A person in business attire looking at a destroyed city.

#ActForHumanity

World Humanitarian Day 2024

This World Humanitarian Day, celebrating humanitarian workers is not enough.

We need those in power to act now to ensure protection of civilians, including humanitarians, in conflict zones.
 


 

Act for Humanity

2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarians. 2024 could be even worse.

Share this video to help us pressure parties to conflict and world leaders to take action.

We will take our combined voices to the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September to demand they #ActForHumanity.

Video transcript
To those in power
You committed
To protect civilians in war
To protect humanitarian workers
To support the lifeline they provide
This is the result of your failure
Of a broken promise to humanity
How much more do you need to see
before you act?

Share this video
Demand that world leaders #ActForHumanity

Why are humanitarian workers being killed in…
What do you say to aid being blocked in the areas...
This is being called a failure of humanity and leadership, how do you respond...
Is it not your responsibility as a leader to stop attacks on civilians and aid workers…
Laws are being broken with impunity, is it not your job to…
Why are there rules of war if they are just being ignored...
What do you say to the families of humanitarians who have been...
What about families who are suffering as a result of this conflict…
Why are weapons still being sent to…
Why is there no action by world leaders who should be the ones to...
Don’t you see that people are demanding action…

Humanitarians under attack

Attacks harming humanitarians have become common and can be a violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

In 2023, 280 humanitarians were killed, most of them were national staff working to help their own communities.

By August this year, more than 170 humanitarians had been killed. At least another 150 had been injured or abducted.

A destroyed ambulance

THIS WAS AN AMBULANCE

The rules of war: All parties to armed conflict – States and non-State armed groups alike – must respect international humanitarian law. 

This means they must:
 

Protect all civilians, including humanitarian workers and all civilian objects, including humanitarian assets. 
 

Allow humanitarian aid to reach all civilians who need it, safely, quickly and without obstruction.
 


 

Care for wounded and sick people and protect medical personnel, facilities and transports. 
 


 

Protect objects indispensable for civilians’ survival, such as crops and drinking water. 
 


 

Treat all people under their control humanely. Torture, sexual violence and other forms of inhumane treatment are strictly prohibited.
 


 

A destroyed hospital

THIS WAS A HOSPITAL

The human toll of ignoring IHL

From looting and obstruction to attacks and kidnapping, threats to humanitarian workers' safety and movement compromise a lifeline to millions of people in need.

This results in ordinary people losing access to essentials such as food, water and medical care.

The destruction of hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure devastates communities for generations.

In 2023, global humanitarian operations provided life-saving aid to more than 140 million people.

Despite the challenges, humanitarians persist in striving to help all those in need.

Who is responsible?

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions – part of the foundation of 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.

A destroyed school

THIS WAS A SCHOOL

Resources

How can you help?

Add your voice by sharing the campaign video.

Together, we will send a message to parties to conflict and world leaders that they can’t ignore.

We will take our combined voices to the UN General Assembly in New York this September to demand that they #ActForHumanity.

About World Humanitarian Day

World Humanitarian Day (WHD), which takes place every year on 19 August, was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2008 to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq.​

WHD aims to recognize aid workers and mobilize people from around the world to advocate for the broader humanitarian cause.

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