What kind of monsters would leave a child to starve?

[iwuddarryl]

Apparently they thought the child was a witch so abandoned him to starve.
It's disturbing to think that in this day and age people would do such a thing.
He's not the only one.
Thousands of children in Nigeria are being accused of being witches and are starved, beaten and tortured.

I'm pleased to see that people are at least donating forwards educating people out of this cruel, uncivilized way of treating children.
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Sorry that wasn't a plug - I should have said women's or contraceptive based charities there...

Sorry if ive missed it but how does donating to marie stopes help the women in africa?

Rude, Marie Stopes International offers safe abortion/contraception/maternal healthcare in the developing world.

There was a programme on a few years ago about 'witch children.' An organisation in Nigeria was helping them. I was in tears watching it. Terribly cruel.

Thanks cotton. I know little about it tbh. Would the women in these types of communities have access to it?

I remember a story a few years ago about a young girl (maybe 6?) who was dragged from her home by a mob and burned alive after her neighbour, who's baby son had died, accused her of being a witch. They said she used witchcraft to kill their son.

It was several years ago so I don't have a link, just the memory of the story which has stayed with me. Brings me to tears just remembering it. Those poor children

I just remembered another about a young mother who was accused of a similar thing and received the same punishment. She 'confessed' under torture.

(Warning: very upsetting link)

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2274821/Accused-witch-Kepari-Leniata-burned-alive-pile-tyres-Papua-New-Guinea.html

My friend used to work as an aid worker and would forward these stories to as many people she could to raise awareness. Those stories have stayed with me for years

I don't know, Rude, I know MS operates in a lot of African countries, but I can imagine there being a lot of complex geographical and cultural barriers to women having access to their services.

Belief in witchcraft is certainly far from unknown in some communities in the UK. When I lived in North London, we used to get leaflets in the door all the time offering to 'cure barren women' and exorcisms.

Does anyone know where to donate to this woman and Hope?

I think this is just about the most heart breaking thing I've seen/read.

How human beings can look on at a child that is their family or neighbour and cast them out is so absolutely beyond me.

My third child is 20 months and thinking of her wandering the streets on her own is making me weep.

I hope so much that this boy knows only love now and somehow things change in these countries.

I'm sure that this type of barbaric superstition played a major role in the heartbreaking life of Victoria Climbe.

If there is a God I think He needs to make his presence known as humanity as a whole is in a bad place, we've fucked up and need help.

I read this last night and sobbed. I can't bear the thought of him trying to fend for himself. I hope the people that did this to him reap what they've sowed - evil bastards. My own ds is the same age as that poor little mite and the thought of him being on his own is just horrifying. It's really brought home how bloody lucky the majority are in this country.

I can imagine there being a lot of complex geographical and cultural barriers to women having access to their services.

Yes i imagine so.

I also thought i recalled a 'witchcraft' element in the Victoria Climbie case.

I hope the people that did this to him reap what they've sowed

The whole culture did it to him. His parents, his neighbours, the village, the laws of the country. They wont reap any consequences for what they did.

That woman is a beautiful angel.

That poor baby. I am so glad he has got media attention. He hopefully has a brighter future.

Nigeria is where Boko Harem is btw... So they do hAve their fair share of human rights issues.

Shocking. A starving, abandoned child has to be rescued by a charity worker from another country, as it's been for a long time, and nothing ever changes. It shows where their governments' priorities lie, sadly. Why should they bother caring for their nation, when the other continents will always fly in, shoulder the burden and fund the recovery, while Nigeria funds it's own Space Program.

The whole culture did it to him. His parents, his neighbours, the village, the laws of the country. They wont reap any consequences for what they did.
I know. What can we do? How can I help?

I dont know what we can do. I have set up a monthly donation to the website linked upthread but i know it's a drop in the ocean. It will feed one child. It feels very patronising to say that i think these people need educated. Their beliefs are their beliefs much like religious beliefs that are common here in the UK (although i am atheist and do struggle with religious beliefs and what they are allowed to "get away" with here) and we dont try and "educate" people here out of Catholicism or Judaism. I think any change will have to come from the top down. How likely is that when they happily legislate to allow these punishments for witchcraft or sorcery?