Posted on 19 August 2023
Today we celebrate World Humanitarian Day, where we recognise humanitarians who strive to save and protect lives #NoMatterWhat
World Humanitarian Day takes place on August 19 each year, and 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the Canal Hotel bombing of UN Headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 aid workers. Today, we remember these humanitarian workers, and all those who have lost their lives while serving vulnerable communities.
Today 362 million people require humanitarian assistance worldwide. The last year has seen the continuation of ongoing humanitarian crises, including the conflict in Ukraine and the Horn of Africa drought. A multitude of new crisis have also emerged; the Türkiye-Syria earthquakes, Cyclone Kevin and Judy, the escalation of conflict in Sudan, and most recently the devastating Maui wildfires.
In the face of increasing, and interconnected, humanitarian crises and unparalleled need, we are proud of our member organisations whose staff show unfaltering commitment to those affected by injustice. We would like to thank NGOs for their continued support for those on the frontline of conflict and the climate crisis, and those individuals who risk their own lives for the sake of others.
CID will continue to support our members working in international humanitarian response and emergency management. Our Humanitarian Network provides a collective civil society voice and forum for cooperation and shared learning for best practice in international humanitarian assistance for New Zealand NGOs.
#WorldHumanitarianDay #NoMatterWhat