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Countries across the globe are on Monday (today) celebrating the World Humanitarian Day.
WHD is a campaign by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The agency said on Monday that 2023 was the deadliest year for humanitarian workers than ever recorded before.
A release on the UN website disclosed this, adding that 2024 is potentially shaping up to be even more perilous.
PUNCH Online reports that this reality highlights a failure in global commitment to protect those who dedicate their lives to aiding others.
OCHA Centre for Humanitarian Data on X, via its handle #humdata, on Monday posted, “2023 was the deadliest year for aid workers ever recorded, with the number of fatalities more than double the annual average, according to data shared by
@humoutcome
#ActForHumanity”
As obtained from the website, the UN revealed facts and figures to back its claims.
It read, “The Humanitarian Access SCORE Report: Gaza – the first six months (March 2024) estimated that more than 30,000 civilian deaths have included over 150 aid workers, an unprecedented number for a single context in such a short period.
“The 2024 Global Humanitarian Overview requires $48.65 billion to assist 186.5 million people in need. As of end of July 2024, reported GHO funding amounts to $12.26 billion or 11 per cent less than last year at the same time.
“From OPT to Sudan to Myanmar and beyond, the first half of 2024 was characterized by attacks against health, education and water and sanitation facilities that left millions of people without access to the services they need to survive. (Global Humanitarian Overview 2024)
“In 2023, the number of aid workers killed more than doubled in two years: from 118 in 2022 to 261 in 2023. (OCHA)
In 2023, 78 aid workers were kidnapped and 196 wounded worldwide. (OCHA)
“In 2023, the overwhelming majority of humanitarian staff killed or injured are national humanitarian workers. (International NGO Safety Organisation)
“Of the aid workers who died, 96% were national staff and 4% were international (expatriate) staff – more than half (47%) were staff of national NGOs.
“Data for 2023 in the Aid Worker Security Database shows that South Sudan has been the most dangerous place for aid workers for several consecutive years. Sudan is a close second (as of 17 August 2013).”
The acting head of OCHA, Joyce Msuya, called for action.
“The normalisation of violence against aid workers and the lack of accountability are unacceptable, unconscionable and enormously harmful for aid operations everywhere,” she said.
UNOCHA also stated that as perpetrators continue to evade justice, the need for decisive action has never been more urgent.
It read, “2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers. 2024 could be even worse. These facts lay bare a glaring truth: the world is failing humanitarian workers and, by extension, the people they serve.
“Despite universally accepted international laws to regulate the conduct of armed conflict and limit its impact, violations of these laws continue unabated, unchallenged, and unchecked. And while civilians, including aid workers, pay the ultimate price, the perpetrators continue to evade justice.
“This failure of those in power cannot be allowed to continue. Attacks on humanitarian workers and humanitarian assets must stop. Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop.
“This World Humanitarian Day, we demand an end to these violations and the impunity with which they are committed. It is time for those in power to end impunity and #ActForHumanity.”
The day being observed on August 19 each year, is a day dedicated to recognising the contributions of humanitarian workers and promoting the importance of global humanitarian efforts.
On August 19, 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Five years later, in 2008, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day (WHD).
Each year, WHD focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being, and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers.
It also serves as a reminder of the need to support and protect those who provide aid in crises around the world.
Each year, WHD has a specific theme to highlight different aspects of humanitarian work.
The commemoration often includes events, campaigns, and social media activities to raise awareness and encourage public engagement.
According to information retrieved from the UN website on Monday, this year’s event is themed 2024 Campaign: #ActForHumanity.
It read, “Our 2024 WHD efforts will confront the normalisation of attacks on civilians, including humanitarians, and impunity under International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The aim is to build public support to help pressure parties to conflict and world leaders to take action to ensure the protection of civilians, including humanitarians, in conflict zones. We will also release the latest aid worker security data and trends and hold events around the world to demand that those in power #ActForHumanity. Join the campaign.”
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