On August 19, 2024, in observance of United Nations World Humanitarian Day, a notable advocacy effort led by two Pakistani children aims to make a profound statement. The initiative, marking the 16th anniversary of the day, will see the children presenting the second phase of their unique protest notes, written in their own blood, to international bodies including the UN.
According to a press release from Dr. FM Bhatti, spokesperson for UN-KAKHTAH in Pakistan, this deeply emotional protest is designed to draw urgent attention to the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza and other critical situations in Congo, Haiti, Myanmar, and Sudan, where children are being targeted through brutal and “Neo-Hitlerian” tactics.
The protest notes, titled “Humanitarian Eyes Needed to See the Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza” and “A Voice for the Voiceless,” were started by 10-year-old Ubaydah al Fiddhah Hafia and her 12-year-old brother Ghulam Bishar Hafi. The former will be presented on August 19, while the latter was submitted on the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 2024. Their effort aligns with the UN’s WHD-2024 theme, #ActForHumanity.
These protest notes are intended to highlight the plight of children suffering in conflict zones and aim to prompt a global response to these crises. The format was chosen to spark a broader movement, urging world leaders to pay attention to the suffering of innocent children who are often the most vulnerable in war.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with nearly 700,000 children facing starvation and extreme violence, including attacks on infants. The UN’s 2024 Humanitarian Access SCORE Report highlights unprecedented civilian and humanitarian worker casualties in Gaza and points to broader impacts on international humanitarian law and norms.
The UN’s Global Humanitarian Overview report for 2024 details attacks on essential services across conflict zones, emphasizing the dire need for action to protect humanitarian workers and civilians. The UN calls for an end to these violations and impunity, urging a global commitment to #ActForHumanity.
The blood-written protest notes are meant to serve as a powerful symbolic expression of failure to adequately address the suffering of children in conflict areas and to call for immediate action from the international community.
The initiative, inspired by their father, Prof. Aurangzeb Hafi, reflects a deep personal and familial commitment to advocating for children’s rights and highlighting the urgent need for global attention and intervention.
