By Paola Velasco
In December 2008, the UN General Assembly declared August 19 as World Humanitarian Day in memory of the brutal terrorist attack of August 19, 2003, against the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad (Iraq), which claimed the lives of 22 people, including the UN envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Such international events provide an opportunity to raise awareness about important societal issues such as human rights, sustainable development, and health. At the same time, they seek to draw the attention of the media and governments to publicize unresolved problems that require implementation of concrete political measures.
On World Humanitarian Day, the world pays tribute to humanitarian workers who have been killed or injured on the job, and we honor all humanitarian workers and health professionals who continue, despite difficulties, to provide assistance and protection to millions of people.
Humanitarian action is essential since it aims to protect and save lives and ensure human rights, as well as alleviate the suffering of populations in extreme and emergency situations by meeting their basic needs.
Humanitarian crises are the result of natural disasters, but they can also be caused by the actions of man (armed conflicts). They give rise to situations of extreme poverty, as well as human rights violations. In the face of a humanitarian crisis, massive displacements of people are often necessary in order to survive, whether they are refugees in foreign countries or displaced persons within their own countries.
Humanitarian principles:
Humanity: Human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found. The goal of humanitarian action is to protect life and health, and to ensure respect for human beings.
Neutrality: Humanitarian action must not take sides in hostilities or in controversies of a political, racial, religious, or ideological nature.
Impartiality: Humanitarian action must be carried out on the basis of need, giving priority to the most urgent cases and without making distinctions on the basis of nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class, or political opinion.
Operational independence: Humanitarian action must be autonomous from the political, economic, military, or other objectives that any humanitarian agent may have with respect to the areas where humanitarian measures are being carried out.
References: https://www.un.org.
