Day 37: Holocaust Memorial Day

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January) is a national event in the United Kingdom dedicated to the remembrance of the victims of The Holocaust. It was first held in January 2001 and has been on the same date every year since. The chosen date is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Union in 1945, the date also chosen for the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and some other national Holocaust Memorial Days. A great number of Jewish children, Gypsy children, and physically and mentally disabled children were not spared this horrific tragedy. Most perished and many separated from their families. Some survived, but were permanently torn away from their families.

War Child is a network of independent organizations, working today across the world to help children affected by war. War Child works with children all over the world to reduce the effects of poverty, provide an education and to defend and promote child rights. War Child works to help children whose lives have been torn apart by conflict, and provide them with the means to build a brighter future. War Child was founded upon a fundamental goal: to advance the cause of peace through investing hope in the lives of children caught up in the horrors of war.

Many of these wars go unreported, often due to political expediency or lack of interest. They reveal a shaming pattern: Sixty million people have been killed in wars during the 20th Century. Over 80% of war casualties are now civilians - mainly women and children.

Children are amongst the first casualties of any armed conflict, always the most vulnerable and innocent of victims. In the last decade alone 1.5 million children have died in wars. Four million have been disabled and a further 10 million traumatized. The severe psychological wounds that war inflicts on children can scar them for life, crippling the very generations that must one day rebuild their devastated countries. For the future peace of the world we must do everything in our power to help these war children.

Donation: $5

To support War Child, please visit:  http://www.warchild.ca/