August 19 - World Humanitarian Day
12:47, 19 August 2009
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It's August 19 - the first World Humanitarian Day. It honors those who are working or have worked in the promotion of humanitarian causes, particularly those who have died while working in aid and development.This designation was made by the United Nations to honor the late Mr. Vieira de Mello on the anniversary of his death: he was killed in the Canal Hotel Bombing in Iraq in 2003 along with 20 other members of his staff while working as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Iraq.
Anywhere between dozens and hundreds of humanitarian aid workers are killed, kidnapped, or seriously injured in violent attacks every year. 2008 was the worst in 12 years, with 260 humanitarian aid workers killed, kidnapped, or seriously injured. This toll exceeds the number of victims among U.N. peacekeeping troops. Many, if not most, of these humanitarian workers are locally-recruited staff.
Reporters and members of Western militaries love making fun of aid workers, which is interesting, since I've rarely heard aid workers turn the tables... probably because they are too busy.
And before you ask: here is a detailed page on how to get a job in humanitarian work. And another on how to volunteer abroad.
I knew one of those staff members in Iraq that was injured and, ultimately, died. We met only once, and I remember the meeting well. He wasn't a friend. But he *was* a colleague, someone who got excited about the Online Volunteering service into 60 seconds of my description of such. After that, every murder or attack on an aid worker anywhere makes me stop in my tracks and read every media account I can get my hands on. Kinda drives my husband crazy sometimes...
In memory of Thor David Hesla, someone whom I never met, but whose death I mourn, for obvious reasons.
