Beshara: Power in knowledge as aid awaits
Plus: Healing through art and medical news you may have missed
I have been encouraged this week by the thousands of comments, shares and questions from our readers about donations for civilians in Gaza.
Being ready with aid - baby formula, nappies, blankets, medical supplies - for when the gates open is vital. It is the most basic display of humanity at a time of almost unparalleled difficulty.
As UN chief Antonio Guterres said, the access points for aid through Egypt "are not only critical, they are our only hope".
Ahmed Ali, head of the Egyptian Red Crescent, said his organisation receives "two to three planes of aid a day, chartered by humanitarian agencies or states", who want to send food, water or medical supplies to the 2.4 million people under total siege.
From within the enclave, we are seeing countless accounts of selflessness, from doctors risking their lives to save others to those who are housing and feeding the displaced.
Across the world, breaking through the noise of conflict and division, are voices seeking solutions and safe spaces to support one another, to learn, and to share experiences.
And so below I have spotlighted features that explore ways to understand more and to heal before highlighting some medical breakthroughs that may have been missed this week.
Nicola Leech
Do you have beshara to share? Email me: [email protected]
Knowledge is power
Amid the calls for ways to help, many readers have been searching for historical context to help them make sense of current events.
Our culture team scoured their bookshelves and sought expert recommendations to list titles that may help.
This is by no means an exhaustive guide but these books should give readers perspective on some of the key historical threads at work today.
We have also been speaking to psychologists and parenting experts about practical ways to prepare and approach conversations about conflict with children.
Among the suggestions is this key tip for any age from Dr Ola Pykhtina: “Name your feelings and reassure children that many people are looking for a solution.” Read more here.
QUOTED
领英推荐
‘I would go on my midnight rounds and hear giggles, and I knew exactly what that meant … she’d be in the ward talking to the children!’
– Much-loved and ever-modest surgeon Magdi Yacoub recalls memories of Princess Diana. This profile of the maverick surgeon is a must-read.
The power of art
“It can bolster one's sense of control, foster growth, increase self-esteem and resilience," Rawan Bajsair, an art psychotherapist, told us this week.
She was talking about the potential of digital art as a means of therapy at an event dedicated to the practice in its many mediums.
The Art Therapy Conference in Abu Dhabi heard from global experts, explored evidence-based research and saw some innovative concepts, as well as hearing testaments from survivors who said the “powerful tool” had helped change their lives. Read more here.
SNAPSHOT
HIGHLIGHTS