“Aid workers are the envoys we send to show our solidarity with suffering. They represent what is best in human nature. But their work is dangerous...”

Key points

• Humanitarian aid workers strive to provide life-saving assistance to the increasing number of people affected by man-made and natural disasters every year.  They reach out to the poorest, most marginalized and vulnerable people regardless of where they are in the world or what nationality, social or religious group they belong to.

• Humanitarian aid workers can be international, but most come from the country in which they work.  They reflect all cultures, ideologies and backgrounds and they are united by their commitment to humanitarianism.

• Despite this diversity, there is a growing misperception that humanitarian aid is delivered exclusively by Western organizations, or represents one ideological or religious world view.  This has resulted in an increasing number of targeted attacks on humanitarian personnel, which in turn harms the poorest and most vulnerable people depending on their aid.

• The targeting of aid workers impedes their access to the beneficiaries of humanitarian aid at a time when the need for their assistance is growing.  The best way to ensure that humanitarian workers are respected and not harmed is to improve awareness of the principles of humanitarian aid work: humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.

History

On 11 December 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided:

"...to designate 19 August as World Humanitarian Day in order to contribute to increasing public awareness about humanitarian assistance activities worldwide and the importance of international cooperation in this regard, as well as to honour all humanitarian and United Nations and associated personnel who have worked in the promotion of the humanitarian cause and those who have lost their lives in the cause of duty, and invites all Member States and the entities of the United Nations system, within existing resources, as well as other international organizations and non-governmental organizations, to observe it annually in an appropriate manner."

World Humanitarian Day is in part dedicated to the memory of all those aid workers, who have lost their lives while bringing assistance to others, the majority of them from the communities they are trying to help.

19 August 2003 is the date on which a brutal terrorist attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad killed 22 people, including UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.

There are three main areas of focus for the commemoration of the day:

• To draw attention to humanitarian needs worldwide;
• To explain, in simple, visual terms what humanitarian aid work entails;
• To remember those who have lost their lives in humanitarian service.

On World Humanitarian Day, we renew our commitment to life-saving relief efforts — and remember those who died while serving this noble cause.

People who have lived through terrible events are often left with nothing.

No family; no food; no shelter; no job.

Not even a passport or ID paper.

Nothing.

Humanitarian workers help them get back on their feet to restart their lives.

Aid workers are the envoys we send to show our solidarity with suffering.

They represent what is best in human nature.  But their work is dangerous.

Often, they venture to some of the most perilous places on earth.

And often, they pay a heavy price.  Harassment and intimidation.  Kidnapping and even murder.

January’s earthquake in Haiti was a humanitarian catastrophe for the country.

It also had a devastating impact on aid workers.

The United Nations lost some of its most dedicated staff on that day.

On World Humanitarian Day, let us remember those in need…

Those who have fallen while trying to help them…

And those who continue to give aid, undeterred by the dangers they face — for the sake of building a safer, better world.

In December 2008, the sixty-third session of the General Assembly decided to designate 19 August, the date of the Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad in 2003, as World Humanitarian Day.

This second year, the day will raise awareness of what it means to be a humanitarian aid worker by describing the work humanitarians do, explaining the principles all humanitarians are guided by and portraying the hazards humanitarian aid workers face in the course of their work.

The Day will also honour humanitarian aid workers who have been killed or injured in the course of their work.

Information packages about the day have been prepared and include a one-page leaflet, posters, key messages, questions and answers about the day, and summaries of information on the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers and on global humanitarian assistance trends in 2010. These information products have been disseminated widely through the World Humanitarian Day website and other media.

A video message from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be released for global broadcast on 19 August along with a collaborative three-minute film featuring humanitarian aid workers from around the world.

At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, a photo exhibit capturing the images from the Haiti earthquake on 12 January 2010 will be the background for the second World Humanitarian Day commemoration, which will be led by the Under-Secretary- General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. This ceremony will take place immediately following the wreath-laying ceremony organized by the Standing Committee on the Security and Independence of International Civil Service.

10:30 a.m.   Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. John Holmes will make a statement to commemorate the World Humanitarian Day 2010

10:35 a.m.   United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message will be shown

10:40 a.m.   A short film highlighting this year’s theme for World Humanitarian Day will be shown: “I am a Humanitarian”

10:45 a.m.  Ceremony closes

General Assembly resolution (A/RES/63/139)on Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations

Report of the Secretary-General A/63/305 on the Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel and corrigendum

Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel