Today on World Humanitarian Day (WHD) August 19, the world commemorates humanitarian workers killed and injured in the course of their work, and we honour all aid and health workers who continue, despite the odds, to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.
This day was designated in memory of the 19 August 2003 bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killing 22 people, including the chief humanitarian in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly formalized the day as World Humanitarian Day.
In 2020, nearly 168 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection. This represents 1 in about 45 people in the world, and is the highest figure in decades. On current trends, projections show that more than 200 million people could be in need of assistance by 2022.
United Nations
We need to recognise all those who have worked so hard during the covid-19 period to protect their people. Our own nurses and doctors here in the UK, Social workers who struggle to protect the children from more harm, unable to visit their homes and the list goes on.
We are People against Poverty are playing our part too. Over the last 4 months we have been able to provide food, medicines, and support to 1,000’s of people on a regular basis to ensure their basic needs have been met.
In Malawi 298 vulnerable adults and children have benefited each month from our support. 163 Cartons of Soap has been distributed among the poor and 130, 50kg bags of maize have been distributed along with maize seed and fertilizer given to 50 families for winter cropping which is now in progress.
In India we was able to purchase food packs containing 10 kgs of rice, 1 kg of dal, 1 litre of cooking oil and hands washing soaps for 800 families in 6 villages surrounding Haven Home. This food was able to feed the families for 2 weeks. We provided this every month for 5 months. 50 missioners and pastors who were also struggling received a sum of money to enable them to buy for their own families.
These are two examples from just two of our projects, what we have been able to achieve over the last few months of the pandemic. Along with our usual work in supporting communities by finishing buildings, building new structures; the list is endless.
So on World Humantarian Day, do think of those who are less fortunate than ourselves. They may not be our own flesh and blood but they are our fellow humans.
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