Under-Secretary-General Valerie Amos Statement on Security Council Resolution 2175 on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, Auckland/New York, 29/30 August 2014

I welcome the adoption by the Security Council of Resolution 2175 on the protection of humanitarian workers, following the Council’s open briefing on 19 August to mark World Humanitarian Day.

Humanitarian workers dedicate their lives to protecting and assisting millions of women, children and men affected by conflicts and natural disasters. The safety and security of humanitarian workers is a fundamental precondition to effective humanitarian action. Yet too frequently, it is compromised by threats and attacks. The consequences of these crimes are not only felt by humanitarian workers and their families. They are felt by the millions of people affected by emergencies who cannot be reached because of this violence. Tragically, these attacks are on the rise. Last year saw the highest number of casualties among humanitarian workers ever recorded: 155 were killed, 171 wounded and 134 kidnapped.

One way we can begin to reverse this trend is by ensuring accountability and pursuing those responsible. Today’s resolution is an important step towards achieving this, and towards providing the most basic protection to civilians caught up in conflict.

Aid workers should not have to risk their own lives in order to save the lives of others.
Humanitarian agencies count on all United Nations Member States to back every effort to end impunity and to safeguard humanitarian and human rights laws, to protect the essential work of humanitarian personnel around the world.