World Humanitarian Day 2024

World Humanitarian Day is held annually on 19th August to recognize and pay tribute to those people who risk their lives in humanitarian service and propagating the idea of generating a more humane world.

World Humanitarian Day is the outcome of the relentless efforts of the Sérgio Vieira de Mello Foundation and his family working closely with the Ambassadors of France, Switzerland, Japan, and Brazil in both Geneva and New York to the table and steer the draft Resolution through the General Assembly.

World Humanitarian Day was first observed in august 2009 by the General Assembly of the UN. The date 19 august is chosen as it is the anniversary date of the 2003 Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad. The total number of people affected by natural disasters has increased due to an increasing economic crisis and global challenges like poverty, global health problems, increase prices which demand more humanitarians each year.

World Humanitarian Day is an occasion to educate people to help people affected by crises and mobilize political will and resources for Humanitarian work. It’s a day to celebrate and reinforce the achievements of humanity who are working hard to make this world a better place.

World Humanitarian Day 2023 theme was ” #NoMatterWhat“.

World Humanitarian Day global campaign #TheHumanRace, aims to get the world racing against the climate crisis clock ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November. Together with some famous persons in sport, the United Nations is encouraging people across the world to run, walk, swim, row, or cycle for climate action.

The climate emergency is wreaking havoc across the world at a scale that the humanitarian community and people at the front lines cannot manage.

According to WHO “Climate change is a health emergency, impacting food systems, disease dispersion, health systems, and societies at large. There is no vaccine for climate change. But we do have solutions. We must maximize the health benefits of tackling the climate crisis while avoiding its worst health impacts and promote climate-resilient health systems everywhere as we Build Back Better from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

History of World Humanitarian Day

It was established after the August 19, 2003, terrorist attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad that killed 22 people. Among those who lost their lives was Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN’s top representative in Iraq. Five years later, the General Assembly adopted a resolution designating August 19 as World Humanitarian Day.

Every year since then, the humanitarian community has organized global campaigns to commemorate World Humanitarian Day, advocating for the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers, and for the survival, well-being, and dignity of people affected by crises.

How you can help

If you want to join #theHumanRace, just run, ride, swim, walk or take part in any activity of your preference for a total of 100 minutes between August 16 and 31. This, according to the United Nations, is to express solidarity with vulnerable people. It is also to tell leaders across the world that “they expect developed countries to deliver on their decade-old pledge of $100 billion annually for climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries”.