World Humanitarian Day: A day to recognize humanitarians’ dedication to Central African people

(Bangui, 19 August, 2015) – World Humanitarian Day is marked each year on 19 August. The United Nations General Assembly designated the day to acknowledge humanitarians’ unwavering dedication and aid workers who lost their lives while working to help people in need. “Aid workers help people who have lost their homes, loved ones and sources of income. They also draw the world closer together by reminding us that we are one family, sharing the same dreams for a peaceful planet, where all people can live in safety, and with dignity”, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Central African Republic (CAR), Aurélien A. Agbénonci said.

The humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic is extremely dire and almost two third of the country require humanitarian assistance. “Over 2,7 million people are still in need of life-saving assistance and support to build up their livelihoods. We are redoubling efforts to invest in CARs people and communities to break the cycle of crisis and response,” Mr. Agbénonci added. 370,000 people are displaced inside the country with 461,000 people seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

Humanitarian aid is based on a number of founding principles, including humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. Aid workers work in difficult or dangerous environments to provide life-saving assistance and long term rehabilitation to disaster-affected communities, without discrimination. Since January 2014 to July 2015, 19 humanitarian workers have been killed in CAR. During the same period, 272 incidents affecting humanitarian partners were reported including 138 in 2015. “CAR is one of the most difficult and dangerous environments in the world for aid workers. It is Central African civilians who bear the brunt of the conflict.
Far too many innocent suffer, especially women and children,” Mr. Agbénonci said. “As we mark World Humanitarian Day in CAR this year, and pay tribute to our fallen colleagues, I want to stress that the targeting of humanitarian aid workers and tolerance of such abuses cannot be accepted.

Humanitarian workers provide a vital lifeline in health, nutrition, education, food assistance, livelihoods support, protection, water sanitation and hygiene. Without continued humanitarian assistance, those people most in need will suffer,” Mr. Agbénonci added.