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联合国秘书长世界人道主义日致辞

       值此世界人道主义日之际，我们谨向克服巨大挑战努力拯救数百万人生命和改善他们生活的人道主义者致敬。

　　 现实生活中的这些英雄在非常时期从事非凡工作，向那些因危机生活困顿的妇女、男子和儿童伸出援手。

　　 今年，人道主义工作者面临史无前例的压力。

　　 他们正在应对COVID-19全球危机以及因疫情而出现的人道主义需求大幅增加。

　　 失业、教育停顿、食品匮乏、供水不足和失去安全保障，这一切都在将数百万人推向崩溃的边缘。

　　 旨在减缓病毒传播的行动限制意味着，社区、公民社会和地方组织一如既往，仍是最及时的应急响应者。

　　 今年，我们要表彰这样一批人：他们往往也需要帮助，如同帮助收容社区的难民、照顾病人并为儿童接种疫苗的当地卫生工作者以及为冲突区准入进行谈判，争取运送食物、水和药品的人道主义者。

　　 他们是无名的抗疫英雄，他们往往甘冒自身危险拯救他人生命。

　　 今天，请与我一起再次向这些勇敢的人道主义者、卫生工作者和应急响应人员表示赞赏和支持，他们在这个救援需求空前严峻的时期展现了团结意志和人道精神。

安东尼奥·古特雷斯

UN Secretary-General's message on World Humanitarian Day

On World Humanitarian Day we honour the work of humanitarians who overcome huge challenges to save and improve the lives of millions of people.

These real-life heroes are doing extraordinary things in extraordinary times to help women, men and children whose lives are upended by crises.

This year, humanitarian workers are stretched like never before.

They are responding to the global crisis of COVID-19, and with it the massive increase in humanitarian needs from the fallout of the pandemic.

The loss of jobs, education, food, water and safety is pushing millions more to the brink.

Movement restrictions to slow the spread of the virus have meant that communities, civil society and local organizations – as so often before – are the very first responders.

This year, we celebrate them: people who are often in need themselves, like refugees helping host communities, local health workers who care for the sick and vaccinate children, and humanitarians who negotiate access in areas of conflict to bring food, water and medicine.

They are the unsung heroes of the pandemic response – and they all too often risk their own lives to save the lives of others.

Today, join me in renewing our appreciation and support for the brave humanitarians, health workers and first responders who show solidarity and humanity in this time of unprecedented need.

António Guterres

World Humanitarian Day 2020: A tribute to aid workers on the front lines

• Amid a global pandemic, unprecedented needs and growing insecurity, aid workers and health-care responders are staying and delivering to the world’s most vulnerable people.

• Last year was the most violent on record for humanitarians, with 483 attacked, 125 killed, 234 wounded and 124 kidnapped. The UN condemns all attacks on humanitarians.

• OCHA and partners present the inspiring stories of humanitarian #RealLifeHeroes who are stepping up to meet the challenges.

(Geneva/New York, 19 August 2020): Today, World Humanitarian Day, the world honours all humanitarians – many working in their own communities – who are going to extraordinary lengths in extraordinary times to help women, men and children whose lives are upended by crises and the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The dedication, perseverance and self-sacrifice of these real-life heroes represent the best of humanity as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis and the massive increase in humanitarian needs it has triggered.

First responders are often people in need themselves — refugees, members of civil-society organizations and local health workers. They bring food, shelter, health care, protection and hope to others amid conflict, displacement, disaster and disease.

But humanitarian workers are being tested like never before, struggling with unprecedented movement restrictions and insufficient resources as needs are outpacing funds.

And all too often, they risk their own lives to save the lives of others.

In recent weeks alone, despicable attacks have killed aid workers in Niger and Cameroon, and since the onset of the pandemic, scores of health workers have come under attack across the world.

According to Humanitarian Outcomes’ Aid Worker Security Database, major attacks against humanitarians last year surpassed all previous years on record. A total of 483 relief workers were attacked, 125 killed, 234 wounded and 124kidnapped in 277 separate incidents. This is an 18 per cent increase in the number of victims compared to 2018.

This is the eleventh World Humanitarian Day, designated by the UN General Assembly. It falls on the day of the attack on the UN compound in Baghdad on 19 August 2003, which claimed the lives of 22 people including the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Since then, nearly 5,000 humanitarians have been killed, wounded or abducted, and the 2010-2019 decade experienced a 117 per cent increase in attacks compared to 2000-2009.

A surge in attacks against health workers was recorded in 2019, including strikes against medics in Syria and shootings of Ebola workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Most of the attacks occurred in Syria, followed by South Sudan, DRC, Afghanistan and the Central African Republic. Mali and Yemen both saw a doubling of major attacks from the previous year. The UN condemns these attacks, and it calls for accountability for perpetrators and justice for survivors. Relief workers cannot be a target.

Mark Lowcock, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said: “To humanitarian workers everywhere doing important, courageous work on the front lines we say Thank You. You are saving lives every day, and as new challenges and crises are piling on to existing ones, your perseverance is an inspiration. Your protection is also paramount to making sure we can deliver to people most in need. The best way to pay tribute to humanitarian workers is by funding their work and ensuring their safety.”

This year's World Humanitarian Day comes as the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic. To pay tribute to the efforts of humanitarians, OCHA and its partners present the personal stories of some of the #RealLifeHeroes who are stepping up to meet the challenges, particularly local humanitarian workers.

They include refugees who as health workers are playing essential roles in the pandemic response; Ebola health workers who are stepping in to fight COVID-19; and doctors and nurses who continue to provide critical health care to women and children.

• Read their inspiring stories here: 

  www.worldhumanitarianday.org

• For media: Photos, videos, and social media assets

  https://trello.com/b/FgfGuBtz/world-humanitarian-day-2020