supplies are just 10 kilometers [6.2 miles] away." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Coordinator of the Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Israel's military body overseeing crossings, told DW that "950 aid trucks are waiting on the Palestinian side" of entry points. The body claimed that Israel does not restrict humanitarian aid to Gaza, but did acknowledge "significant challenges in collecting trucks on the Gaza side." The UN has repeatedly said the backlog at the crossing was due to multiple difficulties, among them the coordination with the Israeli military. Trucks cannot move without their authorization, to ensure they can travel relatively safely from the crossing to the warehouse and distribution centers without coming under fire from the Israeli military. Due to supply scarcity, looting has increased. On Sunday, a WFP convoy came under fire, resulting in casualties among people waiting for aid. In recent weeks, at least 875 people have been killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid at one of the distribution points by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation or while waiting for UN trucks carrying supplies, according to the UN. "I only went one time to get aid. But I don't go anymore. If you are hit or injured, no one helps you. You will just die there. There is nothing in the hospitals to help you either," said al-Athamna from Gaza City. He added that the broader situation has become impossible. "You either die being bombed, or you die not having food. They keep talking to politicians about a ceasefire, but nothing happens, and things only get worse. What are we supposed to do?"
