World Humanitarian Day 2011

Today, 19 august, we celebrate World Humanitarian Day. The day honors those, who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and those, who continue to bring assistance and relief to millions. Every day humanitarian aid workers help millions of people around the world, regardless of who they are and where they are. This year’s campaign "People Helping People" is about inspiring the spirit of aid work in everyone.

In 2008 the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly designated 19 August as World Humanitarian Day, the date on which a brutal terrorist attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad in 2003 killed 22 people, including UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello. Serving the cause of peace in a violent world is a dangerous occupation. Since the founding of the United Nations, hundreds of brave men and women have lost their lives in its service.

In the last decade, the UN has been the target of terrorism: its premises attacked in Baghdad in 2003, Algiers in 2007, and Kabul in 2009. Natural disasters also claim the lives of those serving the UN. The Haiti earthquake in 2010 resulted in 102 deaths, the largest single loss in its history.

On the UN’s Remember the Fallen website we remember those often forgotten – those who have died in the service of peace.

Links:

• World Humanitarian Day website
• Secretary-General's Message for 2011