World Humanitarian Day is an annual, global celebration of people helping people.

Every year thousands of human aid workers help other people regardless of who they are and where they are. The lives of millions of people worldwide are threatened every day by natural disasters, gender-based conflict, political conflict, hunger, and migration. The global economic crisis has created an increasing number of problems such as poverty and a decline in global health. Hence, more and more humanitarian aid workers are needed across the globe. In addition, the total number of people affected by natural disasters is rising: approximately 211 million people are directly affected each year.

Today’s date, August 19^th, marks the day in 2003 when the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad was bombed and 22 members of UN staff died. World Humanitarian Day honors humanitarian causes and the lives that have been lost in the cause of duty.

This year’s theme for World Humanitarian Day is ‘I was here.’ ‘I was here’ is an awareness campaign trying to promote everyone to do something good, to someone, somewhere. Pop star and icon Beyonce performed a song “I was here” at the UN headquarters in New York last Saturday, the 11^th, to honour World Humanitarian Day. A music video has been made of the event and the performance will be aired today. The goal of this year’s World Humanitarian Day is to get 1 billion people visit the online site, watch the music video, and learn more about World Humanitarian Day campaign.

Here are a few altruistic quotes to celebrate World Humanitarian Day:

“The question shouldn’t be what we ought to do, but what we can do.” Rory Stewart

“Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.” Brian Tracy

“We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.” Eleanor Roosevelt

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt

“Let us try to teach generosity and altruism because we are all born selfish.” Richard Dawkins

 

Also in August:

Raksha Bandhan – 2nd

International Day for World’s Indigenous People – 9th

Krishna Janmashtami – 10th

International Youth Day – 12th

Laylat al Qadr – 14th

Tags: altruism, Beyonce, human aid, United Nations, World Humanitarian Day

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