The European Union is committed to protecting humanitarian workers and supports World Humanitarian Day every year on 19 August. Today marks the day in 2003 when 22 humanitarians lost their lives in the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq. Ever since, it is an opportunity to honour humanitarian workers who around risk their lives while they provide help to people who suffer.
In their everyday work, they face attacks, kidnapping and murders. In 2014, 329 aid workers were victims of violent attacks, more than one third of whom were killed. Whilst there was a year-on-year reduction of attacks on aid workers from 2013 to 2014, this does not mean that the trend is positive. Attacks in 2014 declined, because with the volatile security situation fewer aid workers could be deployed to conflict areas, the the Commission stressed in the statement issued on the occasion of WHD.
On the occasion of the World Humanitarian Day, Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management has made the following statement:
“Saving lives should not cost lives. This is why on World Humanitarian Day we commemorate the brave women and men who died whilst in humanitarian service. Today, we honour humanitarian workers who continue to risk their lives as they help people who suffer. Their selfless efforts are an inspiration to us all. Humanitarian crises are more devastating than ever before with an increase in the number of natural disasters and conflicts. The needs of victims are real and lives are in danger. Ongoing conflicts and insecurity hamper the delivery of humanitarian aid. This prevents millions of people from receiving life-saving assistance. Unfortunately there’s an alarming trend of increased violence against aid workers and violations of International Humanitarian Law. In 2014, over 300 aid workers were attacked, kidnapped or killed.”
Attacks against humanitarian personnel are a violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The law is binding on all state and non-state actors in a conflict. The European Union vigorously promotes respect of IHL through advocacy and humanitarian funding to ensure humanitarian access. The EU also finances training in IHL to civilian and military personnel engaged in EU crisis management operations.
The European Union as a whole has provided humanitarian aid for more than 40 years and is, together with its Member States, today the world’s largest donor of humanitarian aid. In 2014, the European Commission helped 121 million victims of natural and man-made disasters across more than 80 countries through its Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO). The EU continues to assist the most vulnerable, including the victims of the conflicts in Syria, Central African Republic, South Sudanand Ukraine, the survivors of natural disasters in Asia or those affected by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. EU humanitarian aid is delivered in partnership with more than 200 humanitarian organisations, including non-governmental and international organizations, the United Nations and the Red Cross family. EU assistance is solely based on needs and founded in the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.
On 23 and 24 May 2016, the humanitarian community will meet in Istanbul for the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit. It is a historic opportunity to find ways to better tackle humanitarian needs in a fast-changing world. It will be the occasion to increase effectiveness of humanitarian work and to better manage risks for humanitarian workers. As the world’s leading humanitarian donor, the EU has a decisive role to play.
