Statement
Open Letter to the Member States of the UN General Assembly, on behalf of the IASC Principals
19 August 2024
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:
- End attacks on civilians and take active steps to protect them – and the critical civilian infrastructure they rely on.
- 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.
- 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:
- CARE International
- A Chance Again Girl Education Foundation (ACAGEF)
- ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality
- Abak Peace Foundation
- Abs Development Organisation for Woman and Child (ADO)
- Access Development and Relief Organization-ADRO
- Action Against Hunger
- Action Contre la Faim
- Action For Humanity
- Action for Social and Economic Progress (ASEP)
- Action for the needy in Ethiopia (ANE)
- Action pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant (APDE)
- ActionAid
- ActionAid International
- Active in Development Aid (ADA)
- Adamawa Concern Disable Foundation
- Adamawa Initiative for Underprivileged Empowerment (ADIFUE)
- Adamawa Women Initiative for Leadership and Development (ADWILD)
- ADRA Europe
- ADRA Lebanon
- Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
- Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation
- Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA)
- African Relief and Development (ARD-African)
- Against All Odds Foundation (AGAOF)
- Agency for Minority Rights and Development (AMARD)
- Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
- AKKMA National Coalition Pilipinas
- Al Mehran Research & Development Foundation (AMRDF)
- Al Sham Humanitarian Foundation
- Alaman Organization for Blind Women Care (AOBWC)
- Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA)
- Alimat Care Foundation
- Alliance of International Doctors (AID)
- Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration (DCR Ambassadors)
- AMEL Association International
- Americaires
- AMURT
- Anera
- Anglican Missions
- Arewa Young Women Graduates Support Initiative (AYW-Grads)
- Association Najdeh
- Assured Better Life Initiative
- ASWHAN Adamawa
- Australian Council for International Development
- Australian Lutheran World Service
- AwazCDS-Pakistan
- AWO International (Germany)
- Baptist World Aid Australia
- Bege House Foundation
- Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief
- BINAA Organization for Development
- Bioforce Afrique
- Blumont
- Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Centre
- Bonyan for Youth and Development
- Bridge Builders Women and Girls Initiative
- Budapest Centre for Dialogue and Mass Atrocities Prevention
- Building Blocks for Peace Foundation
- Building Foundation for Development (BFD)
- CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
- CARE
- Caritas Africa
- Caritas Australia
- Cáritas Española
- Caritas Internationalis
- Catholic Relief Services Nigeria
- CCDRN
- CDA Collaborative Learning
- CDAC Network
- Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
- Center of Concern
- Centre d'Appui aux Initiatives de Developpement Local (CAIDEL)
- Centre for Community Resource, Health and Social Development (CCRHSD)
- Centre for Sustainable Development
- CESVI
- CHAD INGO Forum
- Cheerful Hands Initiative (CHI)
- Child & Women International Development
- Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative
- ChildFund Alliance
- ChildFund International
- Childvoice
- Christian Aid
- Christian Blind Mission Ireland
- Christian World Service New Zealand
- CHS Alliance
- Church World Service
- Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS)
- Civil Society Coalition for poverty Eradication (CISCOPE)
- Community and Family Services International (CFSI)
- Community Development and Media Centre
- Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation for Women and Youth (CEPFoWY)
- Community Empowerment and Social Development Organization (CESDO)
- Community Reach out Initiative (CRI) Yola
- Community World Service Asia
- Concern Worldwide
- Confluence Development inn (CODI)
- Congo Explorer
- Consortium of Youth Associations for the Defense of Victims of Violence (COJEDEV)
- Coordination of National NGOs Chad (CONA-T)
- Coordination SUD
- Cordaid
- Council for International Development Aotearoa New Zealand
- Dadah Foundation for Educational Empowerment (DAFEE)
- DanChurchAid
- Danuwa Empowerment Foundation
- Daryas Organization for Developing Woman and Society
- Dawis Initiative for Sustainability, Community Development (DISCOD)
- Debbie Kauna Foundation (Disability Rights)
- DEEG-ROOR Medical Organization
- Democracy School Yemen (DSYemen)
- Development Initiatives
- Development Institutions Network Pakistan (DIN)
- Developmental Action Without Borders- Nabaa
- Dharti Development Foundation
- Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
- Dóchas
- Dorcas Sisters Foundation
- DRC Danish Refugee Council
- Dream alive women and orphans support foundation (Dawos foundation)
- Dünya Doktorları/Médecins du Monde
- Education Cannot Wait
- Empowerment for Development
- Environmental Protection Society (EPS)
- Episcopal Relief & Development
- EU-CORD Network
- Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF)
- Every Casualty Counts
- Farm Radio International
- Femenni Development Initiative
- Femmes et Développement FEDE
- FHI 360
- Field Ready-Middle East
- Fiji Council of Social Services
- Finnish Refugee Council (FRC)
- First Step Action for Children Initiative (FSACI)
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Food for the Hungry
- Forum des ONGI en RDC
- Freedom Jasmine
- Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA
- Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO)
- Garib Unnayan Sangstha
- GBIHLI Guardians Brotherhood International Humanitarian Leadership Inc.
- Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Children Initiative
- General Union of Voluntary Societies
- German Doctors e.V.
- Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
- Global Communities
- Global Education Emergencies Support Initiative (GEESI)
- Global Educational, Economic and Social Empowerment
- Global Giving International
- Global Mission Partners
- Global Support and Development (GSD)
- Global Women’s Institute
- Global Womens Health Rights and Empowerment Initiative
- GOAL
- GOAL Global
- Grassroot Life Saving Outreach
- Grow With Data Youth Foundation (GWD)
- HD Foundation
- Headwaters Relief Organization
- Health And Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) Pakistan
- Heifer International
- Hellen Keller International
- HelpAge Canada
- HelpAge International
- Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe
- Helvetas
- HIAS
- Hidig Relief & Development Organization
- Himaya Daeem Aataa
- Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF)
- Hope Revival Organization
- Hope Rising for the Less Privileged and Vulnerable Foundation
- Hopeful Women Initiative
- Horan Foundation - HF
- Horn of Africa Peace Network (HAPEN)
- HUJRA Village Support Organization
- Human Organization for Peaceful Environment (HOPE)
- Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International
- Humanity Forum Indonesia
- Hwa Foundation Sindh Pakistan
- iACT
- IHE Delft
- IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation
- Ihsan Relief and Development
- Iimaan Relief and Development Organization
- Imam Sadr Foundation
- Independent Public Health Consultant
- Indus Environment Development Organization (IEDO)
- Initiative Africaine pour le Développement Durable
- Initiative For Women's Health Development and Rights Protection Nigeria
- Innovative Humanitarian solution (IHS)
- Institute for Promotion of Civil Society (IPCS)
- Integrated Regional Support Program
- Integrated Social Services Program (ISSP)
- InterAction
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
- International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
- International Medical Corps
- International Organization for Migration (IOM)
- International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
- International Rescue Committee
- INTERSOS
- IRADO
- Islamic Relief
- Islamic Relief Deutschland e.V.
- Islamic Relief USA
- Jabu Development Foundation JDF
- Jaggarta Organization
- Jami Al Hakeem Foundation (J-HF)
- Jen initiative for Integrity and Development
- Jesuit Refugee Service
- JHPiego
- Johanniter International Assistance
- Jordan Health Aid Society International
- Kanzul Masakin Islamic Foundation
- LASOONA Relief & Development Organization
- Lembaga Daya Dharma Keuskupan Agung Jakarta
- LIFE
- Life Helpers Initiative (LHI)
- Life Makers Meeting Place Organization (LMMPO)
- LM International/Läkarmissionen
- Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization
- LSPR Centre for Crisis and Resilience
- Lutheran World Federation
- Management Sciences for Health
- Mandhere Relief and Development Organisation
- Marginalized Communities Advocacy Network (MCAN)
- Mariam Ladi Yunusa Foundation
- Matasa 360 initiative for social justice and development
- Medair
- Médecins du Monde International Network
- Medecins du Monde Network
- Medecins sans Frontieres - Western and Central Africa (MSF - WaCA )
- MedGlobal
- MedGlobal-Yemen
- Medical Teams International
- Mercy Corps
- MERCY Malaysia
- Mercy-USA for Aid and Development
- Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
- Morning Star Foundation (MSF)
- Muslim Hands
- Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme
- Muzun for Humanitarian and Development
- Nahda Makers Organization (NMO)
- Nak Akphivath Sahakum
- Nana Maren Association for Charity and Awareness
- National Disaster Management Network of Nepal (DiMaNN)
- National initiative for social advocacy (Nisafoundation)
- NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response)
- Never Again International - Canada
- New Followership New Africa Initiative
- New Ways Organisation
- NGORC
- Nigerian Aid Group of Islam NAG-JNI
- Nkafamiya Rescue Mission
- No Borders Humanity Organization (NBH)
- Nonviolent Peaceforce
- Northwest Syria NGO Forum
- Norwegian Peoples Aid
- Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
- Now Bahar Rehabilitation Organization
- Olive Branch Organisation
- ONG-ASHAD
- Oxfam
- Oxfam America
- Oxfam International
- PACIDA
- Pak Education Society/Pakistan Development Network
- Pak Mission Society (PMS)
- Pampam development initiative
- Pattan Development Organisation
- PAX
- Peace Foundation Pakistan
- People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE)
- People in Need
- Permanent Peace Movement
- Petuniya children youth and women initiative
- Physicians for Peace
- Plan International
- Plan International Ireland
- Plan International Nigeria
- Plant with Purpose
- Population Communication
- Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS)
- Premiere Urgence Internationale
- Project HOPE
- Project HOPE: The People-to-People Health Foundation Inc.
- Protect Humanitarians
- Rahma Worldwide
- Reformist's Social Welfare and Development Organization WORDS
- Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK)
- Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT)
- Regional Advocacy for Women 's Sustainable Advancement
- Regional Advocacy for Women's Sustainable Advancement Alliance for African and Arab States
- Relief International
- Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL)
- Restoration of Hope Initiative (ROHI)
- Road to Economic Development Organisation
- Roshni Development Foundation
- ROWYOD
- Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA)
- Rural Agricultural Transformation and Empowerment Initiative
- Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization READO
- Rural Education and Economic Development Society
- Rural Outreach Africa
- Ruwad alHoukouk FR (Frontiers Rights)
- Sahara Economic Development Organization
- Saibaan Pakistan
- Salam Humanitarian Foundation (SHF)
- Salient humanitarian organizations
- Samir Aldarabi
- Save the Children
- Scalabrini International Migration Network - SIMN
- Search for Common Ground
- Secours Islamique
- Sened organization
- Service Chretien d'Haiti
- SEWAR organization
- SHAFAK
- Shahbaz welfare association
- SHIFA Welfare Association-SHIFA
- SIF - Secours Islamique France
- Siiqqee Women's Development Association
- Syrian Local NGO Platform (NES)
- Smart lives Initiative
- Smiling Hearts Initiatives International (SHI)
- Social Development International (SDI)
- Society for Empowering Human Resource (SEHER)
- Solidarités International
- Solution for Humanity (SFH)
- Somali NGO Consortium (SNC)
- Somali Relief Centre
- Sorasun Foundation
- SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria
- South Sudan NGO Forum
- Space Of Peace
- Sphere
- Spring of Hope Global Initiative
- SSEWA-Pak
- Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR)
- Step Organisation for Democracy and Election
- Stichting Vluchteling
- Sukh Development Foundation
- Sustainable Development Foundation
- Synergie des ONG Nationales pour les actions Humanitaires au Niger. (SONAH)
- Syria Relief & Development (SRD)
- Syrian American Medical Society
- Syrian Expatriates Medical Association
- Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)
- Tabitha for Relief and Development
- Takaful Al Sham Charity (TAS)
- Tamkeen Foundation for Development
- Tarjimly
- Tearfund
- Télécoms Sans Frontières
- Terre des hommes (Tdh) Helping children worldwide
- The Amazon Healing for Women and Children Empowerment Initiative
- The Lebanon Humanitarian & Development NGOs Forum (LHDF)
- The Nigeria INGO Forum
- The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation
- The White Helmets
- The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations - Rasd Coalition
- Today For Tomorrow Initiative (TFT)
- Trócaire
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
- Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD)
- United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
- United Nations Foundation
- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
- United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
- United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons
- United Nations Youth Office
- UNOPS
- VENRO - Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs
- Violet for Aid and Development
- VOICE
- Voluntary Service Overseas
- Volunteers for Emergency and Disaster Rescue Initiative VEDRI, Numan
- Volunteers for Sustainable Development
- Wahatana Empowerment Initiative
- Wajir South Development Association (WASDA)
- War Child Alliance
- WATAN
- Water for South Sudan
- Watoto Walanga Project
- Wecare Foundation Sujawal
- Welthungerhilfe (WHH)
- Welthungerhilfe Country Office Zimbabwe
- Will Association
- Women Economic Emancipation Initiative
- Women for Women International
- Women's Refugee Commission
- World Bank
- World Food Programme (WFP)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- World Vision International
- Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA)
- Yetim Vakfı (Orphan Foundation)
- Yola Renewal Foundation
- Youth Front Pakistan
- Zamzam Foundation
- Zwala Foundation
