BEPPLE – Let’s remember all the civilians, especially children, lost in war

AS WE MOVE THROUGH November, and the time of remembrance, it feels like war is not a distant event, but ever present.

The war in Ukraine drags on: some of their citizens have fled here to Kamloops for safety. Others in Kamloops grieve Israeli losses from the Hamas’ attack of Israel on Oct. 7.  The subsequent counterattack by Israel on Gaza has brought mounting losses in Gaza which has impacted others in our city as well.  Wars a world away are felt here in Kamloops.

Remembrance Day is for wars long ago fought but, daily, war is with us.

Remembrance Day is set aside for solemn remembrance of the sacrifices of armed forces in past wars and conflicts.  Wreaths are laid to remember all the fallen or just one.  Soldiers guard the cenotaph, the veterans parade and onlookers bow their heads.  The focus of Remembrance Day is on the military losses.

The First World War (1914 – 1918) saw approximately 8.8 million military personnel die in combat, including 66,000 Canadian military.  Sources state another six million civilians also died as a direct result of the war.

In the Second World War (1939 – 1945), there were an estimated 15 million military personnel deaths including 42,042 Canadian military.  In that war, there were over 38 million civilian deaths.

In the Korean War (1950 – 1953), 800,000 military and 1.5 million civilians died. Of those, 516 were Canadian military deaths.

Remembrance Day focuses on military deaths, but we remember so many others lost as well.

The current wars between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and the Hamas are both stark reminders that war may be between military forces but civilians pay a heavy toll.  Reports from the U.S. in August estimated the war in Ukraine has seen 120,000 Russian military personnel deaths and Ukrainian military deaths at close to 70,000.  Since the war started in February 2022, confirmed civilian deaths are over 9,600, of which about 550 are children.

In Gaza and Israel, the war that started Oct 7 has had more than 1,400 people killed in Israel including some children.  So far in Gaza, at least 10,000 have been killed, including 4,100 children.

Even war has law.  Civilians cannot be deliberately targeted.  Civilian property cannot be unnecessarily destroyed.  The growing numbers of civilian deaths in Ukraine, Israel, and especially Gaza is of concern globally.  On Oct. 27, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas and demanding aid access to Gaza.  There were 120 countries in favour, and 14 against, with 45 abstentions (Canada was one of the countries who abstained).

On Nov. 11, as well we should, we will remember the death of Canadian military.  As we remember the dead from long ago wars, we should also remember the current events in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza that are starkly present.  We should remember that both civilian and military lives are lost in conflict. We should remember especially children, who are the least able to defend themselves.

As we remember those who died in long ago wars, we should remember that the creation of international war crime statutes came as a direct result of the massive losses and devastation of the Second World War.

Enforcing the international war crimes in current conflicts would be a meaningful remembrance of all who died in that war.

Nancy Bepple is a Kamloops City councillor with a strong interest in community building projects.