Photo Source: © WHO/Christopher Black.
Photo Source: © WHO/Christopher Black.

Protect civilians and aid workers: A global call on World Humanitarian Day

19 August 2024

Open Letter to the Member States of the UN General Assembly, on behalf of the IASC Principals 

Excellencies,

This World Humanitarian Day, our staff and volunteers around the world will stand in solidarity to spotlight the horrifying toll of armed conflicts on their colleagues and on all civilians, particularly children.

The brutal hostilities we are seeing in multiple conflicts around the world have exposed a terrible truth: We are living in an era of impunity. Attacks that kill or injure civilians, including humanitarian and health-care personnel, are devastatingly common. Yet despite widespread condemnation, serious violations of the rules of war too often go unpunished.

This status quo is shameful and cannot continue.

In 2023, tens of thousands of civilians were killed or injured in armed conflict, with fatalities among humanitarian workers doubling compared to the previous year.

The toll in 2024 – the number of deaths, injuries, detentions and kidnappings – is already staggering. The overwhelming majority of recorded attacks on aid workers are inflicted on national staff. Women-led organizations and female humanitarian staff face unique and often increased risks, just because they are women. The impact on the mental health of civilians and humanitarian workers has reached unprecedented levels.

And yet parties to conflict continue to flout laws meant to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, and civilian objects.

This year, on World Humanitarian Day, we appeal to all States, parties to armed conflict, and the wider international community to:

  1. End attacks on civilians and take active steps to protect them – and the critical civilian infrastructure they rely on.
  2. Protect all aid workers, including local and national actors, and their premises and assets and facilitate their work, as called for in UN Security Council Resolution 2730 adopted this May.
  3. Hold perpetrators to account. Those who commit violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) cannot go unpunished.

We should not have to wait for an annual moment such as World Humanitarian Day to remind all parties to armed conflict, and all States, of their obligations under IHL. Adherence to IHL must happen every day irrespective of occasion. It is non-negotiable and is not subject to exceptions.

It is vital that all parties to armed conflict and all States adhere to their obligations and leverage their influence to ensure respect for the rules of war and minimize human suffering.

Fulfilling these obligations requires more than mere declarations – it demands immediate and decisive actions. Turning a blind eye when humanitarian workers are targeted only emboldens those who seek to hinder their work. This only serves to increase food insecurity, childhood malnutrition, involuntary displacement and the spread of infectious diseases and other threats. The immediate effects of these will not only be limited to areas of conflict but often spread far beyond.

We will continue to stay and deliver in humanitarian crises around the world – but the situation requires us to take a united stand to call for the protection of our staff, volunteers and the civilians we serve.

Signed by:

  1. CARE International
  2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  3. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
  4. International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
  5. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
  6. InterAction
  7. International Organization for Migration (IOM)
  8. Medair
  9. Mercy Corps
  10. Save the Children
  11. Somali NGO Consortium (SNC)
  12. Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR)
  13. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
  14. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
  15. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  16. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
  17. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
  18. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  19. United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)
  20. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
  21. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons
  22. World Bank
  23. World Food Programme (WFP)
  24. World Health Organization (WHO)
  25. World Vision International
  26. A Chance Again Girl Education Foundation (ACAGEF)
  27. ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality
  28. Abak Peace Foundation
  29. Abs Development Organisation for Woman and Child (ADO)
  30. Access Development and Relief Organization-ADRO
  31. Action Against Hunger
  32. Action Contre la Faim
  33. Action For Humanity
  34. Action for Social and Economic Progress (ASEP)
  35. Action for the needy in Ethiopia (ANE)
  36. Action pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant (APDE)
  37. ActionAid
  38. ActionAid International
  39. Active in Development Aid (ADA)
  40. Adamawa Concern Disable Foundation
  41. Adamawa Initiative for Underprivileged Empowerment (ADIFUE)
  42. Adamawa Women Initiative for Leadership and Development (ADWILD)
  43. ADRA Europe
  44. ADRA Lebanon
  45. Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
  46. Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation
  47. Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA)
  48. African Relief and Development (ARD-African)
  49. Against All Odds Foundation (AGAOF)
  50. Agency for Minority Rights and Development (AMARD)
  51. Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
  52. AKKMA National Coalition Pilipinas
  53. Al Mehran Research & Development Foundation (AMRDF)
  54. Al Sham Humanitarian Foundation
  55. Alaman Organization for Blind Women Care (AOBWC)
  56. Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA)
  57. Alimat Care Foundation
  58. Alliance of International Doctors (AID)
  59. Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration (DCR Ambassadors)
  60. AMEL Association International
  61. Americaires
  62. AMURT
  63. Anera
  64. Anglican Missions
  65. Arewa Young Women Graduates Support Initiative (AYW-Grads)
  66. Association Najdeh
  67. Assured Better Life Initiative
  68. ASWHAN Adamawa
  69. Australian Council for International Development
  70. Australian Lutheran World Service
  71. AwazCDS-Pakistan
  72. AWO International (Germany)
  73. Baptist World Aid Australia
  74. Bege House Foundation
  75. Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief
  76. BINAA Organization for Development
  77. Bioforce Afrique
  78. Blumont
  79. Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Centre
  80. Bonyan for Youth and Development
  81. Bridge Builders Women and Girls Initiative
  82. Budapest Centre for Dialogue and Mass Atrocities Prevention
  83. Building Blocks for Peace Foundation
  84. Building Foundation for Development (BFD)
  85. CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
  86. CARE
  87. Caritas Africa
  88. Caritas Australia
  89. Cáritas Española
  90. Caritas Internationalis
  91. Catholic Relief Services Nigeria
  92. CCDRN
  93. CDA Collaborative Learning
  94. CDAC Network
  95. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
  96. Center of Concern
  97. Centre d’Appui aux Initiatives de Developpement Local (CAIDEL)
  98. Centre for Community Resource, Health and Social Development (CCRHSD)
  99. Centre for Sustainable Development
  100. CESVI
  101. CHAD INGO Forum
  102. Cheerful Hands Initiative (CHI)
  103. Child & Women International Development
  104. Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative
  105. ChildFund Alliance
  106. ChildFund International
  107. Childvoice
  108. Christian Aid
  109. Christian Blind Mission Ireland
  110. Christian World Service New Zealand
  111. CHS Alliance
  112. Church World Service
  113. Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS)
  114. Civil Society Coalition for poverty Eradication (CISCOPE)
  115. Community and Family Services International (CFSI)
  116. Community Development and Media Centre
  117. Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation for Women and Youth (CEPFoWY)
  118. Community Empowerment and Social Development Organization (CESDO)
  119. Community Reach out Initiative (CRI) Yola
  120. Community World Service Asia
  121. Concern Worldwide
  122. Confluence Development inn (CODI)
  123. Congo Explorer
  124. Consortium of Youth Associations for the Defense of Victims of Violence (COJEDEV)
  125. Coordination of National NGOs Chad (CONA-T)
  126. Coordination SUD
  127. Cordaid
  128. Council for International Development Aotearoa New Zealand
  129. Dadah Foundation for Educational Empowerment (DAFEE)
  130. DanChurchAid
  131. Danuwa Empowerment Foundation
  132. Daryas Organization for Developing Woman and Society
  133. Dawis Initiative for Sustainability, Community Development (DISCOD)
  134. Debbie Kauna Foundation (Disability Rights)
  135. DEEG-ROOR Medical Organization
  136. Democracy School Yemen (DSYemen)
  137. Development Initiatives
  138. Development Institutions Network Pakistan (DIN)
  139. Developmental Action Without Borders- Nabaa
  140. Dharti Development Foundation
  141. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
  142. Dóchas
  143. Dorcas Sisters Foundation
  144. DRC Danish Refugee Council
  145. Dream alive women and orphans support foundation (Dawos foundation)
  146. Dünya Doktorları/Médecins du Monde
  147. Education Cannot Wait
  148. Empowerment for Development
  149. Environmental Protection Society (EPS)
  150. Episcopal Relief & Development
  151. EU-CORD Network
  152. Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF)
  153. Every Casualty Counts
  154. Farm Radio International
  155. Femenni Development Initiative
  156. Femmes et Développement FEDE
  157. FHI 360
  158. Field Ready-Middle East
  159. Fiji Council of Social Services
  160. Finnish Refugee Council (FRC)
  161. First Step Action for Children Initiative (FSACI)
  162. Food for the Hungry
  163. Forum des ONGI en RDC
  164. Freedom Jasmine
  165. Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA
  166. Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO)
  167. Garib Unnayan Sangstha
  168. GBIHLI Guardians Brotherhood International Humanitarian Leadership Inc.
  169. Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Children Initiative
  170. General Union of Voluntary Societies
  171. German Doctors e.V.
  172. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
  173. Global Communities
  174. Global Education Emergencies Support Initiative (GEESI)
  175. Global Educational, Economic and Social Empowerment
  176. Global Giving International
  177. Global Mission Partners
  178. Global Support and Development (GSD)
  179. Global Women’s Institute
  180. Global Womens Health Rights and Empowerment Initiative
  181. GOAL
  182. GOAL Global
  183. Grassroot Life Saving Outreach
  184. Grow With Data Youth Foundation (GWD)
  185. HD Foundation
  186. Headwaters Relief Organization
  187. Health And Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) Pakistan
  188. Heifer International
  189. Hellen Keller International
  190. HelpAge Canada
  191. HelpAge International
  192. Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe
  193. Helvetas
  194. HIAS
  195. Hidig Relief & Development Organization
  196. Himaya Daeem Aataa
  197. Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF)
  198. Hope Revival Organization
  199. Hope Rising for the Less Privileged and Vulnerable Foundation
  200. Hopeful Women Initiative
  201. Horan Foundation – HF
  202. Horn of Africa Peace Network (HAPEN)
  203. HUJRA Village Support Organization
  204. Human Organization for Peaceful Environment (HOPE)
  205. Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International
  206. Humanity Forum Indonesia
  207. Hwa Foundation Sindh Pakistan
  208. iACT
  209. IHE Delft
  210. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation
  211. Ihsan Relief and Development
  212. Iimaan Relief and Development Organization
  213. Imam Sadr Foundation
  214. Independent Public Health Consultant
  215. Indus Environment Development Organization (IEDO)
  216. Initiative Africaine pour le Développement Durable
  217. Initiative For Women’s Health Development and Rights Protection Nigeria
  218. Innovative Humanitarian solution (IHS)
  219. Institute for Promotion of Civil Society (IPCS)
  220. Integrated Regional Support Program
  221. Integrated Social Services Program (ISSP)
  222. International Medical Corps
  223. International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
  224. International Rescue Committee
  225. INTERSOS
  226. IRADO
  227. Islamic Relief
  228. Islamic Relief Deutschland e.V.
  229. Islamic Relief USA
  230. Jabu Development Foundation JDF
  231. Jaggarta Organization
  232. Jami Al Hakeem Foundation (J-HF)
  233. Jen initiative for Integrity and Development
  234. Jesuit Refugee Service
  235. JHPiego
  236. Johanniter International Assistance
  237. Jordan Health Aid Society International
  238. Kanzul Masakin Islamic Foundation
  239. LASOONA Relief & Development Organization
  240. Lembaga Daya Dharma Keuskupan Agung Jakarta
  241. LIFE
  242. Life Helpers Initiative (LHI)
  243. Life Makers Meeting Place Organization (LMMPO)
  244. LM International/Läkarmissionen
  245. Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization
  246. LSPR Centre for Crisis and Resilience
  247. Lutheran World Federation
  248. Management Sciences for Health
  249. Mandhere Relief and Development Organisation
  250. Marginalized Communities Advocacy Network (MCAN)
  251. Mariam Ladi Yunusa Foundation
  252. Matasa 360 initiative for social justice and development
  253. Médecins du Monde International Network
  254. Medecins du Monde Network
  255. Medecins sans Frontieres – Western and Central Africa (MSF – WaCA )
  256. MedGlobal
  257. MedGlobal-Yemen
  258. Medical Teams International
  259. MERCY Malaysia
  260. Mercy-USA for Aid and Development
  261. Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
  262. Morning Star Foundation (MSF)
  263. Muslim Hands
  264. Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme
  265. Muzun for Humanitarian and Development
  266. Nahda Makers Organization (NMO)
  267. Nak Akphivath Sahakum
  268. Nana Maren Association for Charity and Awareness
  269. National Disaster Management Network of Nepal (DiMaNN)
  270. National initiative for social advocacy (Nisafoundation)
  271. NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response)
  272. Never Again International – Canada
  273. New Followership New Africa Initiative
  274. New Ways Organisation
  275. NGORC
  276. Nigerian Aid Group of Islam NAG-JNI
  277. Nkafamiya Rescue Mission
  278. No Borders Humanity Organization (NBH)
  279. Nonviolent Peaceforce
  280. Northwest Syria NGO Forum
  281. Norwegian Peoples Aid
  282. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
  283. Now Bahar Rehabilitation Organization
  284. Olive Branch Organisation
  285. ONG-ASHAD
  286. Oxfam
  287. Oxfam America
  288. Oxfam International
  289. PACIDA
  290. Pak Education Society/Pakistan Development Network
  291. Pak Mission Society (PMS)
  292. Pampam development initiative
  293. Pattan Development Organisation
  294. PAX
  295. Peace Foundation Pakistan
  296. People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE)
  297. People in Need
  298. Permanent Peace Movement
  299. Petuniya children youth and women initiative
  300. Physicians for Peace
  301. Plan International
  302. Plan International Ireland
  303. Plan International Nigeria
  304. Plant with Purpose
  305. Population Communication
  306. Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS)
  307. Premiere Urgence Internationale
  308. Project HOPE
  309. Project HOPE: The People-to-People Health Foundation Inc.
  310. Protect Humanitarians
  311. Rahma Worldwide
  312. Reformist’s Social Welfare and Development Organization WORDS
  313. Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK)
  314. Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT)
  315. Regional Advocacy for Women ‘s Sustainable Advancement
  316. Regional Advocacy for Women’s Sustainable Advancement Alliance for African and Arab States
  317. Relief International
  318. Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL)
  319. Restoration of Hope Initiative (ROHI)
  320. Road to Economic Development Organisation
  321. Roshni Development Foundation
  322. ROWYOD
  323. Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA)
  324. Rural Agricultural Transformation and Empowerment Initiative
  325. Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization READO
  326. Rural Education and Economic Development Society
  327. Rural Outreach Africa
  328. Ruwad alHoukouk FR (Frontiers Rights)
  329. Sahara Economic Development Organization
  330. Saibaan Pakistan
  331. Salam Humanitarian Foundation (SHF)
  332. Salient humanitarian organizations
  333. Samir Aldarabi
  334. Scalabrini International Migration Network – SIMN
  335. Search for Common Ground
  336. Secours Islamique
  337. Sened organization
  338. Service Chretien d’Haiti
  339. SEWAR organization
  340. SHAFAK
  341. Shahbaz welfare association
  342. SHIFA Welfare Association-SHIFA
  343. SIF – Secours Islamique France
  344. Siiqqee Women’s Development Association
  345. Syrian Local NGO Platform (NES)
  346. Smart lives Initiative
  347. Smiling Hearts Initiatives International (SHI)
  348. Social Development International (SDI)
  349. Society for Empowering Human Resource (SEHER)
  350. Solidarités International
  351. Solution for Humanity (SFH)
  352. Somali Relief Centre
  353. Sorasun Foundation
  354. SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria
  355. South Sudan NGO Forum
  356. Space Of Peace
  357. Sphere
  358. Spring of Hope Global Initiative
  359. SSEWA-Pak
  360. Step Organisation for Democracy and Election
  361. Stichting Vluchteling
  362. Sukh Development Foundation
  363. Sustainable Development Foundation
  364. Synergie des ONG Nationales pour les actions Humanitaires au Niger. (SONAH)
  365. Syria Relief & Development (SRD)
  366. Syrian American Medical Society
  367. Syrian Expatriates Medical Association
  368. Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)
  369. Tabitha for Relief and Development
  370. Takaful Al Sham Charity (TAS)
  371. Tamkeen Foundation for Development
  372. Tarjimly
  373. Tearfund
  374. Télécoms Sans Frontières
  375. Terre des hommes (Tdh) Helping children worldwide
  376. The Amazon Healing for Women and Children Empowerment Initiative
  377. The Lebanon Humanitarian & Development NGOs Forum (LHDF)
  378. The Nigeria INGO Forum
  379. The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation
  380. The White Helmets
  381. The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations – Rasd Coalition
  382. Today For Tomorrow Initiative (TFT)
  383. Trócaire
  384. Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD)
  385. United Nations Foundation
  386. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
  387. United Nations Youth Office
  388. UNOPS
  389. VENRO – Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs
  390. Violet for Aid and Development
  391. VOICE
  392. Voluntary Service Overseas
  393. Volunteers for Emergency and Disaster Rescue Initiative VEDRI, Numan
  394. Volunteers for Sustainable Development
  395. Wahatana Empowerment Initiative
  396. Wajir South Development Association (WASDA)
  397. War Child Alliance
  398. WATAN
  399. Water for South Sudan
  400. Watoto Walanga  Project
  401. Wecare Foundation Sujawal
  402. Welthungerhilfe (WHH)
  403. Welthungerhilfe Country Office Zimbabwe
  404. Will Association
  405. Women Economic Emancipation Initiative
  406. Women for Women International
  407. Women’s Refugee Commission
  408. Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA)
  409. Yetim Vakfı (Orphan Foundation)
  410. Yola Renewal Foundation
  411. Youth Front Pakistan
  412. Zamzam Foundation
  413. Zwala Foundation
Source
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect and other NGOs

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