UN salutes real-life heroes doing ‘extraordinary things, in extraordinary times’, commemorating World Humanitarian Day

Marking World Humanitarian Day, top UN officials are honoring humanitarian workers who are overcoming “huge challenges” to save and improve the lives of millions of women, men and children, hit hard by crises and the COVID-19 pandemic.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged everyone to applaud and support the humanitarians, health workers and first responders working selflessly amid unprecedented need, in a message on World Humanitarian Day.

“These real-life heroes are doing extraordinary things in extraordinary times to help women, men, and children whose lives are upended by crises,” said the UN chief.

“They are responding to the global crisis of COVID-19, and with it the massive increase in humanitarian needs from the fallout of the pandemic,” Mr. Guterres continued, adding that the loss of jobs, education, food, water, and safety is pushing millions more to the brink.

Since the outbreak of the global pandemic, communities, civil society, and local organizations are having to take the responsibilities of the first responders as movement restrictions and lockdowns are imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus.

People who are often in need themselves – like refugees helping host communities or local health workers caring for the sick – are supporting others.

“They are the unsung heroes of the pandemic response – and they all too often risk their own lives to save the lives of others,” highlighted the Secretary-General.

“Today, join me in renewing our appreciation and support for the brave humanitarians, health workers, and first responders who show solidarity and humanity in this time of unprecedented need,” he concluded.

Marked annually on 19 August, the World Humanitarian Day commemorates humanitarians killed and injured in the course of their work, and honours all aid and health workers who, despite the odds, continue to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.

Thanking humanitarian workers everywhere for their important and courageous work, Mark Lowcock, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, affirmed that the best way to pay tribute to them is by funding their work and ensuring their safety.

“You are saving lives every day, and as new challenges and crises are piling on to existing ones, your perseverance is an inspiration.“Your protection is paramount to making sure we can deliver to people most in need,” stressed Mr. Lowcock.

This comes against the backdrop of rising violence against aid and health workers around the globe. In recent weeks, relief workers lost their lives in attacks in Niger and Cameroon, and since the onset of the pandemic, scores of health workers have come under attack across the world, said the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Major attacks against relief workers in 2019 surpassed all previous years on record. A total of 483 relief workers were attacked, 125 killed, 234 wounded and 124 kidnapped in 277 separate incidents, according to the Aid Worker Security Database. This was an 18 percent increase in the number of victims compared to 2018.

Most attacks occurred in Syria, followed by South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Afghanistan, and the Central African Republic.

Original source: UN News