By Raquel Perez
We are seeing the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time! Are you willing to answer the call to action?
World Humanitarian Day (WHD), August 19th, celebrates and recognizes humanitarian aid workers who risk their lives to improve the lives of others. This day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly to mark the anniversary of the 2003 bombing at the UN Headquarters in Bagdad, which killed 21 UN workers including Serio Vieira de Mello, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq. See the story map to learn more!
WHD raises awareness on humanitarian issues such as
- Disaster Response
- Medical Support in Areas of Conflict
- Food Security
What can you do? World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity for individuals to take action to create a more humane, safe, and prosperous world for all people and to honor the courageous aid workers who risk their lives in service of these goals. The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs lists the following ways you can get involve:
- Ask world leaders to commit to action
- Learn about the Agenda for Humanity and the five core responsibilities it outlines
- Use the #sharehumanity hashtag to advocate for the Agenda for Humanity and the more than 130 million people affected by crisis
- Attend or organize a WHD event on August 19, 2016
“Let’s keep reaching out a helping hand to people in their time of need. Let’s never give in to the forces of fear and division. Let’s welcome people into their new communities as neighbours and friends. Let’s build bridges, not walls. We will all be stronger for it.” – Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General