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Most recent 100 results returned for keyword: World Humanitarian Day (Search this on MAP)

World Humanitarian Day 2012
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Members of the United Nations Orchestra during the World Humanitarian Day. 21 August 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré
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World Humanitarian Day 2012
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Annie Viera De Mello during the World Humanitarian Day. 21 August 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré
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World Humanitarian Day 2012
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Member of the United Nations Orchestra during the World Humanitarian Day. 21 August 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré
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World Humanitarian Day 2012
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A minute of silence during the World Humanitarian Day. 21 August 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré
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World Humanitarian Day 2012
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Participants of the the World Humanitarian Day. 21 August 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré
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World Humanitarian Day 2012
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Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights during the World Humanitarian Day. 21 August 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré
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World Humanitarian Day 2012
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Christian Chesnot, Foreign Correspondent, Radio France during the World Humanitarian Day. 21 August 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré
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World Humanitarian Day 2012
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Gunilla von Hall, Foreign Correspondent, Svenska Dagbladet during the World Humanitarian Day. 21 August 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré
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World Humanitarian Day 2012
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Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees during the World Humanitarian Day. 21 August 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré
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World Humanitarian Day 2012
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Darius Rochebin, Moderator, Radio and Switzerland Television during the World Humanitarian Day. 21 August 2012. Photo by Jean-Marc Ferré
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Show Your Good Side
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Kindness is an investment which pays endless dividends. By performing an act of kindness, you add value to your life. This World Humanitarian Day, be kind to others and fill your world with real, positive value. – MUST University.
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World Humanitarian Day 2012: "Giving those who have lost everything the bare essentials to continue living"
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World Humanitarian Day is a chance to celebrate and acknowledge the work of aid workers across the world, often risking their lives for the sake of others. Although World Humanitarian Day only lasts for 24 hours, the work of aid workers responding to natural disasters and food crises does not.

Derek Markwell (pictured), one of DFID’s humanitarian programme managers, has spent the last six years responding to humanitarian crises across Africa. From devastating floods to full scale civil war, Derek has witnessed first-hand how innocent lives can be turned upside down when a crisis hits.

Derek says: "In all honesty, I can’t think of doing any other job. I feel extremely privileged to be able to come to work each day, knowing that my actions are directly benefiting those most in need. We’re not talking about making people feel better off, we're talking about giving those who have lost everything the bare essentials to continue living. What more job satisfaction do you need?"

To find out more about World Humanitarian Day 2012, visit www.dfid.gov.uk/whd2012

Picture: Derek Markwell/DFID
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UNHCR News Story: UNHCR honours the sacrifices of aid workers on World Humanitarian Day
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Pop star Beyoncé helped draw public attention to World Humanitarian Day this year with the release of a music video recorded at the United Nations headquarters.
© UN Photo/Cliff Watts

UNHCR honours the sacrifices of aid workers on World Humanitarian Day

GENEVA, August 21 (UNHCR) – UNHCR staff on Tuesday paid tribute to aid workers killed, kidnapped or attacked in the line of duty, including five colleagues slain during the past year in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria.

The observance of a minute of silence and a wreath laying ceremony in Geneva followed Sunday's global commemoration of World Humanitarian Day, which honours the critical role of those who serve people affected by conflict or disaster.

"On World Humanitarian Day we remember the aid workers who have lost their lives in the line of duty and we honour the extraordinary courage and dedication of humanitarian workers around the world," said UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie in a statement.

"I had the honour and the pleasure of meeting one of these brave individuals before his [2009] murder during a visit to Pakistan, where I witnessed first-hand the incredible devotion of a very kind and gentle man. His name was Mr. Zill-e-Usman."

Other events scheduled in Geneva include a panel discussion about news coverage of humanitarian situations, the unveiling of a plaque honouring the victims of a 2003 bombing targeting the United Nations in Iraq, and a photography exhibition.

Humanitarian work has become increasingly risky but 2011 proved especially dangerous. There were more major attacks against aid workers than ever before, according to the Aid Worker Security Database. The number of victims reached an all-time high: 86 aid workers killed, 95 kidnapped and 127 seriously wounded.

Beyoncé, the international pop star, helped draw unprecedented public attention to World Humanitarian Day this year with the release of a new music video, "I Was Here". Recorded live at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the video was the centrepiece of a global advocacy campaign [whd-iwashere.org] by the UN's Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The campaign used Twitter, Facebook and other social media tools to reach hundreds of millions of people, urging them to "commit to doing something good, somewhere, for someone else."

By Christopher Reardon in Geneva

To watch Beyoncé's performance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=i41qWJ6QjPI&feature=plcp
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World Humanitarian Day 2011

UN photo/Pierre Albouy, 19th august 2011, Geneva, Swizerland.
World Humanitarian day. Dressed in t-shirt of the World Humanitarian Day, participants, including M.Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, have walked from the Plaine de Plainpalais to the Parc des Bastions. Here: atmosphere in the park.
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World Humanitarian Day 2011
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UN photo/Pierre Albouy, 19th august 2011, Geneva, Swizerland.
World Humanitarian day. Dressed in t-shirt of the World Humanitarian Day, participants, including M.Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, have walked from the Plaine de Plainpalais to the Parc des Bastions. Here, M.Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
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World Humanitarian Day 2011
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UN photo/Pierre Albouy, 19th august 2011, Geneva, Swizerland.
World Humanitarian day. Dressed in t-shirt of the World Humanitarian Day, participants, including M.Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, have walked from the Plaine de Plainpalais to the Parc des Bastions.
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World Humanitarian Day 2011

UN photo/Pierre Albouy, 19th august 2011, Geneva, Swizerland.
World Humanitarian day. Dressed in t-shirt of the World Humanitarian Day, participants, including M.Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, have walked from the Plaine de Plainpalais to the Parc des Bastions. Here: M.Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Annie Vieira De Mello, Vice Chairwoman of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.
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World Humanitarian Day 2011
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World Humanitarian Day is a celebration of people helping people. Every day humanitarian aid workers help millions of people around the world no matter who they are or where they are. The day recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of those who risk their lives to give others help and hope.

A message from Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, read by Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, followed by the Director-General’s remarks.
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Cycling from Solferino to Geneva
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Members of the Japanese Red Cross cycle from Solferino, Italy, to Geneva, Switzerland, in honor of World Humanitarian Day.

Photo: Benoist Carpentier / IFRC
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WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY
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AMISOM donates humanitarian aid to IDP camps in Mogadsihu on World Humanitarian Day on 17th August 2011.
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WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY
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AMISOM donates humanitarian aid to IDP camps in Mogadsihu on World Humanitarian Day on 17th August 2011.
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Africa Renewal intern Polina Mironova attends World Humanitarian Day
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Africa Renewal intern Polina Mironova, who has been assisting Africa Renewal with online marketing and social media, attends World Humanitarian Day, United Nations Headquarters, New York.

Photo: Africa Renewal / John Gillespie
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Valerie Amos and Ban Ki-moon, World Humanitarian Day, 2011
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Valerie Amos and Ban Ki-moon, World Humanitarian Day, 2011

Photo: Africa Renewal / John Gillespie
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Valerie Amos, Ban Ki-moon and Anthony Lake, World Humanitarian Day
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Valerie Amos, Ban Ki-moon and Anthony Lake, World Humanitarian Day 2011

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UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake delivers an address on World Humanitarian Day, 2011
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UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake delivers an address on World Humanitarian Day, 2011

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World Humanitarian Day 2011

Tony Lake, Executive Director of UNICEF speaking at the World Humanitarian Day event.

ochaonline.un.org/whd/
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World Humanitarian Day 2011

World Humanitarian Day video 'If I Could Change' being played at the General Assembly Hall.

ochaonline.un.org/whd/

Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdiYgb-5cN4&feature=player_em...
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Ban Ki-moon delivers an address on World Humanitarian Day, 2011
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Ban Ki-moon delivers an address on World Humanitarian Day, 2011

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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers an address on World Humanitarian Day, 2011
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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers an address on World Humanitarian Day, 2011

Photo: Africa Renewal / John Gillespie
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Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, delivers an address on World Humanitarian Day, 2011
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Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, delivers an address on World Humanitarian Day, 2011

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World Humanitarian Day 2011

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon giving a speech at the World Humanitarian Day commemoration.

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Valerie Amos delivers address on World Humanitarian Day, 2011
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Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, delivers an address on World Humanitarian Day, 2011

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Add your name to our call for change!
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Members of the public in the DRC get on board with our campaign at an event Merlin took part in to celebrate World Humanitarian Day this August
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EUNHCR News Story:World Humanitarian Day: People helping people
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Humanitarian in Action: A UNHCR staff member talks to Saloman, a 17 year-old Eritrean, who had fled violence in Libya.
UNHCR / P. Moore / March 2011

World Humanitarian Day: People helping people

GENEVA, August 19 (UNHCR) – UNHCR staff were celebrating the third annual World Humanitarian Day on Friday at the end of an extremely challenging year for aid workers around the globe.

"Crises in the Horn of Africa, West Africa, the Middle East and North Africa have tested the capacities of UNHCR and other UN organizations. It's against the backdrop of these recent crises, and all the other ongoing humanitarian situations which do not make headlines but still require our full attention, that we will mark World Humanitarian Day," Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees T. Alexander Aleinikoff said in a message to staff.

"This date also marks UNHCR's staff memorial day. With humanitarian workers around the world increasingly seen as targets in conflicts, this day gives us the opportunity to pay tribute to all of our colleagues in humanitarian organizations who have died while courageously trying to help the world's most vulnerable people and to honour our colleagues on the frontlines of today's humanitarian crises," he added.

The purpose of humanitarian work is to help the neediest people overcome life-threatening circumstances in order to survive- a mission to which tens of thousands of people devote themselves every day. World Humanitarian Day gives them a chance to honour their own.

World Humanitarian Day was inaugurated in 2009 on the sixth anniversary of the Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, which left 22 people dead, 18 of them from the United Nations, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, who started his humanitarian career at UNHCR and rose to become Assistant High Commissioner before moving to more senior UN positions.

Humanitarian work is a risky business. Last year, 242 aid workers were killed, kidnapped or injured in the line of duty, one of the worst year's ever for the aid community. In 2000, by contrast, there were 91 victims of violence. At least 780 aid workers have been killed in the past decade.

At UNHCR there are countless stories of sacrifice and inspiration among staff members. Juliette Murekeyisoni, who grew up as a refugee in Burundi, returned to her native Rwanda in 1994 to help women and children caught up in the genocidal violence that year. She tells her story here as part of a UNHCR video initiative based on individual storytelling: www.youtube.com/user/storytellingunhcr

This year's World Humanitarian Day commemorations include a new website established by the UN's Organization for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The site includes stories about and by humanitarian workers and provides ways for viewers to spread the word about the day, learn more and volunteer their time.

In addition, a music video has been produced specifically for World Humanitarian Day. The Somali-born singing duet Sweet Rush appears on behalf of UNHCR. Elsewhere, staff at UNHCR and other agencies will be holding walks, talks and other gatherings to commemorate the day.

For the special OCHA site, go to: ochaonline.un.org/whd/

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World Humanitarian Day
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World Humanitarian Day PSA broadcasted by one of the nation-wide TV channels in Azerbaijan (Photo Credit: UNO Baku, 19 August 2010)
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World Humanitarian Day
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Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Bishow Parajuli addresses the gathering to commemorate World Humanitarian Day in Myanmar (Photo Credit: UNIC Yangon, 19 August 2010)
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World Humanitarian Day commemorated in Sri Lanka
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Minister Basil Rajapaksa tastes cassava and coconut sambol, served in a lotus leaf with UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Neil Buhne and Representative of Food and Agriculture Organisation Patrick Evans at the World Humanitarian Day event.
© Sanjeewa/OCHA
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World Humanitarian Day 2010
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Photograph: Stephen Ryan
Copyright: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

For usage and further information, contact av@ifrc.org.
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World Humanitarian Day
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UNIC staff members attend a special screening of a movie at the UN House dedicated to World Humanitarian Day (Photo Credit: UNIC Moscow, 19 August 2010)
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World Humanitarian Day
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(Left to Right): Humanitarian Aid Worker from OCHA Rogerio Silva, OCHA Regional Director Gerard Gomez and UN Resident Coordinator for Panama Ms. Kim Bolduc. (Photo Credit: UNIC Panama, 19 August 2010)
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World Humanitarian Day 2010
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World Humanitarian Day - please watch :)>

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World Humanitarian Day
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World Humanitarian Day 2010.
Thank you Humanitarian aid workers.
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World Humanitarian Day 2009
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Participants of a press conference to commemorate World Humanitarian Day. (Photo credit: UNIC Islamabad, 19 August 2009)

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World Humanitarian Day 2009
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The Acting UN Resident Coordinator and WFP Country Director, Ronald Sibanba, hoisting the UN Flag during the commemoration of World Humanitarian Day. (Photo credit: UNIC Dar es Salaam, 19 August 2009)

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World Humanitarian Day 2009
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UN staff observing a minute of silence during the commemoration of World Humanitarian Day. (Photo credit: UNIC Dar es Salaam, 19 August 2009)

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World Humanitarian Day 2009
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UN staff attending the commemoration of World Humanitarian Day. (Photo credit: UNIC Dar es Salaam, 19 August 2009)

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World Humanitarian Day 2009
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The Acting UN Resident Coordinator and WFP Country Director presenting the SG's message. (Photo credit: UNIC Dar es Salaam, 19 August 2009)

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World Humanitarian Day
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A participants during the first World Humanitarian Day.

(UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre)
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World Humanitarian Day
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Ross Mountain, Deputy Speial Representative of the Secretary-General, Humanitarian Cordonator in rhe Democratic Republic of Congo addresses during the first World Humanitarian Day.

(UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre)
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World Humanitarian Day
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Annie Viera De Mello, Foundation Vice Presidente Sergio Viera de Mello addresses during the first World Humanitarian Day.

(UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre)
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World Humanitarian Day
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Sandrine Salerno, Vice Chairman of the Board of Geneva addresses during the first World Humanitarian Day.

(UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre)
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World Humanitarian Day
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Sergei Ordzhonikidze ( second from left )Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) with Annie Viera De Mello ( left ) Foundation Vice Presidente Sergio Viera de Mello and Antonio Guterres ( right ) Unted Nations High Commissioner for Refugees during the first World Humanitarian Day.

(UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre)
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World Humanitarian Day
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Sergei Ordzhonikidze ( right )Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) speaks with Annie Viera De Mello ( left ) Foundation Vice Presidente Sergio Viera de Mello during the first World Humanitarian Day.

(UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre)
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World Humanitarian Day
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World Humanitarian Day
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World Humanitarian Day
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UNHCR News Story: UNHCR pays tribute to fallen colleagues on World Humanitarian Day
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After a World Humanitarian Day ceremony at UNHCR headquarters Wednesday, UNHCR staff members individually paid respects at a memorial honouring those who gave their lives while serving refugees.
UNHCR / S.Hopper/ August 19, 2009

UNHCR pays tribute to fallen colleagues on World Humanitarian Day

GENEVA, August 19 (UNHCR) – Hours after a bomb killed another two UN employees in Afghanistan, UNHCR staff on Wednesday marked the first World Humanitarian Day by honouring their hundreds of colleagues in humanitarian organizations around the globe who have been killed while carrying out their duties.

"This has been a particularly painful year for UNHCR, with the loss of three colleagues in the same operation," Guy Avognon, the chairman of the Staff Council, said at a ceremony in Geneva. The three members of UNHCR staff killed in attacks this year in Pakistan are among 30 who have been lost in operations since 1987.

The date of 19 August, which is also Staff Memorial Day, commemorates the specific day in 2003 on which the UN office in Iraq was bombed, killing 22 people including Sergio Vieira de Mello, a UNHCR veteran who was UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and a Special Representative to the UN Secretary General at the time.

High Commissioner António Guterres, speaking at the headquarters ceremony after observing a minute of silence, said UNHCR was acting to improve security for staff but noted that the danger for humanitarian workers was increasing. The two UN staff members killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday worked with the UN mission helping to rebuild the country; some 700 humanitarian workers have died worldwide in the last decade.

Humanitarian workers have increasingly come to be seen as targets in conflicts, with traditional respect for aid workers disappearing and the lines between military and humanitarian action increasingly blurred both by armies and their armed opponents.

Humanitarian action is now sometimes not a source of protection, but a reason to be targeted, said Guterres, who was speaking on the same subject at a later event in Geneva's Parc des Bastions organized by OCHA and the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.

"All these reasons have contributed to shrink humanitarian space and to increase the risks of humanitarian action," the High Commissioner said. "It is important to raise the attention of the international community for that, it is not only to commemorate our colleagues, it is not only to remember them, and it is to make the international community assume its responsibilities for these situations."

Last year 260 humanitarian aid workers were killed, kidnapped or seriously injured in attacks, the highest yearly toll on record. The average number of attacks in the last three years has been three times the level of the previous nine years.

Among the casualties for UNHCR in Pakistan this year was veteran UNHCR driver Syed Hashim who was shot dead in Pakistan last February during the kidnapping of John Solecki, the head of UNHCR's Quetta sub-office. Solecki was released in April after two months in captivity.

In June, Aleksandar Vorkapic, a UNHCR staff member on emergency duty helping Pakistanis displaced by fighting in North West Frontier Province died in the bombing of the Pearl Continental hotel in Peshawar. And in July, UNHCR senior field assistant Zill-e-Usman was gunned down in a camp for internally displaced Pakistanis in Peshawar by unknown assailants.

Deputy High Commissioner L. Craig Johnstone, who was in Pakistan this week discussing security concerns with staff and government officials, thanked staff for their work and said he fully understood the strain security threats and challenges placed on their lives. He said a concerted effort was being made to improve staff safety.

"One option that is not on the table is to cut and run," said Johnstone, who termed Pakistan one of UNHCR's most critical operations and the one by which the agency would be judged. "We are not going to abandon our mission in Pakistan because of the security threat. Rather, the question is how do we respond given the security threat. "

The statement reflected the dual role of World Humanitarian Day: paying tribute to those who have been killed or wounded while performing their duties; and honouring the huge number of humanitarian workers continuing to work despite the danger.

Visit OCHA's website to learn more about World Humanitarian Day:

ochaonline.un.org/News/WorldHumanitarianDay/tabid/5677/la...
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António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for refugees, and Guy Avognon, Head of Staff Council, mark the first World Humanitarian honouring UNHCR staff and other humanitarian workewrs who have been killed on the job.
UNHCR / S.Hopper/ August 19, 2009
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At the ceremony organized by the United Nations Country Team in Brasília to mark the first World Humanitarian Day. (Photo credit: UNIC Rio de Janeiro, 19 August 2009)

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Participants at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Press-Club meeting organized in Ukraine to observe World Humanitarian Day.

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Members of the diplomatic corps and the press at the meeting organized by UNIC Tehran to mark the first World Humanitarian Day. (Photo credit: UNIC Tehran, 19 August 2009)

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Registration of IDPs inside Dungu site, Orientale province, north-eastern DRC.
UNHCR / 16 February 2009
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UNHCR Protection Officer comforts a young sudanese refugee boy in Tine, in Chad.
UNHCR / H. Caux / February 7, 2004.
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