World Humanitarian Day 2011- celebrating people helping people

Heads of UN Agencies in Nairobi and Kenya Red Cross Director on a press conference to mark World Humanitarian Day

(August 22, 2011, UNIC Nairobi ) - In order to acknowledge the brave and invaluable work of humanitarian workers, the United Nations Communication Group in Kenya (UNCG-K) organised a press briefing in Nairobi on 19 August 2011 on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day.

The press briefing was addressed by various top UN officials, the Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary-General Abbas Gullet and Oxfam’s acting regional Director Philippa Crosland-Taylor.

Presenting the UN Secretary-General’s message, John Ging, Director of Operations at UN-OCHA said that the Day was meant to focus on the sacrifice aid workers make to help fellow human beings. “This is also a day to examine our own lives and consider what more we can do to help - to reach out to people enduring conflict, disaster and hardship. Let those we honour today inspire us to start our own journey to make the world a better place and bring our human family more closely together”.

Kenya Red Cross chief, Abbas Gullet, acknowledged that heroes and heroines of this world made a difference in people’s lives everyday. Pointing at the current drought situation in the country, he asked Kenyans to say enough to food aid, “if we come together, we can reverse this crisis”. Mr. Gullet challenged Government planners and policy makers to use scientific knowledge and information pro-actively to address the situation long term. He appreciated the support of UN agencies, Kenyans and other stakeholders in averting the current humanitarian situation in the country.

Acting UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Olivia Yambi applauded the women and children who continue to show resilience during the current crisis saying that drought was a recurrent phenomenon that should be addressed responsibly. “One human being suffering is one too many”, she emphasized.

Ms Crosland-Taylor said Oxfam is reaching only a portion of those in need of humanitarian assistance in the country adding that drought should be managed properly. “We keep saying this and seeing this, now is the time to emphasis that it is not about humanitarian support, long term plans should be in place”.

In 2008 the United Nations General Assembly designated 19 August as World Humanitarian Day, the date on which a brutal terrorist attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad in 2003 killed 22 people, including UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello. The day honours those who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and those who continue to bring assistance and relief to millions.