Every day, humanitarian aid workers stand on the front lines of war and disaster, braving tremendous dangers and difficulties to deliver assistance to those who need it most. World Humanitarian Day (WHD), which takes place every year on 19 August, recognizes the aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and mobilizes people to advocate for humanitarian action. The day was designated by the General Assembly seven years ago to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq.

This World Humanitarian Day, the UN and its partners are calling for global solidarity with the more than 130 million people around the world who need humanitarian assistance to survive. Under the theme of 'One Humanity', World Humanitarian Day will highlight how the world came together in Istanbul for the World Humanitarian Summit earlier this year, and made commitments to support people affected by crisis and ensure that aid workers can safely and more effectively deliver to those in need.

Events will be held around the world on 19 August to honor the work of humanitarian workers and to celebrate the theme of 'One Humanity'.


Europe's humanitarian record

Europe has a long and proud tradition of humanitarian service and is the birthplace of many of the world's largest and most efficient relief organisations.

Throughout the years, EU Member States have engaged actively and donated generously to support the victims of numerous humanitarian emergencies.

The European Union has also actively provided humanitarian assistance for more than 40 years. In 1992 it created the European Community's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) "to ensure a swifter and more effective intervention". In February 2010, when the current European Commission took up duty, ECHO was elevated to a full-fledged Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection. The move reflected the Treaty of Lisbon, which gives a joint, more prominent role to humanitarian aid and civil protection. Kristalina Georgieva was appointed the first Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

The Commission has given humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries around the world. Throughout the years, the biggest recipients of EU humanitarian funding have been: Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (during the dissolution of Yugoslavia), Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, the occupied Palestinian territory, Pakistan, Russia and Burundi.

Today the European Union is the largest donor of humanitarian aid. The top twenty institutional donors in the world include the European Commission and eleven EU Member States – Sweden, the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Spain, France, Ireland, Belgium and Italy.


Sources: 

http://www.un.org/en/events/humanitarianday/resources.shtml

http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm