World Humanitarian Day 2022

August 19 is World Humanitarian Day. This date refers to theanniversary of the attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad in 2003, which killed 22 aid workers.

Why a World Humanitarian Day?

Established by the United Nations General Assembly, this day pays tribute to all humanitarian workers who help the millions of people affected by war, famine, epidemics, climatic or industrial disasters around the world.

“World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity to pay tribute to humanitarian personnel everywhere, and to commit ourselves to doing everything we can to protect them and the essential work they do. […] Let’s join The Race for Humanity and, together, make sure everyone crosses the finish line.” António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

The UN estimates that by 2022, 274 million people in 63 countries will be in need of humanitarian aid and protection: a significant increase on 2021.
This day also serves todraw attention to the ever-increasinghumanitarian needs, to all aspects of humanitarian work, and to the need to protect those who work in this field.

How do you define humanitarian aid?

Humanitarian aid is emergency, one-off aid that is set up and deployed in response to exceptional crisis situations or natural disasters, to meet humanitarian needs and help populations in danger.
Humanitarian aid in emergency situationstakes various forms: donating money, sending essential goods and equipment, sending personnel to intervene on site, and strengthening local players.

What role does La Chaîne de l’Espoir play in humanitarian aid?

During humanitarian crises, many players become involved, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as La Chaîne de l’Espoir, and play a fundamental role in international aid with the United Nations.

Since 1994, many people – the “indispensable links” of our medical NGO: mission leaders, doctors, volunteers, employees or local workers – have been working to save sick children, but our scope of action can be extended to emergency situations such as natural or humanitarian disasters:

• War in Ukraine, double explosion in Beirut equipment and consumables shipments
• Earthquake in Haiti Haiti: medical team mobilized for complex orthopedic surgery
• Conflict in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2014 Transfer of wounded children to France and improved care for children in intensive care.