Courageous humanitarians save lives every day around the world

By Sabrina Velandia

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is commemorated to honour the efforts and sacrifices made by humanitarians around the world, who are united by the same mission: to save and protect lives. They do it by respecting the core values of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.

Humanitarian work is often carried out in difficult and even dangerous circumstances. In contexts of complex crises, such as the one suffered by Venezuela, humanitarians are key to helping the most affected people, attending to their basic needs.

At Healing Venezuela, we want to honour those who day by day, overcoming challenges, persist in their mission to provide vital assistance, and we ratify our unwavering commitment to the communities we serve to keep hope alive and facilitate a dignified access to food and medical care.

Background & Figures

On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on a Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers. Five years later, the United Nations General Assembly designated 19 August as WHD. The purpose was to raise awareness on the importance of the humanitarian work around the world and the challenges faced.

It also aims to promote the well-being, dignity and ultimately the survival of those affected by disasters, and the safety and security of the aid workers who rush to help them.

The UN’s Secretary-General, António Guterres, stated that the 2003 tragedy marked a change in the way humanitarians operate because, although humanitarians are respected around the world, they may also be targeted and harmed.

The 2023 Mid-Year Update of the?Global Humanitarian Needs Overview?estimated that 362 million people in the world need humanitarian assistance – hence the invaluable importance of humanitarian action.

According to the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD), gathered by the team of Humanitarian’s Outcomes consultants, in 2022, 444?aid workers were attacked: 116 were killed, 143 were wounded and 185 were kidnapped.

Of the aid workers who died, 96% were national staff and 4% were international (expatriate) staff – thus, more than half were staff of national NGOs.

As reported in 2023 by the?Aid Worker Security Database, South Sudan has been the most dangerous place for aid workers for several consecutive years. Sudan is a close second, followed by Mali and Myanmar.

World Humanitarian Day 2023: #NoMatterWhat

Each year, WHD focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the people affected by crises, and for those to come to their aid.

The UN proposed that this year’s WHD be focused on the importance, effectiveness and positive impact of humanitarian work under the theme of “No Matter What”.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the 2003 deadly attack in Iraq. This is why 2023 campaign wishes to bring together the global humanitarian community to commemorate this anniversary, and to show humanitarians’ unwavering commitment to deliver for the communities they serve, no matter who, no matter where, and?no matter what.

Humanitarians have no other purpose than to save and protect lives and deliver the basic necessities of life, standing shoulder to shoulder with the communities they support to meet ever-growing global needs.

This year, UN’s Secretary-General has also encouraged us all to salute the courage and dedication of humanitarian aid workers everywhere for their determined and life-saving efforts across the world. “No matter the danger or the hardship, humanitarians venture deep into disaster-stricken regions and on the front lines of conflict, strive to save and protect people in need”.

Role & Challenges

Humanitarians, like aid workers, work in disaster, crises, and conflict zones to protect and save people in need, often by providing basic necessities like food, water and medical supplies.

As stated by the World Economic Forum, the need is significant and has been accelerated by the climate crisis and the conflict in Ukraine over the past 18 months. Globally,?humanitarian needs?are at record levels, with 360 million people around the world in need of assistance - a 30% increase since the start of 2022.

As explained above, humanitarians are mostly national staff working in their own countries – i.e., closer to the people they serve. They are always finding new ways to get further involved in conflicts and crises, driven by their purpose to save and protect lives.

This year, global humanitarian operations aim to get life-saving aid to 250 million people in 69 countries. However, as alerted by the UN’s Secretary-General, funding is sadly “far off track. As crises multiply, it is unacceptable that humanitarians are being forced to reduce aid to millions of people in need”.

Guterres lists other challenges humanitarians face, which have multiplied over the past twenty years:

·???????Rising geopolitical tensions

·???????A blatant disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law

·???????Deliberate assault and disinformation campaigns

·???????Humanitarianism itself being under attack

Although these challenges represent difficult burdens to overcome, Guterres affirms that they have also made the global humanitarian community stronger.

Humanitarian Day in Venezuela

Humanitarians in Venezuela are living testimonies of unwavering dedication to serve those in most need. They strongly represent this year’s motto, as they support people no matter who, no matter where, no matter what.

According to UN’s data, the humanitarian response has reached 1.4 million people in Venezuela (51% women) in the first semester of 2023, in 305 municipalities of the 24 states of the country. This was achieved through more than 130 local, national, and international organizations, including organizations led by women, people with disabilities, and LGBTIQ+ people, who work in a coordinated manner.

The UN has recognised the work of Venezuelan humanitarian organisations, which have been progressively expanding their work, focusing their efforts on responding to the needs of the most vulnerable people, in the areas of food and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, accommodation and energy, education, health and protection.

Healing Venezuela has been part of this humanitarian response by providing results-driven aid to those in urgent need of food and medical assistance, to ensure long-term support for the 96% of Venezuelans who live in poverty.

Through our programmes, we have benefited over 500,000 people, we have sponsored more than 400 junior doctors and we have provided over 200,000 meals for children.

On this day, we want to honour the invaluable dedication of humanitarians, who don’t give up even in the face of the immense loss and anguish caused by the crises in Venezuela and around the world, and who strongly persist in their mission to alleviate the suffering of others.

It's a dedication, courage and resilience we've witnessed over and over again in Venezuela, #NoMatterWhat.