News DeskDubai, UAE – Dubai Humanitarian, in collaboration with the United Nations and the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD), marked World Humanitarian Day with a poignant event dedicated to the courage and dedication of humanitarian workers across the globe.
The gathering, attended by over 100 leaders in the humanitarian sector, highlighted the personal experiences and bravery of those who risk their lives to support vulnerable populations. Giuseppe Saba, CEO and Board Member of Dubai Humanitarian, opened the event by stressing the critical importance of collaboration in overcoming the increasingly severe challenges faced by humanitarian workers. Saba emphasized the collective responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of these workers, who should never be targeted for their efforts.
HE Bérangère Boël, the UN Resident Coordinator in the UAE, lauded the UAE’s unwavering commitment to humanitarian principles, noting that the country’s spirit of generosity is central to the values of World Humanitarian Day—solidarity, compassion, and action. Her sentiments were echoed by HE Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, Director General of IACAD, who called for collective global efforts to enhance humanitarian work, especially in light of the current global crises.
Sajeda Shawa, Head of the UN OCHA UAE Office, provided a sobering overview of the escalating dangers faced by humanitarian workers. She revealed that 2023 was the deadliest year on record for the global humanitarian community, with 280 aid workers killed by violence. The outlook for 2024 appears even bleaker, with 176 aid workers killed, 93 injured, and 64 kidnapped so far. Shawa’s remarks underscored the urgent need for global action to protect those who risk their lives in the service of others.
The event also featured a focused session on the protection of humanitarian and civilian workers, with participants from various international organizations sharing their experiences and urging for immediate collective action to safeguard aid workers.
World Humanitarian Day, observed annually on August 19, was established by the UN General Assembly in 2008 to commemorate the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq. Originally a day to recognize aid workers, it has since evolved into a global movement advocating for broader humanitarian causes.
