World Humanitarian Day 2023; August 19th.

FORUM: “No matter what.“ World Humanitarian Day 2023. Today, 20 years on, the UNOCHA work has grown in scale and complexity to help almost 250 million people – 10 times more people than in 2003. As their efforts have grown, they face several challenges. From rising geopolitical tensions and the blatant disregard of international humanitarian law, to deliberate attacks and disinformation campaigns, our work is more difficult and dangerous than ever. Amid these trials they have grown stronger, and they became closer to the women, men and children they serve. Their ventures deep into disaster-stricken regions and closer to the front lines of conflict with no other purpose than saving and protecting lives and delivering the basics of life: food, water, shelter, education, health, nutrition and protection. To learn how aid workers come together in a collective effort to help others. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #Nomatterwho, #Nomatterwhere, #NoMatterWhat, #19 August; #WorldHumanitarianDay.

Statement by the United Nations Secretary-General for World Humanitarian Day 2023; August 19th.

This year’s World Humanitarian Day marks the 20th anniversary of the deadly attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad.

On that dark day, we lost 22 colleagues, including Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello.

That tragedy marked a change in the way humanitarians operate.

Because today, although humanitarians are respected around the world, they may also be targeted by those who would do them harm.

This year, global humanitarian operations aim to get life-saving aid to 250 million people in 69 countries – ten times more than at the time of the Canal Hotel bombing.

Sadly, funding is far off track. As crises multiply, it is unacceptable that humanitarians are being forced to reduce aid to millions of people in need.

Other challenges have also multiplied over the past twenty years:

Rising geopolitical tensions;

A blatant disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law;

Deliberate assault and disinformation campaigns.

Humanitarianism itself is now under attack.

But these tests have made the global humanitarian community stronger.

Humanitarians – who are mostly national staff working in their own countries – are even closer to the people they serve.

They are finding new ways to venture deeper into disaster-stricken regions, and closer to the front lines of conflict, driven by a single purpose: to save and protect lives.

On this World Humanitarian Day, we salute the courage and dedication of humanitarian aid workers everywhere.

We reaffirm our full support for their determined and life-saving efforts across the world.

We celebrate their unwavering dedication to serve ALL people in need:

No matter who, no matter where; no matter what.

Thank you.

António Guterres.

EVENTS: This year celebration takes place on Saturday 19th August. To mark the World Humanitarian day 2023, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs launches a one-week campaign to honour humanitarian workers. Under the theme “No matter what”, On this WHD, we will reaffirm our commitment to the values and humanitarian principles that guide us and show that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the communities we serve.

Wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Baghdad bombing.

Wreath-laying ceremony to honour colleagues who lost their lives at the Canal Hotel, Baghdad. Watch it in streaming!

Annual observance of World Humanitarian Day at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.

World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity to pay tribute to colleagues who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and to honour the thousands of aid workers who continue to provide much needed support to people suffering from conflicts or disasters across the world. As the world's humanitarian capital, Geneva plays a central role in bringing together partners to ensure an effective humanitarian response. Watch the Livetream!

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS

No matter where; No matter who; No matter what.

Ban Ki Moon Message on International Volunteers Day 2012

As we celebrate the impact of volunteers on our world, let us remember the many places they are needed: in war zones and classrooms, in hospitals and homes – wherever struggling people seek a helping hand.
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 Let us also remember that volunteering can embrace all people, from the activist who works full-time for a cause to the occasional citizen who reaches out when he or she can. Each sets an example of the spirit of compassion we need. Each makes a valuable contribution to reaching our common goals./

 The timeless act of volunteering in the service of others has taken on new dimensions in today’s digital age. Anyone with an Internet connection or a mobile phone can make a difference./

 I applaud all people who volunteer each year for the benefit of their communities. I am especially grateful to the 7,700 United Nations Volunteers who support efforts to prevent conflicts, help societies recover from fighting, promote sustainable development, assist in crisis situations and carry out numerous other projects for the greater good. Their work has advanced the Millennium Development Goals, and I am confident they will also contribute to the progress on the post-2015 development agenda./

 Founded on the values of solidarity and mutual trust, volunteerism transcends all cultural, linguistic and geographic boundaries. By giving their time and skills without expectation of material reward, volunteers themselves are uplifted by a singular sense of purpose./

 On this Day, let us renew our determination to offer strength and inspiration to others through volunteerism./ Ban Ki-moon

Statement by the Press Secretary on World Humanitarian Day 2012

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

August 19, 2012

Statement by the Press Secretary on World Humanitarian Day

On this fourth annual World Humanitarian Day, the United States joins the international community in honoring the courage and commitment of the dedicated aid workers who devote their lives to serving their fellow human beings, regardless of who they are and where they are, often in extremely dangerous circumstances.
From Syria to the Sahel, Yemen to Sudan, the eastern Horn of Africa to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, these unarmed aid workers risk their lives to provide life-saving assistance to millions of men, women and children. When disaster strikes, local and international humanitarians are often the first on the scene.
Today we also honor the memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in service to others. In the past fifteen years, more than 1,000 humanitarian workers have lost their lives while helping innocent civilians in times of conflict and suffering. Since last August, 272 aid workers have been killed, injured or kidnapped. As armed groups increasingly target humanitarians, the United States condemns any effort to harm aid workers and demands that they be given the access they need to reach those in need and save lives.
As we celebrate World Humanitarian Day today, the Syrian regime continues to brutally attack its citizens and restrict the delivery of humanitarian aid to over 2.5 million people in need. Last weekend, the Government of Sudan signed a possible agreement of humanitarian access to Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, where over 665,000 people are in need. We strongly urge the Syrian and Sudanese governments to provide unfettered access to help those in need of urgent humanitarian aid.
Around the world, every humanitarian aid worker must be free to serve without fear for their safety, and every human being must be able to pursue their aspirations in peace, dignity and security.
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