"Today the UN flag is lowered globally in solidarity with over 1,000 aid workers killed in past three years. We lower our flags. We remember our friends and colleagues. We demand accountability for those who killed them." Tom Fletcher

Tom Fletcher

@UNReliefChief

·

Aug 19

 

Today the UN flag is lowered globally in solidarity with over 1,000 aid workers killed in past three years. We lower our flags. We remember our friends and colleagues. We demand accountability for those who killed them.

4 principles guide the United Nation's humanitarian work: Humanity + Neutrality + Impartiality + Independence

United Nations

@UN

 

Humanity  

Neutrality  

Impartiality  

Independence 

 

These 4 principles guide the UN's humanitarian work. Learn more ahead of Wednesday's #WorldHumanitarianDay: https://un.org/en/observances

 [AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes or watch videos) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

https://x.com/UN/status/2089683981998395798 

Let’s make protecting each other our greatest achievement

On 19 August, we mark World Humanitarian Day: a time to honour humanitarian workers and to stand with people affected by crises around the world.

When lives are at risk, the people who come to help should never be targets. Yet humanitarian workers continue to be killed, injured, abducted, detained and obstructed while carrying out their work. Most are national staff serving their own communities.

Under international humanitarian law, civilians — including humanitarian and medical personnel — must be respected and protected. Parties to armed conflict must allow and facilitate humanitarian relief for people in need, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Attacks on humanitarian personnel have consequences far beyond the individuals directly affected. They interrupt food deliveries, health care, protection and other life-saving services, leaving communities with even fewer ways to survive and recover.

Concern is not protection. Condemnation is not accountability.

International law and humanitarian principles must be upheld in practice. Preventing attacks, protecting humanitarian access and ensuring accountability are essential to preserving life and human dignity.

This World Humanitarian Day, we call on States and parties to armed conflict to:

• Respect and protect civilians, humanitarian personnel and medical personnel.
• Allow and facilitate safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
• Prevent arbitrary arrest and detention, and release humanitarian workers who are unlawfully detained.
• Conduct prompt, impartial and effective investigations into alleged violations and ensure accountability in accordance with international law.
• Support survivors and the families of humanitarian workers who have been killed or injured.
• Strengthen practical measures that help keep humanitarian personnel safe, including appropriate equipment and technology, security training, and mental health and psychosocial support.

                 

                  

Join the #ActForHumanity campaign

Protecting humanitarian workers protects the people who depend on them for food, health care, shelter, protection and hope. Let’s make protecting each other our greatest achievement.

1. Use your voice: Share verified campaign information and call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel using #ActForHumanity.
2. Support humanitarian action: Support organizations delivering life-saving assistance, particularly local and national responders working in their own communities.
3. Stand for accountability: Call for respect for international humanitarian law and for credible investigations and accountability when violations occur.
4. Remember the people behind the numbers: Honour humanitarian workers who have been killed and stand with their families, colleagues and communities.

Protecting those who help others

Every life is more than a number

Every humanitarian worker killed leaves behind family members, friends, colleagues and communities whose lives are forever changed. World Humanitarian Day honours their lives, service and legacy, while renewing the call to protect those who continue this work.

Local humanitarian workers face the greatest risks

Most humanitarian personnel affected by violence are national staff working in the places where they live. Protection efforts must reflect the risks they face and ensure that local and national responders have the resources, training and support they need.

Drones and other emerging war technologies

From armed drones to artificial intelligence, the technology of war is changing. Our humanity cannot. Whatever weapons or technologies are used, parties to armed conflict remain bound by international humanitarian law.

• All feasible precautions must be taken to avoid, and in any event minimize, civilian harm.
• Human judgment and accountability must remain central to decisions involving the use of lethal force.
• Humanitarian and medical personnel, their facilities, vehicles and work must be respected and protected.
• Technology used to identify or track humanitarian operations must never be misused to target them.

Background

On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian workers, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Five years later, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 63/139, designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day.

Each year, World Humanitarian Day brings 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 humanitarian workers.

World Humanitarian Day is a campaign by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

2026 Campaign Message

The time for concern is over. The time for consequence is now.

Join the campaign! #ACTFORHUMANITY now!

Facts & Figures

• By the end of May 2026, more than 252 million people were in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection — 13 million more than when the 2026 Global Humanitarian Overview was launched. (source)
• At mid-year, humanitarian partners were planning to assist 143.2 million people, with nearly 89 million people facing the most severe needs prioritized for life-saving support. (source)
• By the end of April 2026, humanitarian partners had provided an estimated 45.2 million people with at least one form of assistance or protection — about one in six of all people in need. (source)
• As of 31 May 2026, humanitarian plans required US$33.66 billion and had received US$8.21 billion — 24.4 per cent of the amount required. (source)
• OCHA reported that at least 326 humanitarian workers were killed across 21 countries in 2025, bringing the number killed over the three-year period to more than 1,000. (source)
• The United Nations recorded more than 37,000 civilian deaths across 20 armed conflicts in 2025 — approximately one recorded civilian death every 14 minutes. The figure is a documented minimum and does not represent the full toll. (source)

Figures reflect the reporting dates indicated in the cited sources and may be revised as additional information becomes available.

Documents

• 2026 Global Humanitarian Overview Mid-Year Review
• Report of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/2026/390)
• OCHA statement on the protection of humanitarian workers
• WHO Health Emergency Appeal 2026
• General Assembly resolution establishing World Humanitarian Day (A/RES/63/139)
• Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel
• General Assembly resolution on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel (A/RES/74/116)
• OCHA's 2025 in Review

Related websites

• World Humanitarian Day
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
• Delivering humanitarian aid
• Inter-Agency Standing Committee
• World Food Programme
• UN Refugee Agency
• UNICEF
• World Health Organization
• Remember the Fallen
• UN News: Humanitarian Aid

 [AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes or watch videos) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

"UNRWA has food, medicines + other basic supplies ready to go to Gaza. We have enough to provide food for the entire population for the coming three months. Our teams in Gaza are crucial for the implementation of this agreement including to provide basic services like healthcare + education. There are over 660,000 children who are eagerly waiting to go back to school. UNRWA teachers stand ready to help them fulfill that. I call on all member states to support UNRWA to do its work to assist people in need in the coming critical period." Philippe Lazzarini

 UNRWA reposted

Philippe Lazzarini

@UNLazzarini

The agreement to finally secure a ceasefire in #Gaza & release the hostages is a huge relief. 

 

It will bring respite to people who survived the worst bombardment, displacement, loss and grief for two long years. 

 

After their excruciating ordeal, hostages & Palestinian detainees will finally join their families. 

 

@UNRWA  has food, medicines + other basic supplies ready to go to Gaza. 

 

We have enough to provide food for the entire population for the coming three months. 

 

Our teams in #Gaza are crucial for the implementation of this agreement including to provide basic services like healthcare + education. 

 

There are over 660,000 children who are eagerly waiting to go back to school. 

 

UNRWA teachers stand ready to help them fulfill that. 

 

I call on all member states to support UNRWA to do its work to assist people in need in the coming critical period.  

 

#ceasefiregaza

UNRWA

@UNRWA

 

For two years too long, humanitarian workers have been killed in #Gaza. 

 

UNRWA mourns 562 aid workers killed in #Gaza since 7 October 2023, among them 370 from UNRWA. 

 

They were killed while at home with their families. 

 

They were killed while on duty. 

 

They were civilians and should have been protected according to the laws of war. 

 

 #CeasefireNow

 

UNRWA

@UNRWA

 

Children belong in school, not in the rubble. 

 

In #Gaza, around 90% of UNRWA schools were hit or damaged, many while sheltering displaced families. 

 

Nearly 660,000 children are forced out of school for the third year in a row. Half of them used to go to UNRWA schools. 

 

 #CeasefireNow

 

UNRWA

@UNRWA

 

"It would take UNRWA just about 3 hours to get trucks to the borders and then get much needed supplies directly to desperate people in #Gaza” our Juliette Touma tells NPR https://x.com/i/status/1975926687805166015

 

For over 7 months now, the Israeli Authorities have blocked UNRWA from bringing any supplies in. 

 

Our services in Gaza have meanwhile continued thanks to 12,000 UNRWA workers who have not stopped for a day since the war began two years ago. 

 

The siege must be lifted, and the crossings must open.  

 

#CeasefireNow

 

https://bsky.app/profile/unrwa.org 

https://www.unrwa.org/ 

NOT A TARGET: Babies are #NotATarget. Children are #NotATarget. Civilians are #NotATarget. Hospitals are #NotATarget. Health care workers are #NotATarget. Schools are #NotATarget. Humanitarians are #NotATarget.... & Poets are #NotATarget. Journalists are #NotATarget. Teachers are #NotATarget.

United Nations Geneva

@UNGeneva

Babies are #NotATarget. 

Children are #NotATarget. 

Civilians are #NotATarget. 

Hospitals are #NotATarget. 

Health care workers are #NotATarget. 

Schools are #NotATarget. 

Humanitarians are #NotATarget.

 

& 

Poets are #NotATarget.

Journalists are #NotATarget. 

Teachers are #NotATarget.

   

United Nations Geneva REMINDER: Humanitarians are #NotATarget. Civilians are #NotATarget. Hospitals are #NotATarget. Schools are #NotATarget. Children are #NotATarget. Journalists are #NotATarget.

United Nations Geneva

@UNGeneva

 

 𝙍𝙀𝙈𝙄𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍

Humanitarians are #NotATarget. 

Civilians are #NotATarget. 

Hospitals are #NotATarget. 

Schools are #NotATarget. 

Children are #NotATarget. 

Journalists are #NotATarget.