On Wednesday 19 August 2015 the annual World Humanitarian Day will take place, bringing with it the opportunity to highlight challenges faced by people across the world and to honour humanitarian workers who constantly face danger and adversity in their mission to help others.
The World Humanitarian Day concept was established by the Sérgio Vieira de Mello Foundation, the eponymous association founded in memory of the UN Special Representative in Iraq and the 21 other people killed by the Baghdad Canal Hotel Bombing in 2003. Last year 329 humanitarian workers were victims of attacks in Afghanistan, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Pakistan, affirming the need for continuation of the annual World Humanitarian Day.
The day was first held in 2009, and each year it encompasses a different campaign. The focus of 2010 was 'We Are Humanitarian Workers'; in 2011 it was 'People Helping People'; 2012 stated 'I was Here' and 2013 demanded 'The World Needs More...'. 2015's edition will be marked by the theme 'Inspiring Humanity', with the intention of encouraging action and the creation of a more humane world through a broader and more active global citizenship. The event is designed to be all-encompassing, with each individual invited to become a messenger in the call for humanity around the world.
In conjunction with the 7th World Humanitarian Day and the European Year for Development, the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Action has announced it will be leading a joint campaign with partner Fondation Caritas Luxembourg to raise awareness of the challengers of humanitarian action, to help work towards potential solutions.
Drawing on the global #ShareHumanity social media campaign, the Directorate will broadcast on this World Humanitarian Day several testimonies demonstrating humanitarian situations and projects in Syria, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Bolivia. These stories will be shared on their respective websites and social networks.
Four crises, deemed to be at the highest critical level in the UN system, are currently erupting around the world simultaneously, in Syria, South Sudan, Iraq and Yemen. With these four conflicts, and nearly 80 million people in need of humanitarian aid in 37 countries, it is hoped that the testimonials will help to put a human face to conflict's name, subsequently encouraging global support for humanitarian action.
Photo by World Humanitarian Day
