Daily Dispatch

A time to unite for humanity

VILE, despicable and inhuman is how world leaders described the attack on French soil that claimed the lives of more than 120 people.

On Friday night, teams of gunmen and suicide bombers carried out a series of attacks in Paris targeting restaurants, a concert hall where an American band was performing and a soccer stadium hosting an international friendly between France and Germany.

French president Francois Hollande, who was at the match, had to be evacuated.

The Islamic State has purportedly claimed responsibility for the attack in the French capital, which has sparked international outcry.

For the country, it will no doubt open a wound that has not entirely healed.

In January this year, 12 people were slaughtered at the Paris office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The attack on the weekly follows its publication of cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed, which is considered offensive to Muslims.

Millions demonstrated across France, denouncing the killings. Soon #JeSuisCharlie (I am Charlie) trended globally.

A few days after the attack on Charlie Hebdo, four people were killed when a jihadist gunman opened fire on a Jewish supermarket.

Now, yet more tragedy has struck the French. In support of the country and in honour of those who died, Facebook users the world over changed their profile pictures to the French flag. The social network also introduced the “safety check” feature, enabling those in the affected area to let friends and family know they were safe.

The November 13 attack has dominated headlines as the media publish and broadcast regular updates on developments.

While the world is rightfully disgusted at the loss of innocent lives in Paris, it should spare a thought for families who have lost loved ones in other violent attacks.

More than 40 people were killed in Beirut just a few days ago when two men wearing suicide vests carried out an attack on a busy shopping street in the Burj al-Barajneh neighbourhood. More than 200 people were wounded, many of them seriously. Lebanon on Friday held a day of mourning for those who were killed.

The Islamist State group has also claimed responsibility for the attack.

With the Paris killings monopolising world news, not much has been reported on the deaths of innocent civilians in Lebanon.

There has been no safety check feature on social networks and no calls to change Facebook profile pictures in honour of those who had died.

The world must be outraged by the Paris attacks, but we must be equally outraged by other senseless killings. We must all stand united in praying for humanity.