Terrorism Is Borderless | 26/11 Survivor Calls For Concerted Action To Combat Scourge As UN Honours Terror Victims, Survivors

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 22: Terrorism is borderless and the United Nations, as well as the international community, need to put their weight behind ending the scourge, a survivor of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks Karambir Singh Kang said as the UN paid tributes to terror victims globally. The UN General Assembly has established August 21 as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
The day honours, remembers and pays tribute to all victims and survivors of terrorism across the world, highlighting the importance of global solidarity and ensuring their stories and experiences are not forgotten.
This year, the day focused on the theme ‘Legacy: Finding Hope and Building a Peaceful Future'. “Terrorism is borderless. It can happen anywhere, anytime. United Nations needs to pull its weight on some of these matters which globally affect all of us,” Kang said at a special virtual event organised by the UN Monday to mark the 6th commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. “It's important that we have all the countries to cooperate and put an end to this scourge. It's not easy. It's easier said than done. But if there is resolve, anything can be done,” Kang said.
Kang, who was General Manager of the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai when the 26/11 terror attacks occurred, lost his wife and two sons in the barbaric attack. He and his team have received global accolades for saving many guests during the terror attacks. “My family was in the hotel on the top floor. That's where we were temporarily living. They could not escape,” Kang says in the virtual event, visibly choking up. In the video message, Kang spoke about the harrowing tragedy that unfolded when 10 Pakistani terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba unleashed mayhem and horror in Mumbai. He has shared his experiences on various global platforms and is a vocal proponent of global support and action for victims and survivors of terror attacks. the world the horror of the attack and the ordinary citizens impacted by it. An accompanying exhibition currently on display in the Visitor's Lobby of the United Nations Headquarters here features 17 life-size images of victims and survivors of terrorism. Showcasing their ‘Memories' through meaningful personal objects, the exhibit provides a snapshot of the resilience and legacy of each victim and survivor of terrorism. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 19 2003, which killed 22 UN staff and humanitarian aid workers, including the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sérgio Vieira de Mello. Victims and survivors of terrorism from Uganda, the United States and the United Nations also shared their experiences during the virtual event. (AGENCIES)