World Day of War Orphans – January 6

World Day for War Orphans is a day dedicated to all the challenges faced by the War Orphans, or children in conflict. This day also remembers the victims of the war, especially young children. It is a day to recognize the problems faced by this particular section of vulnerable groups in crisis zones. Civilians bear the brunt of the suffering in war. Of the big number of war victims, the most often neglected are children. The day aims to address the war orphans as it has become a growing worldwide humanitarian and social crisis.

Small children in this big world depend upon parents to teach them, guide them, and protect them. However, many children in the world do not have this privilege due to a myriad of circumstances illness, accidents, murder, and war. Orphans and left-behind children have no advocates unless caring adults are willing to step in and help them. The day ensures to voice out the predicament of war orphans.

SOS Enfants en Destresses

Initiated by a French organization called SOS Enfants en Destresses, January 6 has been named World Day of War Orphans to bring attention to the millions of children around the world who have lost parents due to acts of war. In general, war orphans are rare in more developed nations, but in countries ravaged by fighting and violence, millions of children are left without parental caregivers.

For example, in Afghanistan today, after close to 30 years of fighting, there are more than two million orphaned children, with more than 600,000 living rough with no place to go. In Uzbekistan, a country with a turbulent history, thousands of children without parents wither away, alone and frightened, in overcrowded orphanages, or else they face a solitary struggle to survive on the streets. Also in Uzbekistan, many children are left behind when their parents, who live as migrant workers, travel to earn money.

Thousands of children are recruited and used in armed conflicts across the world. Often referred to as “child soldiers,” these boys and girls suffer extensive forms of exploitation and abuse that are not fully captured by that term. Warring parties use children not only as fighters but as scouts, cooks, porters, guards, messengers, and more. Many, especially girls, are also subjected to gender-based violence.

In China, for example, a former special operations soldier adopted hundreds of boys and forced them to participate in a fight club. Around the world, in violent and war-ridden countries, children themselves are in physical danger from anti-personnel weapons such as landmines. In Afghanistan, more than 400,000 children have been maimed by landmines. There are many reasons why children may be left without parents, but there is one obvious fact. Orphans in the United States, Africa, Uzbekistan, China, and throughout the world are vulnerable to scores of dangers ranging from dreadful weapons to human greed.

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A Global Situation

While every country, unfortunately, has children who have lost parents to traumatic causes or situations, those nations most affected are less developed and torn by war, violence, and sweeping epidemics of fatal diseases such as AIDS.

Orphans throughout the world face many challenges: malnutrition, starvation, disease, and decreased social attention.  It is important to study the reasons and ramifications of conditions that kill wage-earning parents. However, children who have been orphaned need practical, hands-on help to enable them to survive both physically and mentally.

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Helping the Helpless

On this day people are encouraged to actively participate in helping raise awareness, support, and funding for motherless and fatherless children worldwide.  Their situation, though tragic, is not hopeless. There are people who want to help parentless children and give them support and a safe haven. Besides physical needs such as food, water, and shelter, many orphans also suffer from psychological distress such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and they need loving care and gentle reassurances of security. Around the world, caring adults are acting on behalf of orphaned children.

Give HOPE and DIGNITY to each person, without limitation of borders, priority should be given to helping children in distress. Through child sponsorship, you can help a child where they need it most – both emotionally and financially. You can help in spreading awareness by sharing it on your social media platforms. Encourage your followers to repost or share as well. Post or share any charities that are willing to donate to the cause.

Bring hope to the hopeless by sponsoring a child at https://www.worldschildren.org/child-sponsorship