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South Africa – Features

The war away from the battlefields

(source: New York Times Editorial)

Suicide stalks the United States military as much as enemies do on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq, according to the latest grim data. Last year, 347 military personnel were killed in the two wars, while at least 381 warriors took their own lives. The double-edged tragedy was brought home in recent Congressional hearings that laid bare how much must be done to reach and comfort battle-weary soldiers near the edge of their resources.

Care and prevention programs have been upgraded as the suicide toll has risen across the two wars, with suicide attempts increasing sixfold in the Army, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. But currently tens of thousands of reservists return home from battle and fall through the cracks of programs supposedly mandating psychological and physical examinations within 90 days, concerned lawmakers are warning.

Legislation to repair this damage for members of the Army’s Individual Ready Reserve — a category that does not enjoy the unit-based care of other reservists — is again on the Congressional agenda. As vital as this is, the measure was approved by both houses last year but then was struck in a final conference for supposed budgetary reasons, according to one of the sponsors, Representative Rush Holt, Democrat of New Jersey. A constituent, Sgt. Coleman Bean, was a unit-free reservist who did two tours in Iraq and committed suicide while on a waiting list for post-traumatic stress disorder care.

Considering the two wars were declared and waged with scant attention to their full costs, lawmakers add insult to injury by invoking budget concerns for the traumatic needs of actual warriors. The provision, approved again by the House in the defense authorization bill, deserves final approval in the Senate. An estimated 40,000 reservists miss the mandated check-ups, according to Representative Holt, who told CQ Today the bulk of military suicides may come from these overlooked ranks.

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Press release three south Africans to scale kilamanjaro for charity

Press Release

Three South Africans will attempt to climb Mount Kilamanjaro – the highest free-standing mountain in the world – to raise funds for Palestinian children affected by war. Durban-based dentist, Muhammad Ridwaan Khan, and Gauteng electrical engineers, Nadim Mahomed and Muhammad Taher Khan, form part of an international team that will undertake the physically and mentally demanding journey to the top of Kilamanjaro from 2-12 July.

The expedition has been organised by the humanitarian group Muslim Hands as part of their annual Green Ribbon Week, an annual international fundraising initiative that raises awareness of the plight of children living in war-torn regions. The funds raised by the Kilamanjaro trip will be donated to children in the decimated Gaza area. Last year’s Green Ribbon Week project saw 60 people scale the Great Wall of China in aid of children in Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan.

“We hope that by personally challenging ourselves physically and mentally to reach the top of Africa, we can motivate and inspire others to join us in this challenge to raise as much money as possible for Gaza’s children of war,” said Muhammed Taher Khan.

The group aims to raise R250 000 which will be used to provide food, medicines, educational supplies and trauma-counselling for Gazan children. Members of the public that would like to contribute to this cause can deposit funds directly into the following account:

Account Name: Muslim Hands

Bank: Standard Bank

Account Number: 071 621 881

Branch: Parow – 031110

Please indicate in the reference the Donor ID 933393 and type of donation (Zakaat/ Lillah/ Sadaqah) so that the money can be processed accordingly. E-mail your payment confirmation to zaid@muslimhands.co.za to receive official acknowledgement for your contribution.

While the trio have managed to secure some sponsorships, a substantial part of their trip expenses have not been covered, and they are appealing to the public to help them meet these costs before 17 June. Donations towards the trip costs can also be deposited into the same account, indicating ‘SPONSORSHIP’ as reference. Please note that no charity (ie. Zakaat, Lillah, Sadaqah) donated will be used to fund the trip costs.

Team-members will keep the public updated by blogging about their experiences on http://kilimanjaro4gaza.blogspot.com. Facebook users can also join the Kilamanjaro Expedition group on http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=72443843013

For more media interviews, photographs and more information, contact:

Muhammed Taher Khan

Ph: (Work) (016) 960 5288

       (Home) (011) 486 0331

       (Cell)    082 535 1201

E-mail: muhammad.khan@sasol.com

 

Nadim Mahomed

Ph: 082 221 2312

Muhammad Ridwaan Khan

082 664 8898

 For Muslims Hands

Zaid Ali 

Phone: (011) 830 2955

Email: zaid@muslimhands.co.za

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