CHIFA members will be horrified and deeply anxious over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with continuing destruction of Ukrainian cities and residential areas by Russian bombing and the consequent loss of civilian lives including many children.
ISSOP, the International Society for Social Pediatrics and Child health, has spoken out before over the need to end the bombing of civilian areas in any conflict since children and families will inevitably be among the victims.
We are also greatly saddened by the new refugee crisis which is affecting children more than another group in society, including many disabled children.
ISSOP has drawn up a petition calling for the immediate establishment of a formalized UN Humanitarian Response on Child Casualties in Armed Conflicts.
You will find the petition here
<https://www.change.org/p/protect-and-mitigate-harm-to-children-impacted-...
on change.org, please consider giving your support.
Tony Waterston
International Society for Social Pediatrics and Child Health
CHIFA profile: Tony Waterston is a retired consultant paediatrician who worked mainly in the community in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. He spent 6 years working in Zambia and Zimbabwe and directed the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Diploma in Palestinian Child Health teaching programme in the occupied Palestinian territories. He was an Editor of the Journal of Tropical Pediatrics and is on the Executive Committee of the International Society for Social Pediatrics. His academic interests are child poverty, advocacy for child health and children's rights. He is currently the lead moderator of CHIFA (HIFA's sister forum on child health and rights). He is also a member of the HIFA Steering Group.
Tony.Waterston AT newcastle.ac.uk
