Our Planet

World Humanitarian Day 2021 focuses on climate change’s effect on vulnerable communities

The United Nations calls for social media users to run, ride, swim, walk for 100 minutes to express solidarity

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 19 Aug 2021 1:05PM

World Humanitarian Day 2021 focuses on climate change’s effect on vulnerable communities
Aicha Dicko, 39, in her tent at an informal camp in Bagoundié, 8km from Gao, Mali, on October 16, 2020. The camp hosts 300 households who fled due to the ongoing conflict. – Pic courtesy of the UN, August 19, 2021

SINCE 2009, the United Nations has designated August 19 as World Humanitarian Day, in memory of those who have dedicated their lives to helping those trapped in difficult situations around the world.

On August 19, 2003 a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 people, including the chief humanitarian in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. The date has been a day to commemorate humanitarian, aid and health workers on frontlines.

In this second year of the pandemic, with the threat from climate change seemingly getting worse and worse, this year's Humanitarian Day is themed around the human race.

The UN urges social media users to run, ride, swim, walk or any activity of their choice for a total of 100 minutes between August 16 and 31 to express solidarity with vulnerable people and to tell world leaders to deliver on their decade-old pledge of spending US$100 billion (RM424 billion) annually for climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.

Various UN agencies play their part spreading humanitarian works for the betterment of people around the world, but ultimately it is up to the governments of the world to address a crisis the scale of climate change that affects us all. Take today and the days ahead to educate yourself about what you can do to contribute positively. – The Vibes, August 19, 2021

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