World Humanitarian Day - 19th August 2024

Tags: Important Days

World Humanitarian Day is celebrated every year on 19th August in honor of those who have sacrificed their entire lives in the service of humanity.

An Overview of the News

• It's aim is to spread awareness about the need for humanitarian aid around the world.

• The day is a campaign by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Humanitarian Partners.

• This year's World Humanitarian Day theme, "Act for Humanity," is a call to action.

• We must act to protect civilians and humanitarian workers from violence.

• We must act against impunity for those responsible for attacks on humanitarian workers and civilians.

#ActForHumanity Campaign 2024:

• Address the normalization of attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers.

• Oppose the culture of impunity linked to violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

• Mobilize public support to pressure conflict parties and global leaders.

• Call for decisive actions to protect civilians and aid workers in conflict zones.

Background:

• On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers.

• The special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, was also killed in the attack.

• In 2008, five years after the attack, the General Assembly passed a resolution to designate 19 August as World Humanitarian Day.