19 August is World Humanitarian Day, a day dedicated to the work that humanitarian workers do around the world in the service of the most fragile.
We celebrate this day in honour of those who have lost their lives in the field, working for the common good. Indeed, the day was established in memory of the victims of the 2003 attack on the United Nations in which 22 aid workers were killed in Baghdad, Iraq.
We live in a very complex historical moment, where wars and conflicts are worsening and the effects of climate change are causing terrible natural disasters costing the lives of many innocent people.
In these dramatic contexts, humanitarian workers, with great professionalism and sacrifice, bring their commitment to guarantee help, assistance, and support to those who suffer, often risking their own safety, driven by passion and guided by noble ideals.
For all these reasons, it is essential that the work of humanitarian workers is protected, safeguarded and respected. On this World Humanitarian Day, CESVI joined with OCHA (United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs) and other humanitarian organisations to strongly urge institutions to act to protect civilians and those who, with great professionalism and sacrifice, bring help and hope to the world’s most difficult areas.
Today, we thank all those who serve the humanitarian cause and dedicate their lives to those most in need, to protect against violence and injustice, to heal those who suffer, to provide protection for the most vulnerable, to support the development of the most remote communities, to ensure respect for rights, and to build resilience and resilience to the climate crisis.
Among them, the biggest THANK YOU goes to the many CESVI workers who, in 27 countries around the world, from Latin America to Africa, from Asia to the Middle East and up to our country, carry high the flag of the humanitarian principles of humanity and justice.
Photo by Francesca