World Humanitarian Day

World Humanitarian Day is observed on 19 August every year in the whole world to commemorate the humanitarian workers who have committed their lives to help others in the most extreme circumstances around the world. The day is celebrated to recognise people who sacrificed their lives despite the tough challenges and also continue to provide protection and save the lives of people in need. Every year, the event is marked by the United National General Assembly with a new theme.

As UPSC surprises aspirants with questions linked with what usually is assumed to be trivia; it is advisable that one must scroll through the facts about World Humanitarian Day to get the basic information. It might be your lucky day during UPSC Prelims if at all a question is asked from this topic.  

Facts About World Humanitarian Day for UPSC Exam

Read the below-mentioned facts about World Humanitarian Day; and aid your IAS Exam preparation along with other competitive exams’ preparation. 

The topic can be asked as a Current Affairs Question in IAS Prelims. Visit the attached link to attempt practice quizzes on current affairs.

To read more about the other Important International and National days click on the link. Such days and events become very important for UPSC Prelims. 

About World Humanitarian Day, 2021

• According to WHO, World Humanitarian Day 2021 was devoted to dealing with the climate crisis and its immediate human cost. In recent times, this is the single biggest threat humanity is facing.
• The world is facing adverse changes in the climate with record-breaking heat waves, catastrophic storms, and changing weather patterns. This is what makes climate change a health emergency. This not only impacts food systems but also causes disease dispersion, impacting health systems and societies at large.
• The goal of the day is to create pressure on world leaders so that they initiate meaningful steps to challenge climate change and save the most vulnerable people in the world. 
• World Humanitarian Day 2021, underlines the immediate consequences of the climate emergency for the world’s most vulnerable people. The event ensures that voices of such people are heard, and their needs top the agenda at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.
• World Humanitarian Day 2020 was celebrated with the theme “#RealLifeHeroes”. The agenda was to pay special tribute to the real-life heroes who have committed their lives to help others in the most extreme circumstances throughout the world.

Read more about the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in detail in the attached link.

History of World Humanitarian Day

• World Humanitarian Day was designated in memory of the 19 August 2003 bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, in which 22 people were killed, including the chief humanitarian in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
• The United Nations General Assembly formalised the day as World Humanitarian Day in 2009.

Significance of World Humanitarian Day

• On this day, all people and health workers who continue to provide life-saving support and protection to the people who are in most need are honoured.
• Humanitarians include people who put their lives at risk to support various humanitarian causes and save others. They are the first to react to all types of world crises and the last ones to leave. 
• The day is celebrated across the whole world by creating awareness around the cause. Campaigns are organised that help people and such campaigns are usually sponsored by private and co-corporations and are supported by humanitarians across the world.
• World Humanitarian Day was established by the UN to acknowledge the sacrifice of Sergio Vieira de Mello and many humanitarians like him. 

Note: As UPSC 2022 approaches, use BYJU’S free Daily Video Analysis of The Hindu Newspaper to augment your preparation.

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