World Humanitarian Day takes place on August 19th, and is a time to recognize those who face danger and adversity in order to help others.
The day was designated by the General Assembly to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 UN staff.
It’s a day to commemorate all people who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and to celebrate the spirit that inspired humanitarian work around the world. On this occasion, UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon said:
“Every year on August 19th we mark World Humanitarian Day in honour of aid workers, who have lost their lives in the line of duty. We commemorate their sacrifice and reaffirm our commitment to the lifesaving work that humanitarians carry out around the world every day, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances, where others cannot or do not want to go.”
The world needs more humanitarian heroes – people from all walks of life who are committed to making a difference. Become a messenger of humanity, join a growing team of global humanitarian heroes and organisations to help people in need. Find out more on the World Humanitarian Day website.
