19 August 2021
As members of the ERU Benelux team prepare to leave for Haiti to help the victims of the earthquake, celebrating World Humanitarian Day 2021 seems all the more real.
World Humanitarian Day, 19 August, is an opportunity to honour those who face danger and adversity to help others.
Just as they are currently doing in Haiti and Afghanistan, aid workers help millions of people around the world day in day out. Whether working in areas affected by earthquakes, hurricanes, and other climatic crises or in conflict zones on a daily basis, they all have the same goal of helping the affected and vulnerable.
Humanitarian workers must overcome unprecedented access barriers, such as Covid-19, to provide life-saving assistance to people in humanitarian crises in 54 countries.
This World Day is dedicated to humanitarian workers to honour their courage and commitment while working in extreme circumstances and conditions.
World Humanitarian Day 2021- Background
Formalised in 2009, World Humanitarian Day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in memory to the 19 August 2003 attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 people.
For more information on the Luxembourg Red Cross’ humanitarian aid activities: https://www.croix-rouge.lu/fr/service/aide-internationale/
For more information on this year’s World Humanitarian Day and related actions: https://www.worldhumanitarianday.org