World Humanitarian Day

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...

A honor guar is pictured at the  Wreath-laying Ceremony to Commemorate 22nd Anniversary of the Bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq. 

  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 #ActForHumanity. Join us to commemorate the World Humanitarian Day 2025 on August 19th to pay tribute to humanitarian workers killed and injured in the course of their work , and to honor all aid and health workers who continue to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need .