We stand shoulder to shoulder with the communities we serve No Matter What. On 19 August 2003, we lost 22 colleagues in an attack on the United Nations in Baghdad, Iraq. The tragedy profoundly changed the way in which humanitarians operate – from being respected, to being targeted – and led to the creation of […]

Whenever and wherever people are in crisis, there are others who help them. From the affected people themselves – always first to respond when disaster strikes – to the global community that supports them as they recover, they come together to ease suffering and bring hope. Because, as the saying goes: It takes a village […]

For this World Humanitarian Day, 19 August, we’re coming together for #TheHumanRace: a global challenge for climate action in solidarity with people who need it the most.

Around the world, many people have grown up with local stories of fictional heroes, from folktales to fantasy epics. Humanitarians didn’t appear in those stories, but this year we bring these unsung heroic stories to life.

Today, on World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations honours the work of women throughout the world; raising awareness, rallying support, and amplifying the stories of these heroes on the front lines of our humanitarian efforts.

Originally designed to recognize aid workers, WHD today seeks to bring the world together to rally support for people affected by humanitarian crises, as well as pay tribute to the humanitarian workers who help them. WHD 2018 builds on the momentum created last year by the #NotATarget campaign. The 2017 campaign saw more than 2 […]

This World Humanitarian Day we bring attention to the millions of civilians affected by armed conflict every day. People in cities and towns struggle to find food, water, and safe shelter, while fighting drives millions from their homes. Children are recruited and used to fight, and their schools are destroyed. Women are sexually abused by […]

While people are in crisis today, there is hope for something better. The UN’s Agenda for Humanity creates a path towards a world that protects those in crisis.

By donating your social media feeds for just one day you can promote humanitarian action and help to give a voice to the voiceless by sharing their stories of crisis, hope and resilience.

This year we are shining the spotlight on humanitarians around the world and profiling Humanitarian Heroes – people from all walks of life, who are committed to making a difference. World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity to celebrate the spirit that inspires humanitarian work around the world.

We created the world’s first marketplace for words. This allows brands, organizations and individuals to sponsor a word and raise the money that’s needed to support humanitarian aid operations that help people in need.

The World Humanitarian Day 2012 campaign has made social media history by sharing more than one billion messages of hope encouraging people to do something good for someone else.

Across the world UN agencies, local and international NGOs, Governments, academia and the public came together to celebrate aid workers under this year’s common theme – “people helping people.”

The second World Humanitarian Day takes place this year on 19 August. The day will raise awareness of what it means to be a humanitarian aid worker by describing their work, explaining the principles that guide all humanitarians, and portraying the hazards that humanitarian aid workers face in the course of their work.

Established by the General Assembly (GA) of the United Nations in December 2008, 19 August 2009 is the first World Humanitarian Day. The designation of the Day is a way to increase public understanding of humanitarian assistance activities worldwide.