19 August: World Humanitarian Day

History and Declaration of World Humanitarian Day

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is observed annually on 19 August to honor the memory of a tragic event that occurred on this date in 2003. On that day, a bomb attack targeted the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, resulting in the deaths of 22 people, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the United Nations’ chief humanitarian in Iraq. This devastating incident brought global attention to the dangers faced by humanitarian workers worldwide.

In recognition of the significance of this event, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated 19 August as World Humanitarian Day in 2009. Since then, WHD has served as a platform to raise awareness and mobilize support for humanitarian causes across the globe. Each year, the day highlights a specific theme, uniting humanitarian organizations, governments, and communities to advocate for the survival, well-being, and dignity of people affected by crises, as well as to champion the protection of aid workers who serve them.

Violence Against Humanitarian Workers in Recent Years

The safety of humanitarian workers remains a critical concern worldwide. In 2020 alone, 475 aid workers were victims of violence: 108 were killed, 242 wounded, and 125 kidnapped. The countries most affected included South Sudan, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Central African Republic and Mali also experienced a significant rise in attacks compared to 2018, with incidents more than doubling.

Notably, 2020 marked a shift as Afghanistan—long among the top five most dangerous countries for humanitarian workers—dropped out of this list for the first time in two decades. Despite this, the overall environment for aid personnel remains perilous.

According to the Charter of the United Nations, a core purpose of the UN is to “achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character.” The UN’s humanitarian role became especially prominent after World War II, particularly in the reconstruction of war-torn Europe. Today, the UN continues to coordinate humanitarian relief operations worldwide, especially in response to disasters that exceed the capacity of national governments.

Purpose and Significance of World Humanitarian Day

In 2021, it was estimated that 235 million people worldwide would require humanitarian assistance and protection—approximately 1 in every 33 people globally. This marked a significant increase from the 1 in 45 reported in the 2020 Global Humanitarian Overview. To address this growing need, the United Nations and its partner agencies set a goal to assist 160 million people across 56 countries, requiring an estimated $35 billion in funding.

The 2021 World Humanitarian Day theme highlighted the urgent human cost of the climate crisis. It called on global leaders to take decisive climate action, especially to protect the world’s most vulnerable populations—those who have contributed the least to global warming yet suffer its impacts the most. The climate emergency is causing widespread devastation that neither affected communities nor humanitarian networks can address alone.

While many climate campaigns focus on slowing global warming and preserving the planet’s future, WHD 2021 emphasized the immediate impacts on vulnerable communities. The campaign sought to amplify their voices and ensure their needs were prioritized at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in November 2021.

Everyone was invited to join the global movement for climate action in solidarity with those most affected. The call to action encouraged placing the needs of climate-vulnerable communities at the forefront of the climate summit agenda. Social media campaigns used dedicated hashtags to raise awareness and show support for these groups.

Images Celebrating World Humanitarian Day

The images below capture the spirit and activities of World Humanitarian Day, showcasing the dedication and resilience of humanitarian workers and the communities they serve around the world.