Raising Awareness: World Humanitarian Day

In the past decade, more than 700 humanitarian workers have been killed while providing life-saving assistance to millions around the world

. In an effort to raise public awareness of humanitarian assistance, the General Assembly of the UN has designated 19th August as "World Humanitarian Day" (WHD). On 19th August 2003, a brutal attack destroyed the UN headquarters in Iraq, killing 22 people from the UN and the humanitarian community and injuring hundreds of others. Among those killed was the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Iraq. Symbolically, the General Assembly decided to establish the anniversary date of the bombing as World Humanitarian Day.

Natural disasters happen every year across the globe. They especially affect the young and vulnerable. The world's poorest do not have the resources to help themselves to recover. This is where humanitarian work is vital. Humanitarians can provide the life saving assistance these communities need. It does not matter what country you are from and it does not matter what religion, social group, sex or race you are, humanitarian workers are there to help everyone.

The majority of humanitarian workers come from the countries in which they work. Strong, professional and independent local partners are fully involved in all humanitarian responses. Humanitarian aid workers are national and international, male and female, and reflect all cultures, ideologies and backgrounds.

Humanitarian aid is increasingly being perceived as "Western" intervention, resulting in an increasing trend of targeted attacks on humanitarian personnel. This perception is entirely wrong, and only serves to harm the poorest, most vulnerable disaster-affected people. Humanitarian aid is based on a number of founding principles, including humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. Humanitarian aid workers should be respected, and be able to access those in need in order to provide vital assistance.

Hazards such as floods and droughts become disasters when people are vulnerable because of poverty. Action Aid takes a proactive and holistic approach to emergencies and conflict, working with communities and partners to prepare for, and cope with, the impacts of disasters, lobbying authorities and governments to protect people's rights to freedom from fear and want and to be able to take action on their own behalf.

by: Susan McNulty.

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