UN Marks 23rd Anniversary of Baghdad Attack on World Humanitarian Day

UN Marks 23rd Anniversary of Baghdad Attack on World Humanitarian Day

The United Nations on Wednesday marked World Humanitarian Day by remembering the 22 people killed in the 2003 bombing of its headquarters in Baghdad, an attack that became a defining moment for the safety of humanitarian workers worldwide. The attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad on August 19, 2003, killed 22 people, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for Iraq, and injured more than 150 others. Th…

World Humanitarian Day: recognising frontline responders

World Humanitarian Day on 19 August recognises those working on the frontline of crises and disasters. Firefighters and emergency response teams play a critical role in protecting communities when emergencies strike. The day also highlights the risks faced by frontline responders and the need to ensure they can operate safely. World Humanitarian Day provides an opportunity to recognise the people who respond when communities are facing crisis — …

World Humanitarian Day: Protecting those on the frontline

World Humanitarian Day recognises humanitarian workers operating on the frontline of crises. Security is critical to enabling humanitarian teams to operate safely in high-risk environments. The day highlights the need to protect personnel as well as humanitarian operations and assets. Established by the United Nations, the day commemorates the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, which killed 22 humanitarian workers. It also serves as…