The Secretary-General of the United Nations General Assembly, António Guterres paid tribute to humanitarian workers this Thursday, acknowledging that their work is increasingly complex, dangerous, and unpredictable. In a message to officials, he stressed that the last two years of that period were the most tragic to date, with 329 humanitarian workers killed in major attacks in 2014 and 457 in 2013.
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Guterres added that the number of countries where officials face significant risks is increasing, and includes Afghanistan, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen. “On World Humanitarian Day, we honor and pay tribute to all humanitarian personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice for peace and humanity,” he said.
He also emphasized: “We especially recognize the dedication and courage of our UNHCR partners and colleagues who work tirelessly to meet the growing needs of displaced people around the world. We also recognize the enormous risks and challenges they face in providing protection and lifesaving assistance.”
Guterres noted that the nature of conflicts has changed. “It is increasingly difficult to predict what is happening, and increasingly difficult to protect our staff,” he said, highlighting the commitment of staff members who never want to abandon the people they are trying to serve, after leading a minute of silence and laying a wreath.
Finally, it was recalled that in 2008 the United Nations General Assembly designated August 19 as World Humanitarian Day in honor of the 22 colleagues who died in Baghdad. Guterres encouraged staff members to participate in the UN’s social media campaign, which calls on Messengers of Humanity to share stories with a humanitarian focus.
The needs are vast. But so is the willingness to help.
This World Humanitarian Day, we honour the humanitarian workers risking their own safety to deliver aid including food, water, protection and healthcare.
Even in the world’s darkest moments, humanity endures.… pic.twitter.com/2AIoVcCvkk
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) August 19, 2026
For their part, The European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva paid tribute this Wednesday to humanitarian workers who died in the line of duty, with a special remembrance for the victims of the terrorist attack against the UN compound in Baghdad, which occurred 23 years ago today and claimed the lives of 22 people.
The tribute was one of the main events commemorating World Humanitarian Day, a day on which the organization’s flags were flown at half-mast in Geneva, New York, and other cities.
At the Geneva headquarters, the ceremony took place next to the remains of one of the UN flags recovered from the rubble after the 2003 bomb attack. Before plaques bearing the names of the victims, officials, diplomats, and family members lit candles and laid floral tributes. Among the deceased was the then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Representative for Iraq, Brazilian Sergio Vieira de Mello.
“A few days earlier, we had scheduled a meeting with him for the following week. Although I unfortunately never had the opportunity to meet him personally, I knew what he represented; he had dedicated his life to saving lives in some of the most challenging places in the world”. Salih warned that “the risks Sergio and his colleagues faced in Baghdad have not disappeared, as humanitarian workers continue to be attacked, detained, obstructed, and killed”. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Iraqi Barham Salih, evoked his memory.
#Colombia | The United Nations has joined emergency response efforts following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake, which has affected more than 49,000 people across Colombia.
UNICEF is providing essential water, sanitation and hygiene supplies for 25,000 people in Chocó and… pic.twitter.com/XcY0l09IFH— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) August 12, 2026
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