I missed the golden opportunity to remember the work, dedication, courage and loss of humanitarian workers overseas on the UN’s first annual World Humanitarian Day. The date of this inaugural rememberance, August 19th, marks the 5th anniversary of the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Bagdad, where 22 UN staff lives were lost.
As if to punctuate the need to recognize the dangers of humanitarian work, sadly there were two UN staff members and 5 Afghani nationals killed in Afghanistan one day before the World Humanitarian Day.
A poignant article written by the son of the fames UN diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello was published in the
Washington Post to commemorate this day, and to announce that we need to invest in humanitarian work in order to guarantee the safety of those working in the field, while simultaneously working seriously to remove the root causes of poverty and violence that necessitate humanitarian aid. The article notes that in 2008 there were 260 humanitarian aid workers who were killed, kidnapped, or seriously injured in violent attacks.
This number exceeds the number of victims from UN peacekeeping forces.
Humanitarian workers do not have guns. They choose to go to some of the most dangerous places on earth--Colombia, Darfur, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar--to work with the citizens of those countries to make a difference through kindness, compassion and diligence. They are the true nation builders, the true diplomats and ambassadors in a global world.
I know that the fear faced by humanitarian staff is not taken lightly. When I worked for UNHCR, I was required to pass a course on safety and prevention that included recommendations and instructions on everything from identifying land mines, to how to act at arbitrary "checkpoints," and even to choosing the correct hotel room to minimize risk.
Although the World Humanitarian Day is a result of a UN resolution, it does not only apply to the staff of UN humanitarian agencies like UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO and others. We must also remember that the many staff of civil society and international non-governmental organizations are part of the fabric of helping those in need. These humanitarian workers often make the work of the UN possible, yet they often do not have the protection of UN compounds, nor do all have the visibility of the blue flag.
Sadly, it is true that the UN flag is not bulletproof, but neither is that of the Red Cross, nor the flags and logos of the many organizations working to address poverty, desperation, human rights abuses, and injustice.
Even if August 19th has passed, remember that humanitarian workers are in the field all year round, doing work to help others that most of us in Canada are either unable or unwilling to do.
Here are a few concrete actions to show your support:
1. Take a moment to actually read the next piece of direct mail that comes from an international cause.
2. Visit the websites of some of the
Canadian organizations working to support international causes and consider making a gift online, to reduce their fundraising costs.
3. Read (or subscribe to) the press releases from the
UN news centre to learn that the UN is more than just the security council and the General Assembly.
4. Remember, as I will, to mark on your calendar September 21, the International Day of Peace.
I am honoured to have worked within humanitarian organizations, and I have met some of the most courageous and impressive people who have given up so much to help others.
My hat is off to each of them.
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