Embracing Compassion and Global Solidarity on World Humanitarian Day

Whether it's refugees needing shelter, children needing food, or rescue efforts in the wake of natural disasters, humanitarian aid workers help with it all. Monday, August 19th marks World Humanitarian Day, a time when we can come together and pay homage to those who go above and beyond and do our own bit to show solidarity for our global community.

Even celebrities get in on the action. In 2012, Beyoncé performed her song "I Was Here" at the United Nations conference to mark the occasion. Set the scene by listening to the song below while reading on to learn more about the event—humanitarian aid in general—and ways to get involved.

What Is Humanitarianism?

Humanitarianism is a word thrown about quite a lot, but it might be difficult to know just what exactly is covered by it. In a nutshell, it most often means to help people in crises. These include famine, conflict, natural disasters, and epidemics.

Sometimes, humanitarianism also aims at preventing these issues as much as possible, by trying to develop poorer regions of the world and promote peace in areas where conflict is more of a risk.

At the root of it, humanitarian aid is about compassion, global solidarity, and recognizing the common humanity across all people.

What Is World Humanitarian Day?

World Humanitarian Day is a way to pay our respects to the humanitarian workers who risk their lives to provide aid to those in need. It was established in the wake of a bombing of the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Iraq on August 19th, 2003, which claimed the lives of 22 aid workers and wounded 150. Among those whose lives were claimed was Sergio Vieira de Mello, the then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and head of the UN's efforts in Iraq. The after-effects of such an attack cannot be diminished either. As survivor Mujahed Hassan shared, it took him 10 years to recover, and he lost his left eye.

These tragic events brought to light how dangerous it can be to be a humanitarian worker. Between 2006 and 2020, 6070 aid workers gave their lives or freedom for their compassion, being killed, kidnapped, or wounded. Most of these were natives of the places that needed help, as it is overwhelmingly the case that in all forms of humanitarian aid, the vast majority of workers are local.

While the media may at times glamorize aid work through celebrity endorsements which—of course, do help to raise awareness for various causes—is a dangerous game and deserves our solidarity. World Humanitarian Day is a way for us to pay tribute to those who put their lives on the line to deliver aid to some of this planet's most vulnerable people.

The Five Biggest Humanitarian Agencies in the World

Big or small, the impact of humanitarian agencies cannot be sniffed at. However, there are some big names in the field, covering the entirety of the globe and helping out in a variety of different situations and crises.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

The IFRC is the largest humanitarian aid organization in the world. With 192 national societies, they help around 160 million people per year. From providing the basic amenities needed for survival, to disaster relief and working in conflict zones, the IFRC covers a wide variety of operations. There is a common misconception that the red cross is used here as a symbol of Christianity, but it actually originates from the organization's Swiss roots. The red crescent may not be as familiar to some of us in the West, as it is most commonly known in countries where the predominant religion is Islam. However, the IFRC network aims to help all people, regardless of their background or religion.

The World Health Organization (WHO)

Part of the UN, the WHO has a presence in 194 member states, preparing for and reacting to health emergencies such as the global COVID-19 pandemic, as well as helping with the delivery of supplies. They strive for universal health coverage and often offer guidance to countries on a variety of health-related issues.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Another UN agency, UNICEF also exists in the member states of the over-arching organization they belong to. With a focus specifically on the needs of children, they help by providing food, education, sanitation, clean water, help with HIV/AIDS, and protection from violence. They won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 for their efforts.

AmeriCares

Founded in 1979, AmeriCares is a health-focused non-profit that covers 164 countries across the globe. They respond to crises by providing medical supplies. They also offer health programs in over 4,000 clinics across the world. These prioritize areas such as mental health, women's health, prevention of infectious diseases, and the management of conditions such as diabetes.

Save the Children

Active in 115 countries, Save the Children is another organization that focuses on the needs of young people. Founded in 1919 in the United Kingdom, they are one of the oldest humanitarian aid providers in the world. According to their website, their goals include ending the tolerance of violence towards children, ensuring no child dies of preventable causes before the age of five, and making sure that they have access to quality healthcare.

Humanitarian Aid in the Words of People Who Have Done It

The Humanitarian Insider lists have many career stories of different aid workers from across the globe. In an interview with one named Ivan, he explains what got him into the role: "I remember I had this feeling—and I think this may be shared by many people—that If I worked hard I could actually use my privileged position to contribute to improving other people’s lives." This is a common theme for humanitarian workers. Motivated by a sense of solidarity, many want to give back to the world and help those less fortunate than them.

In another story on the same website, Meti describes how difficult it can sometimes be to be a humanitarian. She says, "In the beginning, I struggled with comprehending how unfair this world is. People are suffering so much: for example, seeing children injured in war or seeing children separated from their parents. All those things make you feel really sad. I was depressed for my first few months in the field." It makes sense, then, that the mental health of aid workers can suffer, something both Meti and Ivan comment upon in their stories.

The job, however, can also be deeply fulfilling. Ivan talks about the joys of working with people, especially those from different cultures, and seeing the commonality of humanity across these differences. Meti talks of the help given to others and that, no matter how small that aid might be, it still makes a difference and feels deeply important. While a career in humanitarianism comes with its difficulties, it is still at the root a deeply worthy cause and one that can lead to lasting levels of job satisfaction for those involved.

Ways You Can Get Involved

You might now be wondering how you can get involved in humanitarian efforts. Don't worry, you don't have to up sticks and run away to join a UN agency. There are plenty of ways to support humanitarian workers and contribute to a sense of global solidarity from your home. These include

Donating to a humanitarian cause: Choose a cause that is close to your heart. Perhaps i's healthcare, access to clean water, or helping children. Find an agency or non-profit organization working to achieve these goals and donate to them.
Write to your elected officials: By writing to those that represent you, or even calling them, you can encourage them to commit to providing aid to humanitarian efforts both at home and abroad.
Join in with local humanitarian organizations: Most of the efforts that draw attention in the media revolve around helping people in quite distant lands following cataclysmic crises. However, there are organizations across the world working on different projects, meaning you can find your local chapter and get involved. This might look like a befriending service for the elderly, a breakfast club at schools, or dressing up as a superhero to cheer up children in your local hospital's wards.

Telling Your Own Humanitarian Story

Perhaps you're reading this as someone who has done humanitarian work in the past. If that's you, chances are you have quite the story to tell. Autobiographies and memoirs of these experiences make for a thrilling read but can also help to raise awareness of the plights people are going through at home and abroad. You never know, writing a memoir might even encourage others to take up the mantel, too.

Struggling to find the words? Consider a ghostwriting service. Our freelance writers and editors are on call to help you create the autobiography and memoir you dream of but can't quite seem to capture yourself. Our non-fiction packages include these services and come in a range of prices suitable for different budgets. Get your story out there: Who knows what will happen?