World Humanitarian Day 2013: New global campaign to be launched

(New York, 12 August 2013) Every year on August 19 we remember all those aid workers who have lost their lives while trying to help people in need. We pay tribute to them by raising awareness of humanitarian issues and efforts to help people.

This World Humanitarian Day also marks 10 years since the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad was bombed and 22 UN and aid agency workers were killed.

Last year, the humanitarian community reached more than one billion people globally through the ‘I Was Here’ campaign.

Our goal for 2013 is to harness this amazing worldwide expression of goodwill and do something that has never been done before. The UN and its humanitarian partners are launching a new, ground-breaking campaign called ‘The World Needs More…’ with the aim of turning words into real aid for real people:

“We know that humanitarian needs are growing, and if we are to meet those rising needs we must do things differently...” UN Humanitarian Chief, Valerie Amos

Key planning dates:

Friday 16 August: Web and social media campaign launch date

Monday 19 August: Commemorative and launch events in New York, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai, Nairobi and many other locations…

Media resources available now:

  • www.worldhumanitarianday.org: the teaser campaign website is already live

  • Includes a campaign message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

  • And a [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5wC1PBbuz0C1PBbuz0) from Kid President - already viewed more than 218,000 times!

  • Campaign Q&A: How will we turn words on social media into aid for vulnerable people? Who are our partners? Where does the money go?

Media resources coming soon (in multiple languages):

  • From 16 August: A series of short films, including Kid President interviewing UN SG Ban Ki-moon, USG Valerie Amos, Beyoncé and others …

  • From 19 August: Images and video from WHD events being held in more than 50 cities around the world

  • Press releases on 16 August, 19 August

For more information, materials and to set up interviews, please contact Campaign Spokesperson: Matthew Cochrane, OCHA New York: cochranem@un.org, +1 646 943 3169, +1 212 963 7961