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