World Humanitarian Day

A humanitarian emergency begins when health systems break down. When hospitals are damaged, medicines run out or outbreaks spread unchecked, communities face life threatening risks. In those moments, humanitarian response steps in, bringing care, resources and hope when it matters most. And together with partners, the World Health Organization (WHO) who works to protect health, reduce suffering and support recovery. Because every act of care helps rebuild what crisis has broken.

In less than two years, Gaza has been turned to rubble. Homes, schools, hospitals, markets – the systems that keep cities alive – now destroyed. Entire towns have been flattened. International law is clear: civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. Those with power and influence: #ActForHumanity.

Starvation must NOT be used as a tactic of war. It is prohibited under international humanitarian law. The destruction of agricultural land leads to severe food shortages, acute hunger, malnutrition and long-term economic hardships. It devastates the livelihoods of rural communities, forces people from their land and exacerbates food insecurity in war zones. This World Humanitarian Day , join us in urging those with power and influence to protect farms and food sources. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #ActForHumanity , #19 August ; #WorldHumanitarianDay .

Under international humanitarian law, aid workers and supplies are protected. Attacking them deprives people of life-saving assistance. We urge those with power and influence to #ActForHumanity by ensuring safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of aid for people in need.

This year’s Aid Worker Security Report comes at a major inflection point for international humanitarian assistance and during an alarming new peak of violence against humanitarians. The 2025 edition – our 15th since data tracking began – was almost not produced after the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD), lost its US government funding when the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was dismantled. The funding crisis now rocking the sector comes on top of escalating conflicts and a steep erosion of respect for humanitarian norms and the laws of war by state actors – amplified in some places by public smear campaigns against aid organisations. The conflicts in Gaza and Sudan continue to drive the greatest numbers of aid worker casualties, but incidents were on the rise in other contexts as well, with historically high numbers seen in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Lebanon, Nigeria, Somalia, Ukraine, and Yemen. The loss of funding, security...

  A continuing surge in violence  Attacks against aid workers continued to climb steeply in 2024 (and in the first half of 2025), along with the number of victims and deaths. The AWSD recorded an all-time high of 568 major violent incidents against aid workers (killings, kidnappings, and woundings) in 2024 – a 36% increase over 2023. It was the second consecutive year to set records for both the number of victims and fatalities, which rose by 37% and 31% respectively. Major violent incidents occurred in 40 countries in 2024, an increase from 33 in 2023. When arrests and detentions by state authorities are included, the number of countries rises to 42, underscoring both the geographic spread of insecurity and the growing role of state actors in obstructing humanitarian operations.  The violence showed no signs of letting up in the first half of 2025. As at 30 June, the provisional data suggests the numbers are on track to break records again, barring dramatic shifts in the...

  On 20 January 2025, the incoming US President Donald Trump issued an executive order to freeze almost all US foreign relief and development funding. The unexpected move upended the aid sector, as organisations and programmes funded through USAID abruptly ceased operations, affecting millions of aid recipients around the world. Over the ensuing months, the administration cancelled over 80% of USAID-funded aid projects, as the 63-year-old institution was effectively dissolved and its staff dismissed, with the small remainder absorbed into the US State Department. By far the largest humanitarian donor, representing over a third of all humanitarian contributions in most years, the US historically served as the backbone of the international humanitarian aid system. The slashing of this mainstay funding, followed by cuts from other large humanitarian donors such as Germany, the UK, France and the Netherlands, has begun to unravel global response capacity, and will leave millions withou...

  The steep reductions in humanitarian programming following the defunding have altered the security landscape for aid agencies, exposing new vulnerabilities and amplifying existing ones. In many contexts, the abrupt withdrawal of services has created resentment among affected people, while downsizing has increased exposure for the organisations and individuals that remain. These dynamics are compounded by the erosion of acceptance – driven in part by harmful narratives, misinformation, and disinformation – that is increasingly shaping threat perceptions and behaviours towards aid actors. Rising tensions following abrupt closures and loss of vital services  Provisional data for 2025 includes a small number of major security incidents with evidence of a direct link to defunding-related programme closures or downsizing. The true number is likely higher; many local organisations are unwilling to report such incidents, and others fall outside AWSD’s inclusion criteria because no a...

  Amid the funding cuts, humanitarian organisations have pursued a range of adaptations to sustain operations and manage security risks with fewer resources. Some changes were already under consideration before the funding crisis, but the urgency of the current environment has accelerated their adoption. The merging of security and access departments – previously viewed as distinct functions – is becoming more common, with security specialists now expected to engage directly in negotiations and outreach. Interviewees noted that security risk management has always involved elements of access facilitation, but the current shift offers an opportunity to operationalise the access role and better integrate it with day-to-day security functions. Resource pooling and co-location are emerging as practical cost-saving measures. In Burkina Faso, an organisation that could no longer maintain its offices offered space to others, resulting in several organisations now sharing the same building...

  Humanitarian access, operational security, and resourcing are all inseparably linked. For that reason, the record-setting levels of violence against aid workers in 2024, followed by the unprecedented US funding freeze in 2025, have created overlapping crises: loss of critical services for communities, heightened risks for aid workers , and erosion of the professional and data capacities that underpin safe and principled operations. The evidence gathered shows that the security risks emerging from programme cuts are not confined to high-profile conflict zones. They span contexts from Gaza to Colombia, with incidents ranging from community protests to targeted attacks on staff. In several cases, downsizing has left national aid actors exposed to disproportionate risk, while misinformation and weaponised narratives have further undermined acceptance. Without decisive action by donors and diplomatic actors , the current patterns point to a future where humanitarian aid operations ...

Every day, thousands of humanitarian workers risk their lives helping people in conflict and disaster zones. At times, unfortunately, they themselves also become victims and need assistance. Sometimes they are targeted because of the work they do. Protect Aid Workers supports humanitarian staff who experience critical incidents in the line of duty , and works to ensure Humanitarian workers safety and recovery .

We are not powerless. People everywhere must demand protection – and reject excuses when it’s denied.

  Your contribution honours volunteers and staff who have died in the line of duty and provides financial assistance to their families. Donate!

  Create with purpose: Artists, creators, brands – use platform to break the silence and inspire action. Get the Campaign material !

  Across cities and communities people are taking a stand; Join one, or start your own to demand action.

 Don’t stop online: ask officials why attacks on aid workers aren’t met with consequences. Ask what your government is doing to uphold international law.

 International humanitarian law is a set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects. Also known as the law of armed conflict , is a set of rules that limit the effects of armed conflict and protect people who are not or are no longer participating in hostilities. It aims to reduce human suffering during wartime by regulating the treatment of civilians, wounded soldiers, and prisoners of war, as well as restricting the means and methods of warfare. Key aspects of International Humanitarian Law: Protection of Civilians: IHL mandates that civilians and civilian objects be protected from the effects of hostilities. Protection of Those No Longer Participating: This includes wounded and sick soldiers, prisoners of war, and others who are hors de combat (out of combat). Limitations on Warfare: IHL restricts the use of certain weapons and tactics, such as indiscriminate attacks and weapons that cause unnecessary suffering. Distinctio...

Last year marked the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions – part of the foundation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the global consensus that wars must have limits. Parties to armed conflict are obligated to uphold IHL. All States must use their influence to prevent and end IHL violations. The issue isn’t the absence of rules but the failure to uphold them. We need political will and courage to ensure respect for IHL.

World Humanitarian Day honours communities and responders who protect lives in crises. Their work is safer and more effective when warnings arrive in time. Impact-based forecasting + anticipatory action help pre-position supplies, protect essential services, and guide safe evacuations. Evidence shows even 24 hours’ notice can cut losses significantly. The WMO brings weather and climate intelligence into humanitarian operations so alerts become clear, local actions—co-produced with communities, delivered in local languages and accessible formats. What’s needed now: close observation & data gaps, strengthen last-mile delivery and communication, and invest in local capacity, so everyone receives actionable warnings. Learn more with Early Warnings For All.

On World Humanitarian Day, we pay tribute to the humanitarian workers who risk their lives everyday to deliver for people caught in crises around the world. Their courage, compassion and unwavering commitment in the face of adversity embodies the very best of humanity. Their work could not be more important, now more than ever. When crises happen, UNOPS helps partners identify and address urgent needs, and helps communities recover and build resilience. We live at a time of growing humanitarian needs: Our world is more violent now than at any time since the second world war. The climate crisis is wreaking havoc and natural disasters are becoming more intense, longer and more frequent. And yet 2024 has been the deadliest year on record for humanitarians around the world. In Gaza, Sudan, and many other places, humanitarian workers are increasingly caught in the crossfire, suffering injuries, abductions, and deaths, just as the people they are there to help. The deliberate targeting of h...

On World Humanitarian Day, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) joins United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations in calling for the urgent protection of aid workers and an end to the rising violence against them worldwide. IOM is urging stronger, coordinated, and decisive political action from Member States to halt this alarming trend. “International humanitarian law explicitly protects humanitarian workers, yet attacks continue with impunity. We see this play out everywhere: convoys attacked, facilities damaged, and aid corridors cut off or rendered unsafe,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “When humanitarians are silenced, it’s the people in greatest need who are left without life-saving support. We need to see urgent political will and real accountability to stop these indefensible attacks.” This year’s World Humanitarian Day comes as the cost for those delivering aid reaches devastating levels. In 2024, attacks killed 383 humanitarian workers, accordin...

On this World Humanitarian Day , we honour every humanitarian who risks and -- all too often -- loses their life to help others. We honour the women leaders and local responders who stand on the frontlines, often facing double peril : targeted for the work they do, and for who they are. We pay tribute to those killed, and salute those who keep showing up in the face of danger. This year’s call to #ActForHumanity is more urgent than ever. The humanitarian landscape is collapsing under escalating violence, dwindling resources, and broken promises of protection. The past year marked a devastating chapter for humanitarian workers, with more lives lost than ever before and attacks surging significantly. These deaths are not accidents. They stem from systemic failures: impunity for those who break the rules of war, eroded respect for humanitarian principles, and a growing disregard for international humanitarian law. The violence is compounded by unprecedented funding shortfalls. As at 12 A...

Survivors, families, Excellencies, colleagues: I would like to express here my appreciation to Australia and Ambassador Walsh for this initiative and for the important leadership and support you have brought to the protection of aid workers. 19 August is always a hard day. I remember exactly where I was in 2003 when I heard about the bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad. That day, 22 humanitarians were killed, including my former boss, Sergio Vieira de Mello. It was a wound to the humanitarian community that has never healed. Every year since, on World Humanitarian Day, we gather to honour those we have lost – and to stand with those who continue bringing hope to the world’s hardest and most dangerous places. But remembrance is not enough. Because today is not only about looking back. It is about confronting a present reality that is unacceptable. Last year alone, 383 humanitarians were killed – another record. Hundreds more were wounded, kidnapped, or detained. Already this year, the...

Thank you, Director-General [Tatiana Valovaya]. Dear survivors, families – especially the families – Excellencies and colleagues: We are here to grieve and honour those we have lost. They are the best of us. Humanitarians carry hope where there is despair. They are selfless in a selfish world. They seek to mend what others seek to break. They bring humanity where there is inhumanity. Yet from that day in Baghdad till now, the best of us are under attack. Last year, more than 380 humanitarians were killed – not dead, killed – the highest ever recorded. Hundreds more wounded, kidnapped, detained. In Gaza, 520 aid workers – mostly UNRWA staff – killed since October 2023, the deadliest place for humanitarians for the second year running. This number doesn’t even touch the hundreds of staff who have lost family members, like my colleague Saed Al Ghamri, whose wife Ola was killed in our guesthouse. In Sudan, 60 colleagues lost their lives – over double the year before. These include my colle...

Wreath-laying by Mr. Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General, Department of Operational Support (accompanied by survivors of that bombing). Watch the Wreath-laying ceremony to honour colleagues who lost their lives at the Canal Hotel, Baghdad! Meetings & Events

With the news on Tuesday that a record 383 aid workers were confirmed killed in the line of duty last year , one veteran UN aid worker based in Gaza reaffirmed the resolve of humanitarians everywhere to save lives and relieve suffering, no matter how challenging the situation.

In comments in support of aid workers everywhere, the  United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres pointed out that humanitarian teams “are the last lifeline for over 300 million people” impacted by conflict or disaster. Despite their lifesaving role, funding cuts are having a serious and negative impact on the world’s most vulnerable people, Mr. Guterres warned, while those who provide aid are increasingly under attack as “ red lines are crossed with impunity ”. This is despite the fact that such attacks are prohibited under international law, the UN chief continued, noting that although governments have pledged action to protect them, “ what is missing is political will – and moral courage…Humanitarians must be respected and protected. They can never be targeted.”

   Annual observance of World Humanitarian Day at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Five years later, the General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day (WHD). Since then, WHD has become OCHA's annual flagship campaign. Each year, WHD focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers. This year, we call for an end to the attacks on humanitarians and civilians and impunity under International Humanitarian Law . During the occasion, we will  show the importance, effectiveness and positive impact of humanitarian work.   We urge those in power to #ActForHumanit...