Open Letter to the Member States of the UN General Assembly, on behalf of the IASC Principals

Signed by 413 humanitarian organizations around the world who are calling for the protection of civilians, including their staff

Excellencies,

This World Humanitarian Day, our staff and volunteers around the world will stand in solidarity to spotlight the horrifying toll of armed conflicts on their colleagues and on all civilians, particularly children. 

The brutal hostilities we are seeing in multiple conflicts around the world have exposed a terrible truth: We are living in an era of impunity. Attacks that kill or injure civilians, including humanitarian and health-care personnel, are devastatingly common. Yet despite widespread condemnation, serious violations of the rules of war too often go unpunished.

This status quo is shameful and cannot continue.

In 2023, tens of thousands of civilians were killed or injured in armed conflict, with fatalities among humanitarian workers doubling compared to the previous year.

The toll in 2024 – the number of deaths, injuries, detentions and kidnappings – is already staggering. The overwhelming majority of recorded attacks on aid workers are inflicted on national staff. Women-led organizations and female humanitarian staff face unique and often increased risks, just because they are women. The impact on the mental health of civilians and humanitarian workers has reached unprecedented levels.

And yet parties to conflict continue to flout laws meant to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, and civilian objects.

This year, on World Humanitarian Day, we appeal to all States, parties to armed conflict, and the wider international community to:

1. End attacks on civilians and take active steps to protect them – and the critical civilian infrastructure they rely on.
2. Protect all aid workers, including local and national actors, and their premises and assets and facilitate their work, as called for in UN Security Council Resolution 2730 adopted this May.
3. Hold perpetrators to account. Those who commit violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) cannot go unpunished.

We should not have to wait for an annual moment such as World Humanitarian Day to remind all parties to armed conflict, and all States, of their obligations under IHL. Adherence to IHL must happen every day irrespective of occasion. It is non-negotiable and is not subject to exceptions.

It is vital that all parties to armed conflict and all States adhere to their obligations and leverage their influence to ensure respect for the rules of war and minimize human suffering.

Fulfilling these obligations requires more than mere declarations – it demands immediate and decisive actions.Turning a blind eye when humanitarian workers are targeted only emboldens those who seek to hinder their work. This only serves to increase food insecurity, childhood malnutrition, involuntary displacement and the spread of infectious diseases and other threats. The immediate effects of these will not only be limited to areas of conflict but often spread far beyond.

We will continue to stay and deliver in humanitarian crises around the world – but the situation requires us to take a united stand to call for the protection of our staff, volunteers and the civilians we serve. 

Signed by:

1. CARE International
2. A Chance Again Girl Education Foundation (ACAGEF) 
3. ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality 
4. Abak Peace Foundation 
5. Abs Development Organisation for Woman and Child (ADO)
6. Access Development and Relief Organization-ADRO 
7. Action Against Hunger 
8. Action Contre la Faim 
9. Action For Humanity 
10. Action for Social and Economic Progress (ASEP) 
11. Action for the needy in Ethiopia (ANE) 
12. Action pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant (APDE) 
13. ActionAid 
14. ActionAid International 
15. Active in Development Aid (ADA) 
16. Adamawa Concern Disable Foundation 
17. Adamawa Initiative for Underprivileged Empowerment (ADIFUE) 
18. Adamawa Women Initiative for Leadership and Development (ADWILD) 
19. ADRA Europe 
20. ADRA Lebanon 
21. Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) 
22. Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation 
23. Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA) 
24. African Relief and Development (ARD-African) 
25. Against All Odds Foundation (AGAOF) 
26. Agency for Minority Rights and Development (AMARD) 
27. Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) 
28. AKKMA National Coalition Pilipinas   
29. Al Mehran Research & Development Foundation (AMRDF) 
30. Al Sham Humanitarian Foundation 
31. Alaman Organization for Blind Women Care (AOBWC) 
32. Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA) 
33. Alimat Care Foundation 
34. Alliance of International Doctors (AID) 
35. Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration (DCR Ambassadors) 
36. AMEL Association International 
37. Americaires 
38. AMURT 
39. Anera 
40. Anglican Missions 
41. Arewa Young Women Graduates Support Initiative (AYW-Grads) 
42. Association Najdeh 
43. Assured Better Life Initiative 
44. ASWHAN Adamawa 
45. Australian Council for International Development 
46. Australian Lutheran World Service 
47. AwazCDS-Pakistan 
48. AWO International (Germany) 
49. Baptist World Aid Australia 
50. Bege House Foundation 
51. Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief   
52. BINAA Organization for Development 
53. Bioforce Afrique 
54. Blumont 
55. Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Centre 
56. Bonyan for Youth and Development 
57. Bridge Builders Women and Girls Initiative 
58. Budapest Centre for Dialogue and Mass Atrocities Prevention 
59. Building Blocks for Peace Foundation 
60. Building Foundation for Development (BFD) 
61. CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development 
62. CARE 
63. Caritas Africa 
64. Caritas Australia 
65. Cáritas Española 
66. Caritas Internationalis 
67. Catholic Relief Services Nigeria 
68. CCDRN 
69. CDA Collaborative Learning 
70. CDAC Network 
71. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) 
72. Center of Concern 
73. Centre d'Appui aux Initiatives de Developpement Local (CAIDEL) 
74. Centre for Community Resource, Health and Social Development (CCRHSD) 
75. Centre for Sustainable Development 
76. CESVI 
77. CHAD INGO Forum 
78. Cheerful Hands Initiative (CHI) 
79. Child & Women International Development 
80. Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative 
81. ChildFund Alliance 
82. ChildFund International 
83. Childvoice 
84. Christian Aid 
85. Christian Blind Mission Ireland 
86. Christian World Service New Zealand 
87. CHS Alliance 
88. Church World Service 
89. Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS) 
90. Civil Society Coalition for poverty Eradication (CISCOPE) 
91. Community and Family Services International (CFSI) 
92. Community Development and Media Centre 
93. Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation for Women and Youth (CEPFoWY) 
94. Community Empowerment and Social Development Organization (CESDO) 
95. Community Reach out Initiative (CRI) Yola 
96. Community World Service Asia 
97. Concern Worldwide 
98. Confluence Development inn (CODI) 
99. Congo Explorer 
100. Consortium of Youth Associations for the Defense of Victims of Violence (COJEDEV) 
101. Coordination of National NGOs Chad (CONA-T) 
102. Coordination SUD 
103. Cordaid 
104. Council for International Development Aotearoa New Zealand 
105. Dadah Foundation for Educational Empowerment (DAFEE) 
106. DanChurchAid 
107. Danuwa Empowerment Foundation 
108. Daryas Organization for Developing Woman and Society 
109. Dawis Initiative for Sustainability, Community Development (DISCOD) 
110. Debbie Kauna Foundation (Disability Rights) 
111. DEEG-ROOR Medical Organization 
112. Democracy School Yemen (DSYemen) 
113. Development Initiatives 
114. Development Institutions Network Pakistan (DIN) 
115. Developmental Action Without Borders- Nabaa 
116. Dharti Development Foundation   
117. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe 
118. Dóchas 
119. Dorcas Sisters Foundation   
120. DRC Danish Refugee Council 
121. Dream alive women and orphans support foundation (Dawos foundation) 
122. Dünya Doktorları/Médecins du Monde 
123. Education Cannot Wait 
124. Empowerment for Development 
125. Environmental Protection Society (EPS) 
126. Episcopal Relief & Development 
127. EU-CORD Network
128. Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF) 
129. Every Casualty Counts 
130. Farm Radio International 
131. Femenni Development Initiative 
132. Femmes et Développement FEDE 
133. FHI 360 
134. Field Ready-Middle East 
135. Fiji Council of Social Services 
136. Finnish Refugee Council (FRC) 
137. First Step Action for Children Initiative (FSACI) 
138. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 
139. Food for the Hungry 
140. Forum des ONGI en RDC 
141. Freedom Jasmine 
142. Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA 
143. Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO) 
144. Garib Unnayan Sangstha 
145. GBIHLI Guardians Brotherhood International Humanitarian Leadership Inc. 
146. Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Children Initiative 
147. General Union of Voluntary Societies   
148. German Doctors e.V. 
149. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect 
150. Global Communities 
151. Global Education Emergencies Support Initiative (GEESI) 
152. Global Educational, Economic and Social Empowerment 
153. Global Giving International 
154. Global Mission Partners 
155. Global Support and Development (GSD) 
156. Global Women’s Institute 
157. Global Womens Health Rights and Empowerment Initiative 
158. GOAL 
159. GOAL Global 
160. Grassroot Life Saving Outreach 
161. Grow With Data Youth Foundation (GWD) 
162. HD Foundation   
163. Headwaters Relief Organization 
164. Health And Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) Pakistan 
165. Heifer International 
166. Hellen Keller International 
167. HelpAge Canada 
168. HelpAge International 
169. Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe 
170. Helvetas 
171. HIAS 
172. Hidig Relief & Development Organization 
173. Himaya Daeem Aataa 
174. Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF) 
175. Hope Revival Organization 
176. Hope Rising for the Less Privileged and Vulnerable Foundation 
177. Hopeful Women Initiative 
178. Horan Foundation - HF 
179. Horn of Africa Peace Network (HAPEN) 
180. HUJRA Village Support Organization 
181. Human Organization for Peaceful Environment (HOPE) 
182. Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International 
183. Humanity Forum Indonesia 
184. Hwa Foundation Sindh Pakistan 
185. iACT 
186. IHE Delft 
187. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation 
188. Ihsan Relief and Development 
189. Iimaan Relief and Development Organization 
190. Imam Sadr Foundation 
191. Independent Public Health Consultant 
192. Indus Environment Development Organization (IEDO) 
193. Initiative Africaine pour le Développement Durable 
194. Initiative For Women's Health Development and Rights Protection Nigeria 
195. Innovative Humanitarian solution (IHS) 
196. Institute for Promotion of Civil Society (IPCS) 
197. Integrated Regional Support Program 
198. Integrated Social Services Program (ISSP) 
199. InterAction 
200. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 
201. International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) 
202. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) 
203. International Medical Corps 
204. International Organization for Migration (IOM) 
205. International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) 
206. International Rescue Committee 
207. INTERSOS 
208. IRADO 
209. Islamic Relief 
210. Islamic Relief Deutschland e.V. 
211. Islamic Relief USA 
212. Jabu Development Foundation JDF 
213. Jaggarta Organization 
214. Jami Al Hakeem Foundation (J-HF) 
215. Jen initiative for Integrity and Development 
216. Jesuit Refugee Service 
217. JHPiego 
218. Johanniter International Assistance 
219. Jordan Health Aid Society International 
220. Kanzul Masakin Islamic Foundation 
221. LASOONA Relief & Development Organization 
222. Lembaga Daya Dharma Keuskupan Agung Jakarta 
223. LIFE 
224. Life Helpers Initiative (LHI) 
225. Life Makers Meeting Place Organization (LMMPO) 
226. LM International/Läkarmissionen 
227. Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization 
228. LSPR Centre for Crisis and Resilience 
229. Lutheran World Federation 
230. Management Sciences for Health 
231. Mandhere Relief and Development Organisation 
232. Marginalized Communities Advocacy Network (MCAN) 
233. Mariam Ladi Yunusa Foundation 
234. Matasa 360 initiative for social justice and development 
235. Medair 
236. Médecins du Monde International Network 
237. Medecins du Monde Network 
238. Medecins sans Frontieres - Western and Central Africa (MSF - WaCA ) 
239. MedGlobal 
240. MedGlobal-Yemen 
241. Medical Teams International 
242. Mercy Corps 
243. MERCY Malaysia 
244. Mercy-USA for Aid and Development 
245. Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies 
246. Morning Star Foundation (MSF) 
247. Muslim Hands 
248. Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme 
249. Muzun for Humanitarian and Development 
250. Nahda Makers Organization (NMO) 
251. Nak Akphivath Sahakum 
252. Nana Maren Association for Charity and Awareness 
253. National Disaster Management Network of Nepal (DiMaNN) 
254. National initiative for social advocacy (Nisafoundation) 
255. NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response) 
256. Never Again International - Canada 
257. New Followership New Africa Initiative 
258. New Ways Organisation 
259. NGORC 
260. Nigerian Aid Group of Islam NAG-JNI 
261. Nkafamiya Rescue Mission 
262. No Borders Humanity Organization (NBH) 
263. Nonviolent Peaceforce 
264. Northwest Syria NGO Forum 
265. Norwegian Peoples Aid 
266. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) 
267. Now Bahar Rehabilitation Organization 
268. Olive Branch Organisation 
269. ONG-ASHAD 
270. Oxfam 
271. Oxfam America 
272. Oxfam International 
273. PACIDA 
274. Pak Education Society/Pakistan Development Network 
275. Pak Mission Society (PMS) 
276. Pampam development initiative 
277. Pattan Development Organisation 
278. PAX 
279. Peace Foundation Pakistan 
280. People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE) 
281. People in Need 
282. Permanent Peace Movement 
283. Petuniya children youth and women initiative 
284. Physicians for Peace 
285. Plan International 
286. Plan International Ireland 
287. Plan International Nigeria 
288. Plant with Purpose 
289. Population Communication 
290. Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS) 
291. Premiere Urgence Internationale 
292. Project HOPE 
293. Project HOPE: The People-to-People Health Foundation Inc. 
294. Protect Humanitarians 
295. Rahma Worldwide 
296. Reformist's Social Welfare and Development Organization WORDS 
297. Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) 
298. Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT) 
299. Regional Advocacy for Women 's Sustainable Advancement 
300. Regional Advocacy for Women's Sustainable Advancement Alliance for African and Arab States 
301. Relief International 
302. Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL) 
303. Restoration of Hope Initiative (ROHI) 
304. Road to Economic Development Organisation 
305. Roshni Development Foundation 
306. ROWYOD 
307. Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA) 
308. Rural Agricultural Transformation and Empowerment Initiative 
309. Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization READO 
310. Rural Education and Economic Development Society 
311. Rural Outreach Africa 
312. Ruwad alHoukouk FR (Frontiers Rights) 
313. Sahara Economic Development Organization 
314. Saibaan Pakistan 
315. Salam Humanitarian Foundation (SHF) 
316. Salient humanitarian organizations 
317. Samir Aldarabi 
318. Save the Children 
319. Scalabrini International Migration Network - SIMN 
320. Search for Common Ground 
321. Secours Islamique 
322. Sened organization 
323. Service Chretien d'Haiti 
324. SEWAR organization 
325. SHAFAK 
326. Shahbaz welfare association 
327. SHIFA Welfare Association-SHIFA 
328. SIF - Secours Islamique France 
329. Siiqqee Women's Development Association 
330. Syrian Local NGO Platform (NES) 
331. Smart lives Initiative 
332. Smiling Hearts Initiatives International (SHI) 
333. Social Development International (SDI) 
334. Society for Empowering Human Resource (SEHER) 
335. Solidarités International 
336. Solution for Humanity (SFH) 
337. Somali NGO Consortium (SNC) 
338. Somali Relief Centre 
339. Sorasun Foundation 
340. SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria 
341. South Sudan NGO Forum 
342. Space Of Peace 
343. Sphere 
344. Spring of Hope Global Initiative 
345. SSEWA-Pak 
346. Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR) 
347. Step Organisation for Democracy and Election 
348. Stichting Vluchteling 
349. Sukh Development Foundation 
350. Sustainable Development Foundation 
351. Synergie des ONG Nationales pour les actions Humanitaires au Niger. (SONAH) 
352. Syria Relief & Development (SRD) 
353. Syrian American Medical Society 
354. Syrian Expatriates Medical Association 
355. Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) 
356. Tabitha for Relief and Development 
357. Takaful Al Sham Charity (TAS) 
358. Tamkeen Foundation for Development 
359. Tarjimly 
360. Tearfund 
361. Télécoms Sans Frontières 
362. Terre des hommes (Tdh) Helping children worldwide 
363. The Amazon Healing for Women and Children Empowerment Initiative 
364. The Lebanon Humanitarian & Development NGOs Forum (LHDF) 
365. The Nigeria INGO Forum 
366. The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation 
367. The White Helmets 
368. The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations - Rasd Coalition 
369. Today For Tomorrow Initiative (TFT) 
370. Trócaire 
371. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 
372. Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD) 
373. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 
374. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 
375. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) 
376. United Nations Foundation 
377. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) 
378. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 
379. United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) 
380. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 
381. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) 
382. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons 
383. United Nations Youth Office 
384. UNOPS 
385. VENRO - Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs 
386. Violet for Aid and Development 
387. VOICE 
388. Voluntary Service Overseas 
389. Volunteers for Emergency and Disaster Rescue Initiative VEDRI, Numan 
390. Volunteers for Sustainable Development   
391. Wahatana Empowerment Initiative 
392. Wajir South Development Association (WASDA) 
393. War Child Alliance 
394. WATAN 
395. Water for South Sudan 
396. Watoto Walanga  Project 
397. Wecare Foundation Sujawal 
398. Welthungerhilfe (WHH) 
399. Welthungerhilfe Country Office Zimbabwe 
400. Will Association 
401. Women Economic Emancipation Initiative 
402. Women for Women International 
403. Women's Refugee Commission 
404. World Bank 
405. World Food Programme (WFP) 
406. World Health Organization (WHO) 
407. World Vision International 
408. Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA) 
409. Yetim Vakfı (Orphan Foundation) 
410. Yola Renewal Foundation 
411. Youth Front Pakistan 
412. Zamzam Foundation 
413. Zwala Foundation