7th of April

The 7th of April is World Health Day (according to the United Nations) in recognition of the formation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948. It is also International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda. The 7th of April is the 97th day of the year (Gregorian calendar) or 98th day in a leap year.

 

 


 

 

 

7th OF APRIL

 

On the 7th of April 1994

Large scale genocide begins in Rwanda. Within three months at least 800,000 Rwandan’s are killed in the largest act of genocide since World War II. When People first settled in Rwanda and Burundi they farmed cattle; those that owned the cattle were known as “Tutsi” and the rest of the population were known as “Hutu”. For over a hundred years two tribes have been fighting in both the African states of Rwanda and Burundi.  The animosity between the two groups increased when Belgium (who administered Rwanda and Burundi after World War II) gave the minority Tutsis the governmental roles. When an uprising started due to this policy the Belgium government attempted to fix things by giving all the governmental positions to Hutus. The day before on the 6th of April 1994, after a meeting to discuss the issue with other leaders of Tanzanian states, a plane carrying the Presidents from Rwanda and Burundi was shot down over the Rwandan capital of Kigali, killing both leaders. It is not known who shot down the plane but on this day fighting between the two tribes in Rwanda progressed dramatically (and Burundi to a lesser extent). The Rwandan Military started to arm the Hutu civilians (the majority tribe) with guns and machetes, and the genocide of Tutsis and “moderate Hutus” began (moderate Hutus was the name given to Hutu tribe members that didn’t agree to the segregation of Tutsis. In many ways the moderate Hutus were hated more by the Hutu extremists for what they saw as a betrayal of their tribe). The armed forces also killed 10 Belgian peacekeepers as a warning to the international community not to intervene and with that the United Nations pulled out of the area. Radio stations around Rwanda called for the Hutu people to kill all Tutsis. The international community only watched as hundreds of thousands died. It took a force of trained Tutsis lead by current president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, to end the genocide and defeat the armed forces of Rwanda.

 

 

On the 7th of April 1948

The World Health Organisation (WHO) was formed. The World Health Organisation was created by the United Nations as an authoritative organisation for health issues within the United Nations. It is responsible for providing leadership within any global health issues, such as major virus outbreaks and the prevention of global pandemics. The 7th of April in now known as ‘World Health Day’ in recognition of WHO’s formation.

 

 

The 7th of April 30AD

One of two estimated dates of the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. The other estimated date is the 3rd of April 33AD and although this seems like quite a wide range it is based on reasoning from scriptures including possible dates of the Passover festival between 29AD and 36AD. Visit this site for a more accurate explanation.

 

 

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