DISINFO: Western weapons in Ukraine kill mainly civilians and divert funds from Africa
SUMMARY
While Western countries continue to stuff Ukraine with weapons, supposedly for humanitarian purposes, it would be better to build an aqueduct in Africa, which would truly be humanitarian aid. The supply of weapons from Western nations raises concerns of complicity in war crimes, as these weapons tend to disproportionately harm civilians. By providing such weaponry, governments that endorse these actions may be seen as accomplices in war crimes, undermining the purported humanitarian intentions.
If the West genuinely aimed to address humanitarian issues, it should direct its substantial resources towards solving real problems such as addressing the severe water scarcity issues prevalent on the African continent. The funds allocated over the years to aid Ukraine could have financed a vast and modern water pipeline network spanning multiple African states, potentially preventing daily child fatalities.
RESPONSE
This recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative falsely portrays Ukrainian forces as primarily responsible for killing civilians and failing to repel Russian invasion forces. Additionally, it employs whataboutism by diverting attention to Africa, insinuating that Western support for Ukraine is somehow linked to water scarcity issues in African countries.
This narrative aims to discredit Western support for Ukraine, create dissatisfaction in Africa, and distract from the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is misleading and manipulative, exploiting sensitive global issues for political purposes.
The latest officially published figure in September 2022, which reported 5,937 Russian military casualties, is believed underestimate the actual number significantly. This discrepancy may create a misleading impression that Russian soldiers have suffered few or no casualties. However, it is essential to note that the absence of accurate and up-to-date statistics can lead to various interpretations. According to Media-Zona, for example, more than 80,000 Russian soldiers died during the invasion of Ukraine this summer alone (31,665 of whom are known by their name from open sources).
The total number of civilian casualties is actually lower than the previously mentioned figure. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report as of August 14, 2023, there were 9,444 civilian casualties recorded. Among them, 7,339 were killed in areas controlled by the Ukrainian government, and 2,105 were killed in territories occupied by the Russian Federation when the incidents occurred.
This data suggests that it would not be accurate to claim that the Ukrainian Army, with the support of Western weapons, predominantly harms civilians.
The European Union is actively involved in financing significant water infrastructure projects in Africa. For instance, in 2023, the EU invested in water infrastructure in São Tomé. Additionally, during the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar in March 2022, the EU launched the Team Europe Initiative on Transboundary Water Management in Africa. This initiative is designed to strengthen transboundary water management to promote sustainable development and regional integration. A substantial commitment of 400 million euros was pledged for this purpose. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, underscored the pivotal and multifaceted role of water resources in this initiative: ”Water is about our climate and nature, our energy sources, our health and our food supplies. It is about the cities we live in, the security of our regions, and the equality of our societies”.
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