Opinion pieces

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Australia must do more to help children in the Pacific

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Children’s drawings often evoke a sense of joy and mirth – whether it’s a wonky stick-figure family with a spotty dog, or holiday fun under an oversized sun. But this week, a crudely-drawn sketch by a young boy filled me with sadness. The window into his life depicts his father looming menacingly over his mother with a knife, poised to strike as she cowers in fright.

Opinion Pieces, Asia and the Pacific

Why the world must know what is happening on the frontline of the Ebola epidemic

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

On the dusty brown streets of Beni, we are too scared to shake hands with anyone we meet. We don’t hug or kiss each other on the cheek. This is Ebola ground zero. Locals have even developed a new greeting ritual. Those who know each other well – and understand Ebola’s deadly threat – raise their arms and touch elbows. The virus is the stuff of nightmares. It has claimed more than 1700 lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo in one year. In Beni, at least 337 men, women and child have succumbed to the illness.

Opinion Pieces, Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ebola

Aid work must never be linked with defence

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

As an aid worker with an American accent, I’m used to being the target of security threats. In South Sudan in 2016, humanitarian staff were subjected to horrific violence and harassment, with Americans often singled out. There were mock executions of Americans at checkpoints. In an attack on a residential compound, an American was badly beaten and told: “Tell your Embassy how we treated you”.

Opinion Pieces, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, AUSAID, Conflict, Emergencies, South Sudan

Ebola is back and containing the virus will be more difficult than last time

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Between 2013 and 2016, Ebola swept through West Africa, killing more than 11,000 people. Now, writes World Vision CEO, Claire Rogers, the virus is spreading in a war-zone, which means aid workers are facing a new set of challenges.

Opinion Pieces, Africa, Ebola

My Life-Changing Trip To Rwanda 25 Years After The Genocide

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

It’s been 25 years since the Hutu forces started their murderous campaign that ran from April 7 to July 4, 1994. Over the 100-day period, an estimated 800,000 to one million people were slaughtered.

Opinion Pieces, Africa

On the brink of an epidemic: New crisis looming in Mozambique

Sunday, March 31, 2019

It’s a little-known country on no-one’s radar — but it’s on the brink of an epidemic that could kill hundreds of thousands of people in weeks.

Opinion Pieces, Africa

After the storm: Claire Rogers visits Beira, Mozambique

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Driving through the Mozambican city of Beira it looks like the apocalypse, littered with broken trees, damaged buildings and ripped up telephone and power poles among which children can be seen helping to shift the detritus.

Opinion Pieces, Africa

Fearless Girl Statue a Vital Symbol of Equality

Friday, March 8, 2019

The Fearless Girl statue reminds us to keep fighting for the rights of women and girls, for the good of all humanity

Opinion Pieces, Children's Rights, Claire Rogers, Women's Rights, World Vision

Millions neglected and in need, but where is Australia’s support for the DRC?

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

By Caelin Briggs, Senior Policy Advisor on conflict and displacement. At the start of this year, an estimated 13.1 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). There was one other country that recorded the same number of people in need: Syria. But while the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provided more than $50 million to the Syria humanitarian appeals in the past five years, it has given less than $5 million to the DRC humanitarian appeals over the same period.

Opinion Pieces, Africa

"Ray of hope" for people who depend on us, as Labor puts aid on the agenda

Friday, December 14, 2018

ALP elders have called on their party to restore humanitarian aid ahead of the ALP conference next week. They lamented the damage aid decline has done to Australia’s international reputation — and they are right to do so.

Opinion Pieces, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, Foreign Aid, Tim Costello, World Vision