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What Happened in Beslan
On September 1, 2004 terrorists captured more than 1300 hostages at the local School #1 in Beslan, Republic of Ossetia, South Russia during the traditional “Welcome to School” ceremony. This act of terror was directed specifically at children. Hundreds of young children spent 53 hours without water and food in an overcrowded hot gymnasium, wired with explosives. They witnessed the beatings and murders of family members, friends and teachers. After one of many bombs surrounding the hostages detonated, a series of explosions and a firefight followed. Fire and the collapse of the roof completed the devastation, leaving more than 300 dead (most of them young children), hundreds wounded, and thousands scarred for life. Many of the children who did survive will never walk or run again. Many are disfigured, will not see, hear or smell again. Many are so psychologically traumatized that they have not spoken to anyone and appear to have post traumatic stress disorder of the kind that is seen in combat war veterans and police officers. Dozens of children became orphans and some became handicapped for life. According to official data, 344 civilians were killed, at least 172 of them were children*... What happened in Beslan is one of the worst and most obscene atrocities enacted on a civilian population in Europe in recent history. Every life that was taken was innocent and undeserving of the torment and terror that they faced with unmistakable courage and dignity. According to official data, 344 civilians were killed, at least 172 of them were children*, and hundreds more wounded. The equal number of family tombs and the greater number of death certificates suggests that the real number of killed is 3 times higher. In a region where life, disability and medical insurance is unheard of, many will need financial and emotional support to begin the recovery process.
* as of October 13, 2004 as reported in The Moscow Times |
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