IDA honours world humanitarian day
Health day
Amsterdam, 17 August 2023 – Coming Saturday on the 19th of August we honour World Humanitarian Day! On this day awareness is raised for those people helping others around the globe. For example by supporting refugees who are fleeing from political conflict or by reaching out to victims of natural disasters. Humanitarian aid workers provide life-saving assistance to suffering people all over the world. Those workers who live in conflict zones or in areas devastated by natural disasters are especially vulnerable, just like the people they serve.
Currently, over 130 million people throughout the world are in crisis, and an estimated 20.7 million need humanitarian assistance. However, in 2021 460 aid workers were attacked of which 140 were killed. Most of this violence took place in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and the Horn of Africa. Due to increased conflict, casualties and assaults toward humanitarian aid workers are expected to rise in the coming year.
No matter what
Each year, the United Nations observes World Humanitarian Day with a theme. The theme brings together all the people from across the humanitarian ecosystem to improve and raise awareness for the survival, well-being, and dignity of people affected by crises and for the safety of the humanitarian workers. This year’s theme is ‘No matter what’, because no matter who it concerns, and no matter where help is needed, we believe everyone should receive the assistance they need, when they need it. No matter what.
At IDA, we realise that frontline aid workers are constantly risking their lives in order to support others that need it most. By raising awareness around this campaign, we want to shine a light on the thousands of volunteers, health professionals and crisis-affected people who deliver urgent health care, shelter, food, protection, water and much more. We recognise that these people are indispensable to the achievement of our mission of bridging the gap in access to medicines. Just like previous years, this year we shipped various emergency kit types through our local and international partners and we will continue doing so.
Read more about our emergency response and about our kitting portfolio.