19 August 2009 - World Humanitarian Day

Wednesday, 19 August 2009 - 19 August 2009 is the first World Humanitarian Day as designated by the UN General Assembly.

This day is inaugurated to honour the memories of all humanitarian workers who have lost their lives or been injured in the course of their work, and to remember that many more are still working hard all around the globe.

The humanitarian community’s ability to respond rapidly, effectively and predictably to crises has improved beyond all recognition in the last 20 years.

This is a testament to the passion and commitment of a growing number of people who choose to be humanitarian workers, despite placing their lives at risk by working in conflict zones and areas of natural hazards.

MERCY Malaysia: 10 years in the humanitarian field

MERCY Malaysia has been fortunate that there has never been any loss of life of its workers while they are carrying out their duties.

Whether for local or international missions, during disasters or in times of preparedness, our humanitarian workers have worked tirelessly and their drive and dedication is an inspiration to us all.

MERCY Malaysia acknowledges the ongoing work of the humanitarian workers

Our humanitarian partners have also been a constant source of encouragement, as the need for collaboration between humanitarian organisations are greater than ever in the face of increasingly complex challenges.

We would like to acknowledge and honour the efforts of our fellow humanitarian workers, and a firm commitment in ensuring their safety and security in the line of duty.

New challenges for humanitarian work

The total number of people affected by the natural disasters has risen sharply over the past decade, and particularly vulnerable are women and children who are already struggling with poverty, insecurity, hunger, poor health and environmental decline.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), there are 15.2 million refugees forced to flee their own countries due to violence and war, and a further 26 million have been displaced within their own countries by conflict or other forms of violence.

Getting water and sanitation supplies and services to victims of disasters and conflicts is also a top priority for humanitarian workers, as 1.8 million people die annually from diarrhoeal diseases.

The recent economic crisis has also impacted the funding of various humanitarian bodies worldwide. Other global issues such as population pressure and health pandemics means that humanitarian workers have offer a multidimensional approach to address these emerging and complex developments.