World Humanitarian Day || People Helping People

Formalized by the United Nations in the year 2009, World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is observed every year on 19^th August. The day commemorates the bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, on 19^th August 2003. The incident took away the life of 22 people, including Iraq’s Chief Humanitarian, Sergio Vieira de Mello.  The day recognizes the humanitarian people and those who lost their lives working for a cause. 

Every year, the day focuses on a theme aiming to bring together humanitarians and humanitarian systems across the world. It campaigns for the well-being, survival, and dignity of people impacted by some global crisis and for the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers.

WHD 2021 focuses on the ‘immediate consequences of the climate emergency for the world’s most vulnerable people and ensure that their voices are heard, and their needs top the agenda at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.’ 

Climate change and the subsequent climatic emergency pose an enormous threat to the survival of living beings. The degree of the damage is such that it is uncontrollable by the humanitarian community, considering the time that is constantly slipping out of our hands. The threat looms on the heads of millions of people, impacting their lives and livelihoods. Ironically, the people who were least responsible for this harsh change would be the most affected!

Climate changes have happened earlier as well; however, the shift since the mid-20^th century has been way more drastic. Climate change includes both global warming and the consequent changes in weather patterns. The emission of gases into the environment is the primary cause of global warming. Such human activities and disruptions with nature have led to an immense rise in the global temperature. It further disturbs the ecological balance; thus leading to weather extremes, melting glaciers, heatwaves and wildfires, intense storms, rise in water vapor, and changes to the required proportions of land and water on Earth. 

Climate change puts the most vulnerable people at risk. These are the people with water scarcity, low financial status, food shortage, prone to flooding, displacement, and diseases. Not only human forms, but it also has an impact on all life forms and species. Such weather troubles and the associated increase in pollution levels have severely impacted global health.

  

Humans constantly changed the Earth to encourage developments, thus ultimately causing the Earth to react in unprecedented ways. These reactions are still subtle warnings our Mother Earth has been giving us for years to stop the misuse of our resources. It is high time we realize and start working towards the restoration of our environment, lest nature should take the entire matter into its hands. Nature will react the best if we act well!

Let’s share the spirit of this year’s WHD and promote the #TheHumanRace and #WorldHumanitarianDay!

Avani Raj Arora