Every year on 19 August, the international community marks World Humanitarian Day in recognition of aid workers who lost their lives in the course of duty. On this day we also celebrate humanity and the spirit which inspires people to help others in need, although in difficult and dangerous situations, often putting their own lives as risk.
This World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) launched a global digital campaign to mobilize citizens, decision makers, celebrities, and the humanitarian community to stand together under the #NotATarget message and sign the first ever “living petition” for the protection of civilians.
During most armed conflicts, people in cities and towns struggle to find food, water, and safe shelter, while fighting drives millions from their homes. Children are recruited and used to fight, and their schools are destroyed. Women are abused and humiliated.
As humanitarian workers deliver aid, and medical workers treat the wounded and sick, they are directly targeted, treated as threats, and prevented from bringing relief and care to those in desperate need.
“The protection of health workers, the sanctity of access to health care for wounded and sick persons are a core concern of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This issue does not belong only to the Movement, nor to humanitarian workers and agencies. It belongs to us all” says SARCS Acting CEO Lindel Papiah.
From people with disabilities, to the elderly, migrants, and journalists, all civilians caught in conflict need to be protected.
Donate to our programmes in South Africa: https://redcross.org.za/donate/
Download the SARCS App on Google Play Store or Apple App Store (sarcsapp.co.za)
Sign the petition here: https://www.worldhumanitarianday.org/en
About SARCS: The South African Red Cross Society (SARCS), founded in 1921, is a member organisation of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). As the largest volunteer driven organisation in the world, the Red Cross Society has over 100 million members and a presence in 189 countries. SARCS has 400 staff members and approximately 3 000 volunteers, based around 34 branch offices in nine provinces, to effectively and efficiently implement humanitarian interventions. For enquiries and interviews, contact mkekana@redcross.org.za