War’s Youngest Victims: The Unseen Scars Left on Children (2020–2025)

War’s Youngest Victims: The Unseen Scars Left on Children (2020–2025)

🌍 1. Global scale of violence against children

In 2023, UN verified a record 32,990 grave violations—including killings, maiming, abductions, recruitment, and attacks on schools/hospitals—affecting 22,557 children worldwide  .

Save the Children confirmed 11,338 children killed or maimed in 2023—a 31% rise from 2022, averaging 31 per day, with over one-third in Palestinian territory  .

---

2. Regional breakdown

Gaza & Israel–Palestine

From October 2023 to early 2024, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that 44% of the 30,000+ casualties were children—translating to ~13,000 children killed  .

Many organizations noted that over 3,000 children died in just three weeks during late‑2023, a toll that exceeded the annual total of child deaths in conflict zones globally from 2019 to 2022  .

Ukraine

As of May 2024, UNICEF verified that 1,993 children had been killed or injured since the 2022 escalation—about 2 casualties per day, though actual figures are likely higher  .

By March 2025, Ukrainian authorities reported 604 children killed and 1,817 injured since February 2022, with the UN placing deaths at 669  .

Sudan

In the civil war beginning April 2023, malnutrition claimed 286,000 infant lives, amid an estimated 150,000+ civilian deaths by November 2024  .

Out of famine-impacted children, 239 under‑5 died in El Fasher in just six months of 2025  .

Other hotspots

Myanmar’s conflict (2021–24) saw 13,000+ children killed by mid‑2022, and 1,295 civilian deaths (including children) from airstrikes by September 2022  .

In Ethiopia’s Amhara region (2024), more than 2,000 civilian casualties occurred, including children  .

Yemen’s prolonged crisis since 2015 has killed or injured over 3,774 children by 2022 through direct violence, plus tens of thousands indirectly through starvation and disease  .

---

3. MENA region crisis (2023–mid‑2025)

A July 2025 UNICEF release noted that in the Middle East and North Africa over the past two years, 12.2 million children have been killed, maimed, or displaced—~20,000 killed, 40,000 maimed, and 12 million displaced  .

---

4. Key takeaways

Insight Summary

📈 Rising trend Grave violations against children have hit historic highs, with 2023 marking the worst year yet  .

Children as front-line victims In Gaza, over 40% of casualties are children; in Ukraine, schools and shelters have been repeatedly hit .

Humanitarian disaster beyond bullets Conflict-induced famine, disease, displacement account for far more child deaths in places like Yemen and Sudan than direct violence .

Psychological scars Millions of children, especially in Ukraine, face trauma—nightmares, flashbacks, disrupted education—necessitating massive psychosocial support .

---

5. What needs to be done

1. Ceasefire & conflict resolution—especially in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan.

2. Strict compliance with international law—protect schools, hospitals, civilians.

3. Scale up humanitarian aid—nutrition, clean water, medicine, mental health services.

4. Track and hold perpetrators accountable—support UN monitoring, ICC actions.

---

🧩 Conclusion

Between 2020 and mid‑2025, tens of thousands of children have died or been horribly injured in conflict—whether by weapons, starvation, displacement, or disease. These are not just numbers—they represent stolen futures, broken families, and lifelong trauma. The global community must urgently act to protect children, end impunity, and prioritize peace and recovery.

---

Read More

The Horror of War in 2024 and 2025: A Chronicle of Modern Suffering

The Horror of War in 2024 and 2025: A Chronicle of Modern Suffering

Caption: Civilians caught in crossfire amid rubble and fire, 2025.

Introduction: War Is Not History—It’s Now

As the world stepped into 2024 and 2025, it did not leave behind the horrors of the previous decades. Instead, war reinvented itself—more brutal, more public, and more indiscriminate. Technology, once a beacon of hope for peace, has been wielded as a weapon. Humanitarian laws have been blurred. Civilian lives have become bargaining chips in geopolitical power plays.

This blog reflects on the most harrowing impacts of warfare during 2024 and 2025—from Gaza and Ukraine to Sudan and the Horn of Africa—and how the global conscience continues to falter.

---

1. Gaza: An Ongoing Apocalypse

2024 and 2025 marked the deadliest years in Gaza’s history.

Following the escalations of late 2023, Israel's bombardment continued with devastating precision. AI-guided drones, bunker buster bombs, and siege warfare pushed Gaza into what the UN called “complete societal collapse.”

Over 35,000 Palestinians killed, including more than 70% women and children.

Hospitals turned into morgues. Medical staff became combatants, choosing who to save without tools or anesthesia.

Food and water scarcity reached famine levels in mid-2024. By 2025, starvation had become a weapon of war.

Caption: A boy stands alone among the ruins of his destroyed neighborhood, Gaza, 2025.

---

2. Ukraine: A Frozen Frontline, A Burning Country

While media coverage dwindled, the Ukraine-Russia conflict turned into a war of attrition.

In 2024, Russia launched a second major offensive, targeting critical infrastructure and civilian areas.

Entire cities in Eastern Ukraine were reduced to dust.

The use of hypersonic weapons created blast zones never before seen in Europe since WWII.

Ukraine retaliated with drone swarms, cyberattacks, and long-range missiles.

Civilians became refugees overnight, with over 7 million Ukrainians displaced again in 2025.

Despite international aid, the fatigue of war has left both nations wounded beyond measure.

---

3. Sudan and the Horn of Africa: Forgotten Genocide

The war in Sudan between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) turned genocidal in 2024.

Ethnic cleansing in Darfur escalated, with mass graves discovered by UN missions.

Over 2.5 million people were displaced in less than 10 months.

In 2025, famine swept through refugee camps in Chad and Ethiopia.

Militias used rape, arson, and abductions as war tactics.

Media silence compounded the tragedy. Few international actors intervened, fearing entanglement or due to economic priorities.

---

4. The Rise of Autonomous Warfare

2024 and 2025 were the years machines took over battlefields.

AI-powered drones targeted convoys, cities, and even individual soldiers using facial recognition.

Swarms of micro-drones disrupted communication grids and electricity in conflict zones.

Civilian casualties increased due to algorithmic errors—the “acceptable” price of automated war.

This development depersonalized death. When war becomes a machine’s decision, the last thread of morality snaps.

---

5. The Psychological Fallout: Trauma Beyond Borders

Children born in conflict zones in 2024-25 may never know peace. PTSD, malnutrition, and trauma will shape their futures.

Mental health crises rose in war-affected regions: suicide rates among displaced youth doubled in 2025.

In host nations, refugee discrimination led to new societal tensions.

---

6. Global Inaction and Hypocrisy

The most painful part of the 2024–2025 war era has been the selective outrage.

Powerful nations continued arms sales while condemning violence in press releases.

International law was ignored. The International Criminal Court was powerless against veto-wielding states.

Social media fueled disinformation, glorifying military operations while burying civilian suffering.

Human rights became a currency, not a universal truth.

---

Conclusion: What Now?

The horror of war in 2024 and 2025 is not just in the death tolls or destroyed cities. It is in the global apathy, the normalization of violence, and the death of empathy.

If these years have taught us anything, it is this: we are not far from a world where peace is a myth, and war is eternal.

But amidst this darkness, every voice that speaks out, every truth that is told, and every innocent life protected—

Read More

خاموش اذیت: پاکستان میں بجلی کے بلوں کا بوجھ عوام پر قیامت بن گیا

 

خاموش اذیت: پاکستان میں بجلی کے بلوں کا بوجھ عوام پر قیامت بن گیا

                                                                                                                            🔹 تعارف

گزشتہ چند سالوں میں پاکستان میں بجلی کے بل لاکھوں عوام کے لیے ناقابل برداشت ہو چکے ہیں۔ شہری ہوں یا دیہی، ہر جگہ لوگ مہنگے بلوں سے پریشان ہیں۔ یہ صرف توانائی کا مسئلہ نہیں بلکہ ایک انسانی بحران ہے۔

---

🔹 بل اتنے زیادہ کیوں؟

1. فیول پرائس ایڈجسٹمنٹ (FPA): تیل کی عالمی قیمتوں کے ساتھ منسلک، ہر ماہ ہزاروں روپے بل میں شامل کیے جاتے ہیں۔

2. اضافی چارجز اور سرچارجز: نیپرا اور حکومتی ٹیکس بل کو دگنا کر دیتے ہیں۔

3. چوری اور ناکارہ نظام: بجلی کی چوری اور ناقص انفراسٹرکچر کا بوجھ ایماندار صارفین پر ڈال دیا جاتا ہے۔

4. قرض اور نجکاری: گردشی قرضوں اور آئی ایم ایف کی شرائط کے سبب عوام کو قربانی کا بکرا بنایا جا رہا ہے۔

---

🔹 شہری و دیہی مشکلات

شہری علاقوں میں بل زیادہ اور غلطیوں سے بھرے ہوتے ہیں، جبکہ دیہی علاقوں میں بجلی کی غیر موجودگی کے باوجود بل بھیجے جاتے ہیں۔ کہیں پر 8 سے 16 گھنٹے کی لوڈشیڈنگ، لیکن مہینے کا بل ہزاروں روپے میں۔

---

🔹 ذہنی دباؤ اور احتجاج

زیادہ بلوں نے لوگوں کو نفسیاتی دباؤ میں ڈال دیا ہے۔ کچھ لوگ رات کو بجلی بند کر کے سوتے ہیں تاکہ یونٹس بچائیں۔
ملک بھر میں احتجاج، بلوں کو آگ لگانا، اور حکومت کے خلاف آواز بلند کرنا عام ہو گیا ہے۔

---

🔹 حل کیا ہے؟

• بلوں میں شفافیت اور آڈٹ

• قابل تجدید توانائی میں سرمایہ کاری

• غریب طبقے کو سبسڈی

• چوری اور کرپشن کا خاتمہ

• گردشی قرضہ ختم کرنے کی پالیسی

---

🔹 نتیجہ

یہ مسئلہ عوام کی زندگی کو اندھیروں میں دھکیل رہا ہے۔ حکومت کو وقتی ریلیف کے بجائے دیرپا اصلاحات لانا ہوں گی۔ جب تک یہ نظام ٹھیک نہیں ہوتا، ہر مہینے لاکھوں پاکستانی اسی اذیت سے گزرتے رہیں گے۔

---

🔹 ٹیگز:

#پاکستان_بجلی_بحران #مہنگے_بل #توانائی_کا_ظلم #پاکستانی_احتجاج #گردشی_قرض

---

 

Read More

The Silent Burden: Pakistan’s People Crushed by Soaring Electricity Bills

 The Silent Burden: Pakistan’s People Crushed by Soaring Electricity Bills

Introduction

In recent years, electricity bills have become an unbearable burden for millions of Pakistanis. From urban households to rural communities, the sharp rise in tariffs, paired with economic instability and mismanagement, has left ordinary citizens struggling to keep the lights on—both literally and financially. This is not just a matter of energy policy; it's a human crisis.

---

The Rise of the Unaffordable Bill

Electricity prices in Pakistan have seen an unprecedented surge due to multiple factors: heavy reliance on imported fuel, the devaluation of the rupee, circular debt in the power sector, and policy failures. Each month, families receive electricity bills that far exceed their income, leaving them with impossible choices—pay for power or for food, education, and healthcare.

“We barely earn Rs. 25,000 a month. Last month, our electricity bill alone was Rs. 16,000. How do they expect us to live?”
— A factory worker from Lahore

---

Urban vs. Rural: A Shared Struggle

While urban residents may deal with excessive bills and overbilling errors, rural areas face both high charges and unreliable supply. Power outages lasting 8 to 16 hours are common, yet bills arrive regularly—often inflated with hidden taxes and estimated meter readings.

---

Why Are Bills So High?

1. Fuel Price Adjustments (FPA): Indexed to global oil prices, the FPA adds thousands to monthly bills.

2. Multiple Surcharges: NEPRA and government-imposed duties inflate base charges.

3. Inefficiency & Theft: Poor infrastructure and electricity theft are paid for by honest consumers.

4. Privatization & Debt: IMF conditions and circular debt of over Rs. 2 trillion shift the cost burden to the public.

---

The Psychological Toll

The stress of unaffordable bills is causing mental health challenges. Families face humiliation over unpaid dues, constant fear of disconnection, and deep anxiety about their future.

“We live in darkness some nights just to save units. My children do homework with candles.”
— A schoolteacher in Multan

---

Protests & Public Outcry

Across Pakistan, people are taking to the streets. From Karachi to Peshawar, citizens burn bills, hold sit-ins, and demand government intervention. Yet, relief is minimal or temporary, and structural issues remain unresolved.

---

What Needs to Change

• Transparent Billing & Audits

• Investment in Renewable Energy

• Subsidies for Low-Income Households

• Crackdown on Theft & Corruption

• Policy Reform for Circular Debt Management

---

Conclusion

The suffering caused by excess electricity bills in Pakistan is real and widespread. It is a crisis born of mismanagement and neglect, but it can be solved. As the people cry out for justice and affordability, the government must act—not with short-term fixes, but with long-term reforms.

---

 

Read More

Kashmir: A Land of Beauty and Endless Suffering Since 1947

Kashmir: A Land of Beauty and Endless Suffering Since 1947

Introduction

The region of Kashmir, often called "Paradise on Earth" for its breathtaking valleys, snow-capped mountains, and pristine lakes, has been marred by conflict, displacement, and suffering since 1947. What should have been a peaceful land enjoying independence or self-determination became a battleground of politics, war, and broken promises.

The Roots of the Conflict

In 1947, as British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan, princely states were given the choice to join either nation. Maharaja Hari Singh, the Hindu ruler of predominantly Muslim Jammu and Kashmir, initially chose to remain independent. But following a tribal invasion from Pakistan, he acceded to India under certain conditions — especially the promise of a future plebiscite, which never took place.

Since then, Kashmir has been divided into:

Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan

A small portion controlled by China

The people of Kashmir, particularly in the Indian-administered region, have suffered the most under this prolonged dispute.

Decades of Pain and Violence

Wars and Military Presence

The region has seen three major wars (1947, 1965, 1999) between India and Pakistan and remains one of the most heavily militarized zones in the world. The constant presence of troops, curfews, and checkpoints has created a climate of fear and trauma.

Human Rights Violations

Reports from international human rights organizations and local activists have highlighted:

Enforced disappearances

Mass graves

Torture and custodial deaths

Use of pellet guns that blinded hundreds of civilians, including children

Restrictions on freedom of expression and media blackouts

Psychological Toll

With conflict being a part of everyday life, generations of Kashmiris have grown up with mental health issues, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Children know the sound of gunfire more than laughter.

August 5, 2019: The Turning Point

India revoked Article 370, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special autonomous status. Overnight, communications were shut down, political leaders were detained, and internet services were blocked for months. The region was split into two union territories, a move widely seen by locals as an attempt to suppress their identity and voice.

Voices in the Shadows

Despite the constant watch and suppression, the people of Kashmir have resisted through art, poetry, and protest. Young Kashmiris continue to raise their voices on social media, at great personal risk, to share their side of the story.

A Kashmiri poet once wrote:

> “They write peace in ink,

But we read it in blood.”

The World Watches in Silence

Perhaps the greatest tragedy is not just the suffering, but the silence of the world. While the global community rallies for human rights in many regions, the plight of the Kashmiri people is often ignored, reduced to a footnote in diplomatic documents.

Conclusion

Kashmir is not just a conflict zone; it is a homeland with a rich culture, resilient people, and a tragic history. Since 1947, generations have been born into uncertainty, growing up under the shadow of guns instead of hope.

Peace is possible, but it begins with justice, truth, and the courage to listen to the Kashmiri people themselves. Until then, Kashmir will remain a paradise imprisoned by politics.

Read More