NZ relief aid workers mark World Humanitarian Day

NZ relief aid workers mark World Humanitarian Day under shadow of mounting attacks

On August 19 New Zealand’s community of disaster relief workers are marking World Humanitarian Day – a day to recognise the courageous contribution of those individuals providing life-saving assistance at the front lines of the world’s worst natural and conflict-driven disasters, even as attacks on humanitarian workers worldwide continue to increase.

World Humanitarian Day (WHD), which takes place every year on 19 August, recognizes the aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and mobilizes people to advocate for humanitarian action. The day was designated by the United Nations seven years ago to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq.

Humanitarians are needed more today than ever before. The world is in the midst of the greatest global crisis since the end of the Second World War. Over 130 million people worldwide are currently living in disaster situations and in need of immediate assistance to survive. Ongoing conflicts in Syria, South Sudan, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere have displaced over 90 million people, while natural disasters in the Pacific, Asia, Africa and the Americas exact an ever-increasing toll on vulnerable communities; a situation that will only get worse as the climate changes.

Despite their critical role, humanitarian lives are also at greater risk than ever before. In 2015, 109 relief workers were killed in attacks worldwide. In 2016, brazen attacks on medical centres and relief workers in Syria, Yemen, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Afghanistan have become routine. Relief workers – including many New Zealanders on the ground in many of the world’s conflict zones - are no longer protected by the laws that are meant to ensure their safe access to disaster victims.

New Zealanders can visit the NGO Disaster Relief Forum (NDRF) website (www.ndrf.org.nz) to see where NZ humanitarians are engaged, and how New Zealanders can support their work.

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