UN GENEVA AND HUMANITARIAN PARTNERS COMMEMORATE WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY WITH HIGH-LEVEL DEBATE AND PLAQUE UNVEILING CEREMONY

As the United Nations Office at Geneva, together with Geneva-based humanitarian partners, commemorate World Humanitarian Day today, new figures show that the number of aid workers killed, kidnapped and seriously wounded has reached the highest number ever recorded.

“All too often our humanitarian colleagues have paid with their lives for seeking to help those in need of assistance, targeted by terrorists trying to break the very core of our common humanity. But the spirit and values of humanitarians cannot be destroyed,” said Michael Møller, Acting Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, who will address the commemoration.

The research by Humanitarian Outcomes shows that in 2013, 155 aid workers were killed, 171 were seriously wounded and 134 were kidnapped. Overall this represents a 66 per cent increase in numbers of victims from the previous year. With 81 aid workers killed in 2013, Afghanistan is still the country with the highest number of attacks.

Preliminary figures show that as of 15 August 2014, 79 aid workers have been killed this year alone. The months of July and August saw a rise in the level of attacks and incidents involving aid workers including in Gaza and South Sudan.

“One aid worker killed in the line of duty is one too many. Nurses, engineers, logisticians and drivers for example all take great risk doing their work in sometimes extremely dangerous and difficult circumstances. World Humanitarian Day is the day we remember the sacrifices that humanitarian workers make. We also pay tribute to all humanitarians who work to help and support the most vulnerable,” said Valerie Amos, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, attending a memorial service in London for aid workers killed.

World Humanitarian Day marks the anniversary of the UN Office bombing in Baghdad in 2003 when 22 people, including UN humanitarian veteran Sergio Vieira de Mello, lost their lives. It is a tribute to aid workers, a commemoration to those who have lost their lives and a celebration of the spirit of humanitarian work around the world.

In Geneva, this year’s commemoration will be held in Room XX on Tuesday 19 August from 4 to 6 p.m. It will start with the screening of short films entitled: ‘Voices from the Field’ followed by an interactive high-level debate in the framework of this year’s campaign “Messengers of Humanity”. Panellists include William Swing, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration, and members of civil society. At 5 p.m., Mr. Møller will address a plaque unveiling ceremony in memory of the victims of the attack against the United Nations Office in Algeria of 11 December 2007. Other speakers include Farida Djeddou, staff representative from Algiers and a survivor of the attack and Athar Sultan Khan, UNHCR Chef de Cabinet, former representative in Algiers and coordinator for Western Sahara during the attack.

"Today in Geneva, in commemoration of World Humanitarian Day, we have a panel discussion focused on telling the stories of aid workers - of people who are dedicated to protecting and supporting those who have had their lives torn apart by conflicts and natural disasters. This year, humanitarian agencies are planning to support an estimated 76 million people in 31 countries. Thousands of people around the world are doing incredible work every day" said Rashid Khalikov, Director of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva.

The Geneva commemoration will be webcast at webtv.un.org. It can also be followed on Twitter @UNGeneva, @UNOG_DG and @UNOGPolitical, and through the hash tags #WHDGeneva and #HumanitarianHeroes.

As part of the World Humanitarian Day global celebration, a new platform to inspire and mobilize action on global emergencies will also be launched. The site – Messengers of Humanity - will build a community of thousands of advocates who will be asked to share content and stories on social networks to inspire people to take action.

Note to editors:

· Violence against aid workers occurred in 30 countries, but three quarters of all attacks took place in just five settings: Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, Pakistan and Sudan.

· Year after year, more aid workers are attacked on the road than in any other setting. In 2013, over half of all violent incidents occurred in the context of an ambush or roadside attack.

· Figures and analysis can be found here: Humanitarian Outcomes (http://www.humanitarianoutcomes.org/awsd)

· More information on the ceremony in Geneva can be found here (www.unog.ch)

· More information on the global World Humanitarian Day Campaign can be found here (http://worldhumanitarianday.org/)


For more information:

- Alessandra Vellucci, Chief, Press and External Relations Section, United Nations Information Service - Geneva, on +41 22 917 23 36, email: avellucci@unog.ch

- Angelita Mendy Diop, Media Relations Section, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – Geneva, on +41 22 917 11 42, email: mendya@un.org

- Louis Belanger, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - New York, on +1 917 935 9439, email: belangerl@un.org


For use of the information media; not an official record

DG14/005E