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How will you acknowledge World Humanitarian Day?
As 12 million Australians grumble about which vaccine to get and not being able to go to the gym, it’s worth remembering there are humanitarian crises right now in 54 countries and another nine have to catapulted into humanitarian need because of the pandemic.
Now, more than ever, women are rising up and taking action to protect their communities during humanitarian crises like the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to devastate countries worldwide.
ActionAid is supporting women in over 40 countries who are driving change in the response to this global pandemic.
Thursday, August 19 is World Humanitarian Day. According to the United Nations, on World Humanitarian Day (WHD) August 19, the world commemorates humanitarian workers killed and injured in the course of their work, and honours all aid and health workers who continue, despite the odds, to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.
This year World Humanitarian Day comes as the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic over recent months.
Aid workers are overcoming unprecedented access hurdles to assist people in humanitarian crises in 54 countries, as well as in a further nine countries which have been catapulted into humanitarian need by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This day was designated in memory of the 19 August 2003 bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killing 22 people, including the chief humanitarian in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly formalized the day as World Humanitarian Day.
Angela Priestley, founding editor of Women’s Agenda, will facilitate a conversation with two inspiring women leaders about their insights on the global impact of COVID-19 on gender equality and the roles women have played as part of the response.
Everyday, women are on the frontlines leading their communities through this unprecedented global humanitarian crisis. Register here if you are interested in the webinar.
According to the Aid Workers Security Database, In 2019, 483 aid workers were attacked: 125 killed, 234 wounded and 124 kidnapped in a total of 277 separate incidents.
Most of the attacks occurred in Syria, followed by South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Central African Republic (CAR), Yemen and Mali.
WHO reported 1,009 attacks against healthcare workers and facilities, resulting 199 deaths and 628 injuries.
Ninety per cent of all attacks worldwide were on national staff.
#RealLifeHeroes is a global campaign that celebrates humanitarians – a “thank you” to the people who have committed their lives to helping others
On August 19, the 11th year the UN has marked World Humanitarian Day, it is paying special tribute to the real-life heroes who have committed their lives to helping others in the most extreme circumstances throughout the world.
The campaign focuses on what drives humanitarians to continue to save and protect lives despite conflict, insecurity, lack of access and risks linked to COVID-19.
This year, COVID-19 has been the biggest challenge to humanitarian operations around the world. The lack of access and restrictions placed by Governments around the world has resulted in communities, civil society and local NGOs being the frontline of the response.
Therefore, the campaign presents the inspiring personal stories of humanitarians who are treating and preventing COVID-19, providing food to vulnerable people in need, providing safe spaces for women and girls in lockdown; delivering babies; fighting locusts and running refugee camps, all amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strategic priorities of the Global Humanitarian Response Plan to COVID-19
The Global HRP is articulated around three strategic priorities: * Contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and decrease morbidity and mortality. * Decrease the deterioration of human assets and rights, social cohesion and livelihoods. * Protect, assist and advocate for refugees, internally displaced people, migrants and host communities particularly vulnerable to the pandemic.
Visit the UN website if you’re interested in learning more about World Humanitarian Day.
