In a world constantly confronted with threats to global security, few individuals standout selfless and make unimaginable sacrifices to make the world a better place with their role as humanitarian and aid workers under the auspices of international organizations such as the United Nations, governmental, and non-governmental organizations.
Some of these aid workers put aside their personal leisure and comfort to help people in war-torn zones, disease-ravaged areas, and even in places under constant threat to terror. Currently, over 130 million people throughout the world are confronted with crisis that are either war-related, or natural disasters and are in dire need of aid. While in service, humanitarians are exposed to dangers, they could loose their lives, or even sustain lifetime wounds or scars. Over 700 humanitarian workers have lost their lives or found themselves in dangerous situations while reaching out to people in need. They are without doubts, the world’s unsung heroes. The United Nations in a bid to make the world aware of untold sacrifices made by humanitarian workers designated August 19 as World Humanitarian Day.
World Humanitarian Day
The events of August 19, 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq which saw the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Representative of the Secretary General to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mellothe loose his life alongside 21 other colleagues in the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, served as reason for the choice of August 19. The date was set by the UN General Assembly in December, 2008, as part of a Swedish-sponsored Resolution A/63/L.49 on the Strengthening of the Coordination of Emergency Assistance of the United Nations, and the day was first observed on August 19, 2009. The day is dedicated to honour efforts made by humanitarians worldwide and encourage the idea of supporting people in crisis all over the world. It is a day the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), advocates for the global community of humanitarians in a bid to foster and support their efforts throughout the world. Every year, a theme is selected to guide the activities of the day.
World Humanitarian Day 2019
Activities for this year’s commemoration is focused at appreciating the efforts made by female humanitarian workers towards helping people in crisis-inflicted areas and ensuring the world is a better place to live in. With the theme ‘’Women Humanitarians,’’ the role of women who are at the fore of strengthening global humanitarian response activities are recognized and appreciated.
From supporting civilians caught up in crisis to addressing disease outbreaks, women humanitarians are on the front lines.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres
Women stand a greater risk to be attacked during humanitarian services due to their gender, they are prone to psychologically-draining occurrences such as rape or sexual molestation but yet they make up a large percentage of humanitarian workers globally. From victims of war-torn Afghanistan, to the food insecurity in the Sahel, or even people who have lost their homes and means of livelihood due to conflicts in countries like Syria, Yemen, Central African Republic, and South Sudan among others, women humanitarians show great deal of bravery and selflessness in rendering support, and quickly responding to people in terrible situations. The amount of debt owed humanitarian workers by the world is not repayable.
Women make up a large number of those who risk their own lives to save others. They are often the first to respond and the last to leave. These women deserve to be celebrated. They are needed today as much as ever to strengthen the global humanitarian response. And world leaders as well as non-state actors must ensure that they – and all humanitarians – are guaranteed the protection afforded to them under international law. Women humanitarians dedicate their lives to helping people affected by crises.
OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)
Sources:
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Timeanddate
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