Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA – Every year on 19 August, the world marks World Humanitarian Day (WHD) to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to mobilize people to advocate for a more humane world.
Today, the civil associations, social initiatives and individuals in Syria, particularly the Syrian Arab Red Crescent set an example on how to apply the values of World Humanitarian Day on ground through their unremitting efforts to assist terrorism-affected people and help them face challenges imposed by the current circumstances and to achieve fast, efficient and effective humanitarian response and provide food and health care to those in need.
More than five years since the beginning of the war on Syria, the humanitarian sector has witnessed the launching of tens of youth initiatives and the establishment of many civil associations in order to support the government’s efforts to offer humanitarian assistance through expanding their services, programs and first aid plans.
In a statement to SANA, Khould Abdul-Khaleq, a volunteer from the Psychological Support Department in the SARC, said that she found in voluntary work an opportunity to gain practical experience, offer social services and provide psychological assistance to weak and terrorism-affected people, particularly mothers and children.
In turn, Mohammed Karouma, from the Emergency and First Aid Department , expressed happiness to join the organization and be part of its staff, adding that the culture of volunteering has widely spread among the Syrian youth in the recent years.
For his part, Head of the SARC, Abdul-Rahman al-Attar expressed pride in the capabilities of the organization’s volunteers and their readiness to face all challenges and help affected people.
He noted that the SARC has offered 53 martyrs whose sacrifice symbolizes the real essence of voluntary work.
In the same context, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon delivered a speech on this occasion. He said “World Humanitarian Day is an annual reminder of the need to act to alleviate the suffering. It is also an occasion to honor the humanitarian workers and volunteers toiling on the frontlines of crises.”
On December 11th, 2008, the United Nations’ General Assembly adopted a resolution designating the 19th of August as World Humanitarian Day, in commemoration of Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad in 2003 which claimed the lives of 22 people, including special representative of the UN General Secretary in Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello.
The UN has chosen ‘The World You’d Rather’ as a title for its campaign in order to raise awareness of the Agenda for Humanity and inspire people to demand greater global action for the 130 million people affected by conflict and disaster.
R. Raslan / Ghossoun
