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!

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