NRS Relief commemorates World Humanitarian Day 2019 with IHC members
NRS Relief staff gathered with co-members of the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, UAE, to honor the humanitarian aid workers on the tenth anniversary of World Humanitarian Day. The event is commemorated each year on 19 August, the date back in 2003 when the UN headquarters in Baghdad was targeted by a large terrorist truck bomb, killing 22 people.
This year’s focus salutes the efforts of women humanitarian workers across the world who rally to people in need. Across the globe, 250,000 aid workers are women – a figure that amounts to more than 40 per cent of the humanitarian workforce.
NRS Relief’s Dubai-based colleagues Wieke de Vries, Charbel Matar and Mia Pagh attend World Humanitarian Day 2019 at the International Humanitarian City in the UAE.
As an IHC member and private supplier of aid essentials to UN agencies and international NGOs, NRS Relief joins the IHC and the rest of the world in paying tribute and in strengthening the role of women humanitarians worldwide. We also renew our commitment to supply life-saving solutions to our clients responding to the most pressing humanitarian crises globally.
During the event, a panel discussion led by the ICRC Head of Mission in the UAE Sophie Barbey was held to raise awareness and honor women who serve and support affected communities worldwide.
In a press statement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said:
“From supporting civilians caught up in crisis to addressing disease outbreaks, women humanitarians are on the front lines… Their presence makes aid operations more effective by increasing their reach. It also improves the humanitarian response to gender-based violence, which increases during emergencies.”
Watch one of these videos from IHC featuring women humanitarians who share some of the challenges faced during crises and the importance of aid workers coming together to make a difference:
Women make up a large number of aid workers who risk their own lives to save others. These women deserve to be seen & heard. This #WHD2019, IHC’s very own #WomanHumanitarian Bouran Najem shares her rewarding experience & advice on being a female humanitarian. #humanitarianDubai pic.twitter.com/4TE7wKyVqt
— IHC (@IHC_UAE) August 19, 2019