As the UN continues to play the leading role in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan, it is also commemorating the 2nd annual World Humanitarian Day. A new film to illustrate the dedication of humanitarian aid workers has been produced this year, with concerts and other commemorative activities planned.
As we’ve seen recently with the horrific disasters in Pakistan and Haiti, millions of people-very often, the world’s poorest, most marginalized and vulnerable individuals-suffer tremendously as the result of humanitarian disasters every year. Prior to most recent disaster, there were more than 27 million internally displaced people (IDPs) and 10 million refugees in the world. In addition to those alarming numbers, one out of every six people in the world are chronically hungry. Humanitarian aid workers around the globe are striving to guarantee all those who have experienced a traumatic catastrophe receive the life-saving aid they want, regardless of their location, religious belief, and nationality.
World Humanitarian Day was developed to increase public understanding of humanitarian action and more broadly share its four foundational principles: Humanity addresses the fact that human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found. Neutrality means that humanitarian actors should never take sides in hostilities, nor should they get engaged in any political, racial, religious or ideological controversies. Impartiality indicates that all people in need are supposed to get help, and the priority of the distribution lies only in the urgency of the case, rather than the distinction in nationality, race, gender, religion or political opinion. Operational Independence ensures that humanitarian action is implemented autonomously from any political, economic, military and or objectives.
Read more information about the day here and download posters and other materials.
