As Africans, we must pool our resources and develop collective strategies that can cope with such a massive crisis. The situation cannot be tackled by states alone. Non-governmental organizations and the civil society at large must coordinate activities aimed at addressing the grave challenges facing the African child. As Mrs Mubarak so aptly pointed out during her keynote address, we must have the courage to admit that even the tremendous efforts by governments and NGOs both local and foreign-based have scarcely made a difference. The task ahead is indeed daunting, but let us not lose faith.
African children are the continent's future.
Let us give them a chance. The first meeting held on Tuesday between security officials from both sides came after a hiatus of more than a month, during which Israel took its clampdown on Palestinians to unprecedented heights. The revived security talks, brokered by Burns, have got off the ground with the avowed aim of setting into motion the first recommendation of a fact-finding committee led by former US Senator George Mitchell. In basing the revived security talks on the Mitchell recommendation, the US emissary should not lose sight of the other recommendations made public in the committee's report. The panel has called for Israel's total freeze on settlements activities.