On this World Humanitarian Day, we call on everyone to come together and embrace the spirit of #ActForHumanity.
We must take action for humanity in Gaza, where the devastating toll includes 40,000 lives lost, with over 10,627 of those being children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. We must act for the innocent lives claimed and those held captive by the Hamas attacks. Our efforts must also honour the 270 humanitarian workers who have lost their lives in Gaza, including 207 UNRWA staff, as reported by the United Nations. Every life holds immense value, irrespective of identity, time, or place.
No cause can justify the deliberate harm to civilians, the targeting of non-combatants, or the collective punishment of the Palestinian population, including its children. The targeting and killing of humanitarian aid workers are equally indefensible.
We must also champion the rights of the millions of children affected by crises worldwide—those whose dignity and rights, including the right to education, have been eroded by conflict, displacement, climate change, and other enduring crises in Ukraine and many nations across the Global South. Every life forms a vital part of our collective humanity.
Currently, over 224 million children impacted by crises are in urgent need of quality education. By investing in their education, we are laying the groundwork for global peace, stability, human rights, and economic prosperity.
Our humanitarian efforts must extend to the forgotten crises in places like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, and Nigeria, where countless children are out of school and at risk of early marriage, gender-based violence, recruitment into armed groups, and other severe threats.
In Afghanistan, where the rights of an entire generation of girls and women are being systematically denied, including the ongoing ban on girls’ education now approaching its third year, our commitment to humanity must be unwavering. We must also stand with the children and families facing fear and violence in Ethiopia, Sudan, Ukraine, and other conflict zones. Likewise, the Rohingya and other persecuted groups facing daily violence, discrimination, and hatred must not be forgotten.
Our collective action for humanity must include increasing financial support, fostering ethically driven political will, and reinforcing backing for the United Nations and other organisations delivering critical humanitarian aid across the globe.
The year 2023 marked a tragic peak in fatalities among humanitarian workers. As of now, 2024 is proving to be even more perilous, with 333 aid workers already killed, kidnapped, or injured, according to the Aid Worker Security Database.
These stark realities highlight a pressing truth: the world is falling short in its duty to protect humanitarian workers and those they serve. This is why we must act for humanity without delay.
In tribute to all who suffer from injustice, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, or gender, I close this message with a profound reminder from Martin Luther King Jr.: There comes a moment when every individual must decide whether to walk in the light of creative altruism or descend into the darkness of destructive selfishness. The true meaning of life begins when.one rises above their own narrow concerns to embrace the broader concerns of humanity.
