Press Release

On World Humanitarian Day UN Chief pays tribute to aid workers

20 August 2021

Caption: "The Human Race", an illustration depicting human figures running while consumed by shades of red (global warming) and shades of blue (tsunami as a climate change phenomenon).
PHOTO:©Sadek Ahmed

TEHRAN, 20 August 2021 (UNIC) – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his message on World Humanitarian Day, 19 August 2021, while saying this year alone, at least 72 humanitarian workers have been killed in conflict zones, paid tribute to aid workers everywhere.

The full text of his message reads:

Humanitarian workers are here to help the world’s most vulnerable people when disaster strikes.

But around the world, aid workers face growing threats. In the past 20 years, shootings, kidnappings, and other attacks on humanitarian organisations have increased tenfold. This year alone, at least 72 humanitarian workers have been killed in conflict zones.

On World Humanitarian Day, we pay tribute to aid workers everywhere, and commit to doing everything possible to protect them and their vital work.

This year's campaign for World Humanitarian Day focuses on the climate crisis, which threatens the homes, livelihoods and lives of some of the world’s poorest people.

By signing up to #[hashtag] TheHumanRace, your daily exercise will help send a message to global leaders that climate action can leave no one behind.

The climate emergency is a race we are losing. But it's a race we can and must win.

Let’s lace up our running shoes, join TheHumanRace campaign, and together, make sure everyone reaches the finish line.

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