UNITED NATIONS: World Humanitarian Day is held every year on 19th day of August in order to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service. Pakistan honors the work of people in crises & calamities throughout the world.
On the occasion of the World Humanitarian Day UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in his message held: “The work of women humanitarians makes a huge difference to the lives of millions of women, men and children in urgent need.”
Marking the day’s 10th anniversary on Monday, the UN is honoring the contribution of tens of thousands of women humanitarian aid workers who provide life-saving support to vulnerable people caught up in crises in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
The day is commemorated each year on August 19, the date back in 2003 when the UN headquarters in Baghdad was targeted by a large terrorist truck bomb, killing 22 people, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN’s top representative in Iraq.
This year’s focus salutes the efforts of women humanitarian workers across the world, who rally to people in need and are often the first to respond and the last to leave.
“From supporting civilians caught up in crisis to addressing disease outbreaks, women humanitarians are on the front lines,” Guterres said.
These unsung heroes have long been working in their own communities in some of the most difficult terrains – from the war-wounded in Afghanistan, to the food insecure in the Sahel, to those who have lost their homes and livelihoods in places such as Central African Republic, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
“Their presence makes aid operations more effective by increasing their reach,” the UN chief said. “It also improves the humanitarian response to gender-based violence, which increases during emergencies.”
Across the globe, 250,000 aid workers are women – a figure that amounts to more than 40 per cent of the humanitarian workforce. But aid work is becoming increasingly dangerous.
Since August 2003, more than 4,500 aid workers of all genders have been killed, injured, detained, assaulted or kidnapped while carrying out their work. That averages out to five attacks per week.
“World leaders, and all parties to conflict, must ensure that humanitarians are protected from harm, as required under international law,” Guterres stressed.
As part of this year’s WHD commemorations, the UN and partners are launching the #WomenHumanitarians global campaign to pay special tribute to and raise support for the work women do to save lives and alleviate human suffering. The campaign tells the stories of 24 women over 24 hours, to show the range and diversity of their roles in humanitarian action.
Today, and for the rest of this month, Guterres invites everyone to share through their online and social media platforms their own “powerful stories” of humanitarian aid workers to “reaffirm our common commitment to strengthening the role of women in humanitarian operations.”
“On World Humanitarian Day and every day, we stand up for humanitarian workers around the world, “ the Secretary-General added.
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