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Protect civilians and aid workers: A global call on World Humanitarian Day

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Protect civilians and aid workers: A global call on World Humanitarian Day

Open Letter to the Member States of the UN General Assembly, on behalf of the IASC Principals 

Signed by 413 humanitarian organizations around the world who are calling for the protection of civilians, including their staff 

19 August 2024  

Excellencies,  

This World Humanitarian Day, our staff and volunteers around the world will stand in solidarity to spotlight the horrifying toll of armed conflicts on their colleagues and on all civilians, particularly children.

The brutal hostilities we are seeing in multiple conflicts around the world have exposed a terrible truth: We are living in an era of impunity. Attacks that kill or injure civilians, including humanitarian and health-care personnel, are devastatingly common. Yet despite widespread condemnation, serious violations of the rules of war too often go unpunished.

This status quo is shameful and cannot continue.

In 2023, tens of thousands of civilians were killed or injured in armed conflict, with fatalities among humanitarian workers doubling compared to the previous year.

The toll in 2024 – the number of deaths, injuries, detentions and kidnappings – is already staggering. The overwhelming majority of recorded attacks on aid workers are inflicted on national staff. Women-led organizations and female humanitarian staff face unique and often increased risks, just because they are women. The impact on the mental health of civilians and humanitarian workers has reached unprecedented levels.

And yet parties to conflict continue to flout laws meant to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, and civilian objects. 

This year, on World Humanitarian Day, we appeal to all States, parties to armed conflict, and the wider international community to: 

  1. End attacks on civilians and take active steps to protect them – and the critical civilian infrastructure they rely on.
  2. Protect all aid workers, including local and national actors, and their premises and assets and facilitate their work, as called for in UN Security Council Resolution 2730 adopted this May.
  3. Hold perpetrators to account. Those who commit violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) cannot go unpunished. 

We should not have to wait for an annual moment such as World Humanitarian Day to remind all parties to armed conflict, and all States, of their obligations under IHL. Adherence to IHL must happen every day irrespective of occasion. It is non-negotiable and is not subject to exceptions.

It is vital that all parties to armed conflict and all States adhere to their obligations and leverage their influence to ensure respect for the rules of war and minimize human suffering.

Fulfilling these obligations requires more than mere declarations – it demands immediate and decisive actions. Turning a blind eye when humanitarian workers are targeted only emboldens those who seek to hinder their work. This only serves to increase food insecurity, childhood malnutrition, involuntary displacement and the spread of infectious diseases and other threats. The immediate effects of these will not only be limited to areas of conflict but often spread far beyond.

We will continue to stay and deliver in humanitarian crises around the world – but the situation requires us to take a united stand to call for the protection of our staff, volunteers and the civilians we serve. 

Signed by:

  1. CARE International 
  2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 
  3. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)  
  4. International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)   
  5. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) 
  6. InterAction 
  7. International Organization for Migration (IOM) 
  8. Medair 
  9. Mercy Corps 
  10. Save the Children 
  11. Somali NGO Consortium (SNC) 
  12. Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR) 
  13. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 
  14. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)   
  15. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)  
  16. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) 
  17. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)   
  18. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)   
  19. United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)  
  20. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 
  21. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons 
  22. World Bank 
  23. World Food Programme (WFP)   
  24. World Health Organization (WHO)   
  25. World Vision International 
  26. A Chance Again Girl Education Foundation (ACAGEF)  
  27. ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality  
  28. Abak Peace Foundation   
  29. Abs Development Organisation for Woman and Child (ADO)  
  30. Access Development and Relief Organization-ADRO  
  31. Action Against Hunger  
  32. Action Contre la Faim  
  33. Action For Humanity  
  34. Action for Social and Economic Progress (ASEP)  
  35. Action for the needy in Ethiopia (ANE)   
  36. Action pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant (APDE)  
  37. ActionAid   
  38. ActionAid International  
  39. Active in Development Aid (ADA)  
  40. Adamawa Concern Disable Foundation   
  41. Adamawa Initiative for Underprivileged Empowerment (ADIFUE)  
  42. Adamawa Women Initiative for Leadership and Development (ADWILD)  
  43. ADRA Europe  
  44. ADRA Lebanon  
  45. Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)   
  46. Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation   
  47. Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA)  
  48. African Relief and Development (ARD-African)  
  49. Against All Odds Foundation (AGAOF)  
  50. Agency for Minority Rights and Development (AMARD)  
  51. Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)   
  52. AKKMA National Coalition Pilipinas    
  53. Al Mehran Research & Development Foundation (AMRDF)  
  54. Al Sham Humanitarian Foundation  
  55. Alaman Organization for Blind Women Care (AOBWC)  
  56. Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA)  
  57. Alimat Care Foundation   
  58. Alliance of International Doctors (AID)  
  59. Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration (DCR Ambassadors)  
  60. AMEL Association International  
  61. Americaires  
  62. AMURT  
  63. Anera  
  64. Anglican Missions  
  65. Arewa Young Women Graduates Support Initiative (AYW-Grads)  
  66. Association Najdeh  
  67. Assured Better Life Initiative  
  68. ASWHAN Adamawa   
  69. Australian Council for International Development  
  70. Australian Lutheran World Service  
  71. AwazCDS-Pakistan   
  72. AWO International (Germany)  
  73. Baptist World Aid Australia   
  74. Bege House Foundation  
  75. Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief     
  76. BINAA Organization for Development  
  77. Bioforce Afrique   
  78. Blumont  
  79. Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Centre  
  80. Bonyan for Youth and Development   
  81. Bridge Builders Women and Girls Initiative   
  82. Budapest Centre for Dialogue and Mass Atrocities Prevention  
  83. Building Blocks for Peace Foundation   
  84. Building Foundation for Development (BFD)  
  85. CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development  
  86. CARE  
  87. Caritas Africa   
  88. Caritas Australia  
  89. Cáritas Española   
  90. Caritas Internationalis  
  91. Catholic Relief Services Nigeria  
  92. CCDRN  
  93. CDA Collaborative Learning  
  94. CDAC Network  
  95. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)  
  96. Center of Concern  
  97. Centre d’Appui aux Initiatives de Developpement Local (CAIDEL)  
  98. Centre for Community Resource, Health and Social Development (CCRHSD)  
  99. Centre for Sustainable Development   
  100. CESVI  
  101. CHAD INGO Forum   
  102. Cheerful Hands Initiative (CHI)  
  103. Child & Women International Development   
  104. Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative  
  105. ChildFund Alliance  
  106. ChildFund International  
  107. Childvoice  
  108. Christian Aid  
  109. Christian Blind Mission Ireland  
  110. Christian World Service New Zealand  
  111. CHS Alliance  
  112. Church World Service  
  113. Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS)  
  114. Civil Society Coalition for poverty Eradication (CISCOPE)  
  115. Community and Family Services International (CFSI)  
  116. Community Development and Media Centre   
  117. Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation for Women and Youth (CEPFoWY)  
  118. Community Empowerment and Social Development Organization (CESDO)  
  119. Community Reach out Initiative (CRI) Yola  
  120. Community World Service Asia  
  121. Concern Worldwide  
  122. Confluence Development inn (CODI)  
  123. Congo Explorer  
  124. Consortium of Youth Associations for the Defense of Victims of Violence (COJEDEV)  
  125. Coordination of National NGOs Chad (CONA-T)  
  126. Coordination SUD  
  127. Cordaid  
  128. Council for International Development Aotearoa New Zealand  
  129. Dadah Foundation for Educational Empowerment (DAFEE)  
  130. DanChurchAid  
  131. Danuwa Empowerment Foundation  
  132. Daryas Organization for Developing Woman and Society  
  133. Dawis Initiative for Sustainability, Community Development (DISCOD)  
  134. Debbie Kauna Foundation (Disability Rights)   
  135. DEEG-ROOR Medical Organization   
  136. Democracy School Yemen (DSYemen)  
  137. Development Initiatives  
  138. Development Institutions Network Pakistan (DIN)  
  139. Developmental Action Without Borders- Nabaa   
  140. Dharti Development Foundation    
  141. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe  
  142. Dóchas   
  143. Dorcas Sisters Foundation    
  144. DRC Danish Refugee Council   
  145. Dream alive women and orphans support foundation (Dawos foundation)  
  146. Dünya Doktorları/Médecins du Monde   
  147. Education Cannot Wait   
  148. Empowerment for Development  
  149. Environmental Protection Society (EPS)  
  150. Episcopal Relief & Development  
  151. EU-CORD Network  
  152. Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF)  
  153. Every Casualty Counts  
  154. Farm Radio International   
  155. Femenni Development Initiative   
  156. Femmes et Développement FEDE  
  157. FHI 360  
  158. Field Ready-Middle East  
  159. Fiji Council of Social Services   
  160. Finnish Refugee Council (FRC)  
  161. First Step Action for Children Initiative (FSACI)  
  162. Food for the Hungry  
  163. Forum des ONGI en RDC  
  164. Freedom Jasmine   
  165. Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA  
  166. Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO)  
  167. Garib Unnayan Sangstha  
  168. GBIHLI Guardians Brotherhood International Humanitarian Leadership Inc.  
  169. Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Children Initiative   
  170. General Union of Voluntary Societies    
  171. German Doctors e.V.  
  172. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect  
  173. Global Communities  
  174. Global Education Emergencies Support Initiative (GEESI)   
  175. Global Educational, Economic and Social Empowerment   
  176. Global Giving International  
  177. Global Mission Partners  
  178. Global Support and Development (GSD)  
  179. Global Women’s Institute  
  180. Global Womens Health Rights and Empowerment Initiative   
  181. GOAL  
  182. GOAL Global  
  183. Grassroot Life Saving Outreach  
  184. Grow With Data Youth Foundation (GWD)  
  185. HD Foundation    
  186. Headwaters Relief Organization  
  187. Health And Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) Pakistan  
  188. Heifer International  
  189. Hellen Keller International  
  190. HelpAge Canada  
  191. HelpAge International   
  192. Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe  
  193. Helvetas  
  194. HIAS  
  195. Hidig Relief & Development Organization  
  196. Himaya Daeem Aataa  
  197. Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF)  
  198. Hope Revival Organization  
  199. Hope Rising for the Less Privileged and Vulnerable Foundation   
  200. Hopeful Women Initiative   
  201. Horan Foundation – HF  
  202. Horn of Africa Peace Network (HAPEN)  
  203. HUJRA Village Support Organization   
  204. Human Organization for Peaceful Environment (HOPE)  
  205. Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International  
  206. Humanity Forum Indonesia  
  207. Hwa Foundation Sindh Pakistan   
  208. iACT  
  209. IHE Delft  
  210. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation   
  211. Ihsan Relief and Development  
  212. Iimaan Relief and Development Organization   
  213. Imam Sadr Foundation  
  214. Independent Public Health Consultant  
  215. Indus Environment Development Organization (IEDO)  
  216. Initiative Africaine pour le Développement Durable   
  217. Initiative For Women’s Health Development and Rights Protection Nigeria   
  218. Innovative Humanitarian solution (IHS)  
  219. Institute for Promotion of Civil Society (IPCS)  
  220. Integrated Regional Support Program   
  221. Integrated Social Services Program (ISSP)  
  222. International Medical Corps  
  223. International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)  
  224. International Rescue Committee  
  225. INTERSOS  
  226. IRADO  
  227. Islamic Relief  
  228. Islamic Relief Deutschland e.V.  
  229. Islamic Relief USA  
  230. Jabu Development Foundation JDF  
  231. Jaggarta Organization   
  232. Jami Al Hakeem Foundation (J-HF)  
  233. Jen initiative for Integrity and Development   
  234. Jesuit Refugee Service  
  235. JHPiego  
  236. Johanniter International Assistance  
  237. Jordan Health Aid Society International  
  238. Kanzul Masakin Islamic Foundation   
  239. LASOONA Relief & Development Organization  
  240. Lembaga Daya Dharma Keuskupan Agung Jakarta  
  241. LIFE  
  242. Life Helpers Initiative (LHI)  
  243. Life Makers Meeting Place Organization (LMMPO)  
  244. LM International/Läkarmissionen  
  245. Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization   
  246. LSPR Centre for Crisis and Resilience  
  247. Lutheran World Federation  
  248. Management Sciences for Health  
  249. Mandhere Relief and Development Organisation  
  250. Marginalized Communities Advocacy Network (MCAN)  
  251. Mariam Ladi Yunusa Foundation  
  252. Matasa 360 initiative for social justice and development   
  253. Médecins du Monde International Network  
  254. Medecins du Monde Network  
  255. Medecins sans Frontieres – Western and Central Africa (MSF – WaCA )  
  256. MedGlobal  
  257. MedGlobal-Yemen   
  258. Medical Teams International  
  259. MERCY Malaysia  
  260. Mercy-USA for Aid and Development   
  261. Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies  
  262. Morning Star Foundation (MSF)  
  263. Muslim Hands  
  264. Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme   
  265. Muzun for Humanitarian and Development  
  266. Nahda Makers Organization (NMO)  
  267. Nak Akphivath Sahakum  
  268. Nana Maren Association for Charity and Awareness  
  269. National Disaster Management Network of Nepal (DiMaNN)  
  270. National initiative for social advocacy (Nisafoundation)   
  271. NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response)  
  272. Never Again International – Canada  
  273. New Followership New Africa Initiative   
  274. New Ways Organisation   
  275. NGORC  
  276. Nigerian Aid Group of Islam NAG-JNI   
  277. Nkafamiya Rescue Mission   
  278. No Borders Humanity Organization (NBH)  
  279. Nonviolent Peaceforce  
  280. Northwest Syria NGO Forum  
  281. Norwegian Peoples Aid  
  282. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)  
  283. Now Bahar Rehabilitation Organization   
  284. Olive Branch Organisation   
  285. ONG-ASHAD   
  286. Oxfam   
  287. Oxfam America  
  288. Oxfam International  
  289. PACIDA  
  290. Pak Education Society/Pakistan Development Network   
  291. Pak Mission Society (PMS)  
  292. Pampam development initiative   
  293. Pattan Development Organisation  
  294. PAX   
  295. Peace Foundation Pakistan  
  296. People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE)  
  297. People in Need  
  298. Permanent Peace Movement   
  299. Petuniya children youth and women initiative   
  300. Physicians for Peace  
  301. Plan International   
  302. Plan International Ireland  
  303. Plan International Nigeria  
  304. Plant with Purpose  
  305. Population Communication  
  306. Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS)  
  307. Premiere Urgence Internationale  
  308. Project HOPE  
  309. Project HOPE: The People-to-People Health Foundation Inc.  
  310. Protect Humanitarians  
  311. Rahma Worldwide   
  312. Reformist’s Social Welfare and Development Organization WORDS   
  313. Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK)  
  314. Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT)  
  315. Regional Advocacy for Women ‘s Sustainable Advancement  
  316. Regional Advocacy for Women’s Sustainable Advancement Alliance for African and Arab States  
  317. Relief International  
  318. Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL)  
  319. Restoration of Hope Initiative (ROHI)   
  320. Road to Economic Development Organisation  
  321. Roshni Development Foundation   
  322. ROWYOD  
  323. Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA)  
  324. Rural Agricultural Transformation and Empowerment Initiative   
  325. Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization READO  
  326. Rural Education and Economic Development Society  
  327. Rural Outreach Africa  
  328. Ruwad alHoukouk FR (Frontiers Rights)   
  329. Sahara Economic Development Organization  
  330. Saibaan Pakistan   
  331. Salam Humanitarian Foundation (SHF)  
  332. Salient humanitarian organizations   
  333. Samir Aldarabi  
  334. Scalabrini International Migration Network – SIMN  
  335. Search for Common Ground  
  336. Secours Islamique   
  337. Sened organization  
  338. Service Chretien d’Haiti  
  339. SEWAR organization  
  340. SHAFAK  
  341. Shahbaz welfare association  
  342. SHIFA Welfare Association-SHIFA   
  343. SIF – Secours Islamique France  
  344. Siiqqee Women’s Development Association  
  345. Syrian Local NGO Platform (NES)  
  346. Smart lives Initiative   
  347. Smiling Hearts Initiatives International (SHI)  
  348. Social Development International (SDI)  
  349. Society for Empowering Human Resource (SEHER)  
  350. Solidarités International  
  351. Solution for Humanity (SFH)  
  352. Somali Relief Centre   
  353. Sorasun Foundation   
  354. SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria  
  355. South Sudan NGO Forum  
  356. Space Of Peace  
  357. Sphere  
  358. Spring of Hope Global Initiative   
  359. SSEWA-Pak  
  360. Step Organisation for Democracy and Election  
  361. Stichting Vluchteling  
  362. Sukh Development Foundation  
  363. Sustainable Development Foundation   
  364. Synergie des ONG Nationales pour les actions Humanitaires au Niger. (SONAH)  
  365. Syria Relief & Development (SRD)  
  366. Syrian American Medical Society  
  367. Syrian Expatriates Medical Association   
  368. Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)  
  369. Tabitha for Relief and Development  
  370. Takaful Al Sham Charity (TAS)  
  371. Tamkeen Foundation for Development  
  372. Tarjimly  
  373. Tearfund   
  374. Télécoms Sans Frontières  
  375. Terre des hommes (Tdh) Helping children worldwide  
  376. The Amazon Healing for Women and Children Empowerment Initiative   
  377. The Lebanon Humanitarian & Development NGOs Forum (LHDF)  
  378. The Nigeria INGO Forum  
  379. The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation  
  380. The White Helmets  
  381. The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations – Rasd Coalition  
  382. Today For Tomorrow Initiative (TFT)  
  383. Trócaire  
  384. Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD)  
  385. United Nations Foundation  
  386. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)   
  387. United Nations Youth Office  
  388. UNOPS   
  389. VENRO – Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs  
  390. Violet for Aid and Development   
  391. VOICE   
  392. Voluntary Service Overseas   
  393. Volunteers for Emergency and Disaster Rescue Initiative VEDRI, Numan  
  394. Volunteers for Sustainable Development    
  395. Wahatana Empowerment Initiative   
  396. Wajir South Development Association (WASDA)  
  397. War Child Alliance  
  398. WATAN  
  399. Water for South Sudan  
  400. Watoto Walanga  Project  
  401. Wecare Foundation Sujawal  
  402. Welthungerhilfe (WHH)  
  403. Welthungerhilfe Country Office Zimbabwe  
  404. Will Association  
  405. Women Economic Emancipation Initiative  
  406. Women for Women International  
  407. Women’s Refugee Commission  
  408. Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA)  
  409. Yetim Vakfı (Orphan Foundation)  
  410. Yola Renewal Foundation   
  411. Youth Front Pakistan  
  412. Zamzam Foundation  
  413. Zwala Foundation
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