ActionAid Palestine to Celebrate Real Heroes of Humanitarian Work
on Occasion of World Humanitarian Day
Palestine -West Bank -Gaza Strip -ActionAid Palestine celebrated today in Occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) the World Humanitarian Day which falls on 19th August each year under slogan of “It takes a village” to express its appreciation to real heroes of humanitarian work.
APP will express its tank to all those volunteers, workers and experts in humanitarian work who have dedicated themselves to helping the Palestinian community and strengthening its steadfastness in times of crises and political emergencies resulting from the policies, practices and military actions of the Israeli occupation against Palestinian civilians and during natural disasters and pandemics. AAP will also highlight their contributions and inspiring experiences in the humanitarian field, on its websites and accounts on social media accounts.
Humanitarian work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has a particular importance due to the close relationship that links volunteers and humanitarian workers with groups of Palestinian society. This year’s World Humanitarian Day coincides with the escalation of the Israeli occupation’s violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These violations cause more victims among children, women and the elderly, and deprive the Palestinian society of enjoying the human rights guaranteed under international humanitarian law. They also increase the number of displaced people and the occurrence of many economic, psychological and social crises for those affected by these violations and increase the dependence of the Palestinians on humanitarian aid due to the Israeli policies of forced displacement, destruction of properties and livelihoods and illegal blockade imposed on Gaza. This reality requires more humanitarian work and the dedication of workers in this field to mitigate the impact of these crises on the affected people.
Volunteers, humanitarian staff and experts in oPt work to overcome unprecedented obstacles and challenges in reaching marginalized and vulnerable groups during humanitarian crises.
This occasion is very important for AAP to highlight the role of all actors in humanitarian work, who play an important role in times of emergency and crises. Their humanitarian contribution does not only include providing first aid to the victims but is also based on raising the voice of people affected by the difficult humanitarian conditions in international, regional and local forums to change humanitarian work programs to be more responsive to the needs of the Palestinian community and advocate for its rights.
Countries of the world mark world Humanitarian Day on 19th of August each year to pay tribute to humanitarian workers who have been killed or injured in the course of their work. On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day (WHD).
Background Information
ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) is a part of global federation working for social justice and gender equality and eradicate poverty in more than 45 countries around the world. AAP started its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian People as ActionAid believes that they should enjoy their rights to freedom, justice and self-determination. AAP implements a number of programs through its engagement with communities and women and youth groups seeking to empower them and enhance their influential civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. AAP works simultaneously to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge to practice their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers to account.
For more information, please contact
Riham Jafari
Coordinator of Advocacy and Communication in Palestine
Mobile:
+972 (0) 595242890
Office:
+972 (0) (2) 22 13 137
Email:
Pa
