World Humanitarian Day 2025 – August 19

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is observed globally on 19 August each year to honour humanitarian workers, including those killed or injured while helping the most vulnerable.

• The day aims to recognize aid workers and mobilize global support for humanitarian causes.
• August 19, 2025 marks the 22nd anniversary of the tragic attack on the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq.

Theme:

Theme 2025:  “Strengthening global solidarity and empowering local communities”

Focus: The theme highlights that despite mounting crises, local aid workers remain critical first responders, their safety and empowerment are essential.

2025 Campaign Focus: The 2025 campaign highlights the urgent need to protect humanitarian personnel amid record levels of violence against aid workers in recent years.

•  It reminds the United Nations (UN) Member States of their responsibility to uphold International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and ensure unrestricted humanitarian access.

Background :

Launch of Campaign: In 2010, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) launched the World Humanitarian Day (WHD) campaign.

UN Proclamation: On 11 December 2008, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/63/139, declaring 19 August of every year as WHD.

First Observation: The first WHD was observed on 19 August 2009.

Why August 19? On 19 August 2003, a suicide truck bombing targeted the United Nations (UN) headquarters at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, killing 22 people, including UN Special Representative Sérgio Vieira de Mello.

Violence Against Humanitarian Workers

Rising Attacks on Aid Workers: The OCHA reported a sharp rise in violence against humanitarian workers.

• In 2024, over 380 humanitarian workers were killed, some while on duty and others in their homes, while hundreds more were injured, kidnapped, or detained.

Gaza Crisis: Since October 2023, more than 280 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza alone, the majority of them being staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

• Most casualties were national staff, with several humanitarian workers also detained in Yemen.

Humanitarian Reach Despite Risks: Despite the violence, in 2023, global humanitarian operations successfully delivered life-saving aid to over 140 million people worldwide.

AWSD: The Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD), launched in 2005 by Humanitarian Outcomes, records all major incidents of violence against aid workers from 1997 to the present.

About International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

Definition: It regulates armed conflicts, ensuring protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, while restricting warfare methods to preserve humanity during conflicts and maintain international humanitarian standards.

Principles: Distinction between civilians and combatants, proportionality in military actions, necessity limiting force to objectives, and humane treatment of civilians and captured combatants under international law.

Upholding International Law: Attacks on aid workers often violate IHL, yet perpetrators largely remain unpunished.

• The #ActForHumanity campaign demands stronger protection, accountability, and enforcement of laws safeguarding humanitarian workers and civilians.

Key Facts:

Global Humanitarian Needs : In 2025, around 305.1 million people across 72 countries require humanitarian assistance, with an estimated funding need of USD 47.4 billion.

Impact on Children : Around 400 million children, 1 in 5 worldwide, live in or are fleeing conflict zones, while four out of five civilian deaths in conflicts occur in countries with active humanitarian appeals.

About UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
Under-Secretary-General (USG)- Tom Fletcher
Headquarters- Geneva(Switzerland); New York(the United States of America, USA)
Established – 1991