18 August 2010 - World Humanitarian Day marked on 19 August is an occasion to pay tribute to the men and women in Afghanistan who work to save the lives and protect the health of those affected by emergencies, whether caused by the ongoing conflict or natural disasters.

Dari and Pashto

Aid workers often work in difficult environments and those who offer their help often put their own lives at risk. This day is also a time to remember humanitarian staff who have lost their lives serving others.

Natural disasters and conflict cause immense suffering for thousands of Afghans every year. We have again been reminded of this with the recent floods in parts of Afghanistan. Humanitarian aid workers strive to ensure that all those who have experienced a traumatic event and need life-saving assistance receive it. Humanitarian workers in Afghanistan provide emergency food, shelter and medical assistance which can mean the difference between life and death for thousands of people every day.

This year has seen an increase in the number of targeted attacks on humanitarian personnel across the world.

According to United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan statistics there have been 47 incidents of direct intimidation of United Nations staff and aid workers between 1 January and 30 June this year. In addition, 19 United Nations staff members and aid workers have been attacked, 63 United Nations staff members and aid workers have been abducted and seven United Nations staff members and aid workers have been killed.

Robert Watkins, deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and United Nations humanitarian coordinator said: “The United Nations today calls on all parties to the conflict to respect and allow humanitarian aid workers carry out their work. Aid workers operate on the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. Humanitarian workers must be protected – not targeted. They must have the space to operate without fear in Afghanistan in order to assist the most vulnerable people in this country.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Selected key humanitarian assistance facts from United Nations agencies:

• Since the start of its voluntary repatriation programme in 2002, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has assisted more than 4.6 million Afghans to return home, making Afghanistan the world’s largest returnee-receiving country.

• As of August 16, more than 97,000 Afghan refugees have received
assistance from UNHCR to return from Pakistan and Iran so far this year.

• More than 300,000 returnees and internally displaced persons in the first quarter of this year have received reintegration support through a process of community mobilisation, support for community infrastructure, housing, livelihoods, education and health programmes from UN Human Settlements Programme (UN–HABITAT).

• World Health Organization (WHO) this year has reached 7.5 million children under five in each of the first two rounds of its countrywide vaccination campaign. There are four national vaccination campaigns each year.

• The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) aims to feed and provided emergency food assistance to around 7 million people during 2010 in Afghanistan. This includes providing school children with meals to help boost the school enrolment rate and close the gender gap in Afghan classrooms.