Sir, - Yet another tragedy in East Timor where the great powers of the world stand back despite the mass slaughter of innocent people, many of them children. Some have witnessed horrendous extremes of violence.
In the past 10 years there have been over 36 armed conflicts in the world. Nine out of every 10 casualties have been civilians.
Two million children have been killed. Five million children have been injured. Twelve million children have been made homeless and over one million orphaned or separated from their parents. Over 10 million children have been psychologically traumatised.
A child wounded in childhood will remain stunted and warped forever, if not helped. We owe it to every child to give them the best we have. We are failing.
We are one of the 25 most advantaged countries in the world. To end this world conflict is a collective responsibility and it begins with each of us. - Yours, etc.,
Rosaleen Maguire, Irish Association of Social Workers, Pearse Street, Dublin l2.