No One Winning, We’re All Losing, Secretary-General Says in Humanitarian Day Message, Citing Record Number of Civilians Displaced by Crises

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on World Humanitarian Day, to be observed in New York on 19 August:

Every year on World Humanitarian Day, we shine a spotlight on the millions of civilians around the world whose lives have been caught up in conflict.  On this day, we also take a moment to honour the brave health and aid workers who are targeted or obstructed as they set out to help people in need, and pay tribute to the Government employees, members of civil society and representatives of international organizations and agencies who risk their lives to provide humanitarian aid and protection.

Despite our efforts, civilians, including medical and humanitarian workers, continue to bear the brunt of intense conflicts around the world.  Hospitals and supplies are attacked, looted and obstructed by fighting parties.  In cities like Juba and Aleppo, housing, markets, schools and vital civilian infrastructure have been destroyed.

In Yemen, war has turned the country into an incubator for a lethal cholera epidemic that has killed more than 9,000 people.  Health services and water and sanitation infrastructure are collapsing under the strain.  In Iraq, Syria, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and elsewhere, thousands of women and girls urgently need protection, support and treatment for traumatic sexual violence and abuse.  The result of these crises is the record number of people — more than 65 million — forced to flee their homes.

No one is winning these wars.  We are all losing.  This year, on World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations and our partners are calling on all global leaders to do everything in their power to protect people caught up in conflict.  Let the world know: Civilians are not a target.

I invite you to stand with us in solidarity with civilians in conflict, and with the health and aid workers who risk their lives to help them.  Get involved with our online campaign at worldhumanitarianday.org.  On World Humanitarian Day, let us commit to doing everything in our power to protect women, girls, men and boys in the line of fire, and to give them hope for a better future.