819 World Humanitarian Day
2010-08-19
19 August is the World Humanitarian Day.
Man-made and natural disasters cause immense suffering for millions of people every year, very often among the world's poorest, most marginalised and vulnerable individuals. There are currently more than 27 million internally displaced people and 10 refugees in the world. One out of every six people in the world are chronically hungry. Humanitarian aid workers strive to ensure that all those who have experienced a traumatic event and need life-saving assistance receive it, regardless of where they are in the world, and regardless of their religion or social group or nationality.
Over many years, humanitarian aid workers have relied on acceptance that they need to be protected by all parties to ensure they can work wherever they are needed. However, seven years ago, on 19 August 2003, the United Nations Office in Iraq was bombed. 22 people lost their lives. Prior to that date and since then, many other humanitarian aid workers have lost their lives. The most recent large-scale loss occurred as a result of the earthquake in Haiti in January 2010. We face a future in which more humanitarian aid will be needed. Therefore, it is important to ensure humanitarian aid workers are respected and helped, not targeted, allowing them to unit by their commitment to humanitarianism and continue to help hundreds and thousands of people in need.