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Nearly 150,000 sign petition demanding LA mayor's resignation over fire response

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Nearly 150,000 sign petition demanding LA mayor's resignation over fire response

2025-01-17 02:01 Last Updated At:15:47

Nearly 150,000 people have so far signed an online petition demanding the immediate resignation of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over her "gross mismanagement" and a lack of leadership during the devastating wildfires in the region.

The Change.org petition with still-increasing signatures accuses Bass of mishandling the wildfires, noting that she was not even in the country when the fires first broke out.

"In the wake of these catastrophic fires, our city has been left in crisis. Water supplies have been severely strained, billions of taxpayer dollars have been misallocated or left unaccounted for, and countless lives have been lost. Families have been displaced, homes destroyed, and livelihoods shattered -- yet Mayor Bass has been absent from the frontlines, choosing to travel abroad while her constituents suffer," reads the petition, which was started last Thursday.

"Despite the tireless efforts of our first responders, the city has been woefully unprepared to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents. Basic resources, such as water and emergency services, have been inadequate, and leadership has been nowhere to be found when it was needed most," the petition adds.

According to media reports, Bass was on a diplomatic visit to Ghana when the devastating wildfires erupted. Prior to her trip, the local meteorological agency had issued multiple warnings about the extreme fire risk posed by strong winds following a prolonged dry spell.

In June 2024, Bass approved a budget cut of more than 17 million U.S. dollars to the local fire department. A report from the Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley in Dec 2024 stated that these cuts had significantly weakened the department's ability to effectively respond to wildfires and other emergencies.

Upon Bass's return to the U.S., a reporter confronted her, asking whether she owed an apology for her absence and if she regretted the decision to slash the fire department's budget. The mayor refused to respond.

As of Wednesday, fierce wildfires across the Los Angeles area had killed at least 25 people and destroyed more than 12,300 structures. Local authorities confirmed that at least 26 people were still missing in the ongoing wildfires. Twenty of the missing are believed to be in the Eaton Fire area and six in the Palisades Fire area.

Nearly 150,000 sign petition demanding LA mayor's resignation over fire response

Nearly 150,000 sign petition demanding LA mayor's resignation over fire response

Nearly 150,000 sign petition demanding LA mayor's resignation over fire response

Nearly 150,000 sign petition demanding LA mayor's resignation over fire response

Nearly 150,000 sign petition demanding LA mayor's resignation over fire response

Nearly 150,000 sign petition demanding LA mayor's resignation over fire response

Nearly 150,000 sign petition demanding LA mayor's resignation over fire response

Nearly 150,000 sign petition demanding LA mayor's resignation over fire response

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Women, children face dire struggles amid ongoing Sudan armed conflict

2025-02-09 17:43 Last Updated At:19:47

The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered a humanitarian crisis, leaving millions in Sudan, especially women and children, struggling with food insecurity, displacement, and violence.

The armed conflict that erupted in Sudan in mid-April 2023 has been ongoing for nearly two years, creating a severe humanitarian disaster in the country. A recent report released by the United Nations indicates that by 2025, more than 15 million women in Sudan will require humanitarian assistance.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)'s report -- "Sudan: Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025 - Overview" -- highlights that Sudanese women and children are disproportionately affected by the conflict, facing more acute challenges such as food shortages, survival crises, and the risk of gender-based violence.

The report reveals that approximately 24.6 million people in Sudan are in a state of "severe food insecurity" or worse, with women and children being particularly vulnerable. They face greater difficulties in accessing food, drinking water, healthcare, and ensuring their personal safety.

"Life is so hard. We don't have clean drinking water, and the water supply in grocery stores has also been cut off. We are short of food and water, and we are in despair. The prices of everything are continuously rising," said Sakina Ahmed, a resident.

Due to the severe damage and shortages in healthcare facilities, the situation for pregnant women and newborns in Sudan is dire. According to data from Sudan's Ministry of Health, 295 out of every 100,000 pregnant women die, and 51 out of every 1,000 newborns die.

Additionally, Sudan's education system has been severely disrupted by the conflict. Over 10,000 schools have been closed as a result of the fighting, and more than 90 percent of the 19 million school-age children are unable to access formal education, with girls being particularly affected by school dropouts, the report said.

"I was an eighth-grade student, but because of the conflict, I've been out of school for one year and four months," said Asrar Essam.

According to a statement by the UN resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, the armed conflict, along with the resulting mass displacement of people and widespread food insecurity, has led to a significant increase in gender-based violence, including sexual assaults.

The UN has called on Sudan to establish non-violent response mechanisms and strengthen accountability systems to safeguard the safety and dignity of all vulnerable groups. Most importantly, the UN has emphasized the urgent need to end the armed conflict and restore peace and stability.

Women, children face dire struggles amid ongoing Sudan armed conflict

Women, children face dire struggles amid ongoing Sudan armed conflict

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