Latest news with #Khadija
BBC News
24-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
London temporary accommodation is in dire state, says charity
"He was asking questions about why we were moving again."Khadija, a mum from south London, recalls how she struggled to answer the questions her son asked her when they were living in temporary accommodation. "Why we were sharing accommodation with others, why he had no space to play, I kept pretending everything was normal and we would get our place one day and be finally happy."I kept spending lots of time outside in coffee shops to stay warm and to avoid my son getting dirty playing outside as we had no laundry available." 'Broken system' Khadija's experience is highlighted in a new report from Citizens UK and Trust for London that reveals the "dire state" of temporary accommodation in in 49 Londoners are homeless and in temporary accommodation. The report says thousands of families are trapped in what it describes as "a broken system", and are going without cooking facilities, somewhere to wash clothes, reliable internet and storage for a result children can face long journeys to school, parents are cut off from support networks, and under-resourced local services struggle to cope with rising than 70,000 homeless households in London are currently living in temporary residences provided by their local council, often a hostel or budget hotel room with limited has the highest number, 6,667, followed by Lambeth with 4,657 and Southwark with 3,828. Freedom of Information requests to the capital's councils show that one family with children has been living in temporary accommodation in Croydon since UK's research found that London's councils place on average 43% of households outside of their boundaries, but some of London's most affluent authorities place significantly higher Richmond upon Thames and Merton are among the least disadvantaged areas but place some of the highest percentages of their residents outside their boundaries at more than 75%.By contrast Brent and Barking and Dagenham councils, which have high levels of deprivation, place 6% of their households in temporary accommodation outside their boundaries. 'Devastating impact' The cost of storing belongings is also highlighted in the report with some people travelling miles to access items and others accruing debt to maintain the Council charges households £130 before belongings can be taken into storage and £40 thereafter if households wish to access them. In Enfield, households are subject to a £30 charge each time they access their Williams, London Councils' executive member for housing, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "London is the epicentre of the worsening homelessness emergency, with the capital accounting for over half of all households in temporary accommodation in England."Homelessness has a devastating impact on too many Londoners. "In the face of a chronic shortage of affordable accommodation, boroughs increasingly find ourselves forced to use the least-worst options to keep a roof over the heads of homeless families."She added: "Boroughs are seeking urgent government action to tackle the fundamental factors behind homelessness – particularly through investing far more in affordable housing."A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "The government inherited a serious housing crisis which is why we are taking urgent and decisive action to end homelessness, fix the foundations of local government and drive forward our Plan for Change."Citizens UK is calling for the establishment of a Right to Wash, encouraging local authorities to support households to wash and dry their clothing and to stop charging them to use laundry campaign group also calls on councils not to work with third-party storage providers that charge for access.
Ya Biladi
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Moroccan women of the diaspora walk from Fès to Laayoune to celebrate history
Some journeys can't be measured in miles or kilometers—they're journeys of the soul. That's the kind of journey Khadija Gamraoui is leading. Fifty years after the Green March, this passionate official who lives between France and Morocco wants to «bring the spirit» of that historic moment back to life—this time through women from both the diaspora and the Kingdom. «When I was a kid, my mom used to say I was born the year of the Green March. That story shaped me. Now, it's time to tell it in a new way», she shared with Yabiladi. For her 50th birthday, instead of throwing a party, Khadija chose to walk the streets of Fez's medina with 50 women. It was a powerful, symbolic step, backed by the governor of Fez and other local leaders, where meaning took priority over spectacle. «We walked through Moulay Idriss, Sidi Harazem, Moulay Yacoub... places that hold deep meaning for Moroccans everywhere», she recalls. The group included activists, elected officials, athletes, mothers, and young women like a 20-year-old Franco-Moroccan boxer from Paris, proudly representing the initiative during a race in Fez. This march isn't just a tribute. It's a political statement, a cultural act, and a message for the next generation. «I wanted to pass this story on to my daughter and her peers. Many of them didn't grow up with this history, so it was important to create a space to share it», Khadija explains. Each leg of the march, headed toward Laayoune and beyond into other African countries, will include opportunities to connect: talks, workshops, shared memories, and local meetups. Passing on Patriotism At the heart of the project are women, those who for decades have bridged the gap between Morocco and its diaspora, giving voice through associations, politics, and sports. Khadija is bringing together this inspiring network and trusted partners, from the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) to the organizers of the Sahraouiya race, which she recently joined in Dakhla. «That women's race moved me deeply. It gave me the push I needed to start this march across Morocco». The «March of the Women of the Diaspora» also aims to reconnect Moroccans around the world with the realities back home, especially in the southern provinces. Khadija highlights stops planned for places like Al Haouz, hit hard by the 2023 earthquake. «The diaspora stepped up to help. Now they can come back in person, with a spirit of gratitude and ongoing support». This is just the beginning. More women will join along the way, consuls, community leaders, and young people searching for purpose. Khadija plans to collect mementos at each stop and involve young Franco-Moroccans in writing workshops that will lead to an exhibition, keeping the story alive and growing.
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bihar in tight fix over deportation of Pakistan national
PATNA: The Centre's decision to revoke the visas of Pakistani nationals in view of the Pahalgam terror attack has left 26-year-old Khadija Noor in a fix. A native of Pakistan's Faisalabad, she was arrested along the India-Nepal border while trying to illegally sneak into Indian territory through the Bhitthamore checkpost in Bihar's Sitamarhi in August 2022 by Sashastra Seema Bal personnel. Khadija was accompanied by her lover and an acquaintance at the time. She was later granted bail by the Patna High Court on the condition that she would report to the Sitamarhi court every month till the trial concluded. Khadija, who lives with her partner, Saeed Ahmed, in Telangana's Hyderabad, reports to the court every month, in line with the order. But the government move to cancel Pakistan nationals' visas has muddied the waters for Khadija. Commenting on her dilemma, Rohit Kumar, additional public prosecutor at Sitamarhi civil court, said, 'If Khadija leaves India to adhere to the Union government's directive, she will fall foul of the HC order. And hence, an arrest warrant could be issued against her. But if she stays in India, she will face legal action for flouting the Centre's directive.' The public prosecutor stressed that Khadija can't leave India until the trial ends and she is either absolved of the charge or sentenced for the offence. 'We are seeking a legal opinion on the matter from the authorities concerned,' he added, noting how Khadija's case has taken an unexpected turn and become complex, thanks to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
Sky News
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
'His miserable life was terminated' says Trump after airstrike kills head of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
The head of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria has been killed in an airstrike in western Iraq, according to Iraqi officials and US military commanders. Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social the "fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed" after being "relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated". He added: "PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!" Details of the operation in Iraq have been described by US Central Command (CENTCOM) which said on X it had conducted "a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province" in cooperation with Iraqi intelligence and security forces. The statement added that the airstrike had "killed the global ISIS #2 leader, chief of global operations and the delegated committee emir - Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, alias 'Abu Khadijah' [Khadija], and one other ISIS operative". Following the attack, CENTCOM said their forces and Iraqi troops examined the site and found two bodies, which were wearing unexploded "suicide vests" and had multiple weapons. It added that Abu Khadija's death was confirmed using DNA tests. On Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani described Khadija as "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world". In a statement on X, he added: "The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism." Details of the airstrike coincided with the first visit by Syria's top diplomat to Iraq, during which the two countries pledged to work together to combat IS. The operation comes at a time when Iraqi officials are anxious about an IS resurgence after the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al Assad in Syria. While Syria's new rulers - led by the Islamist former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) - have pursued IS cells since taking power, some fear a breakdown in overall security that could allow the group to stage a resurgence. 0:59 Commenting on the operation against Khadija, the commander of US Central Command said: "Abu Khadijah [Khadija] was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organisation." "We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland and US, allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond," added General Michael Erik Kurilla. Last year, the US and Iraq announced an agreement to wind down the military mission in Iraq of an American-led coalition fighting IS by September 2025. The intention has been for US forces to leave some bases where they have stationed troops during a two-decade-long military presence in the country.
