António Guterres’ Post

On #WorldHumanitarianDay, let's also recognize the critical role of military forces in defending human rights and protecting humanitarian workers. As defenders of peace and security, they must uphold international humanitarian law, ensuring the safety of civilians and those who risk their lives to provide aid. It's time to demand accountability from all involved in conflicts and work together to end impunity. The protection of humanitarians and civilians must be a priority in every conflict zone. #CitizensInUniform

World Humanitarian Day is indeed a moment to honor the resilience and determination of those facing severe war conditions in Sudan. It’s a time to recognize the ongoing struggles and to advocate for a future where basic human needs are met and respected. Celebrating this day helps bring attention to the efforts needed to improve conditions and support those affected by conflict and adversity. #WorldHumanitarianDay

Today 19 August is #WorldHumanitarianDay, and this year we specifically put the spotlight on humanitarian workers and civilians being attacked in wartime, despite international humanitarian law #IHL being meant to protect us. 2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel, and this sad trend is not likely to improve this year. Across Gaza, Sudan, the DRC, Ukraine and dozens other devastating and violent conflicts, humanitarians continue to be targeted, alongside children, young people and their families. The world is failing humanitarian workers and, by extension, the people they serve. They are #notatarget. We must #actforhumanity now to: - end attacks on humanitarian workers and on all civilians - ensure there is accountability for violating IHL

As attacks on #Gaza intensified last week, 13 organisations including Doctors of the World published a report accurately illustrating humanitarian aid cuts. ❌ Intensification of attacks on civilians & humanitarian staff ❌ Forced and massive movements of populations ❌ Closure of aid checkpoints ❌ Multiplication of humanitarian personnel controls by the Israeli army 🔴 It is urgent that third-party countries recognize that they have failed to fulfill their obligations to guarantee respect for international humanitarian law and act for an immediate #ceasefire. #CeaseFireNow

2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarians. In Gaza, in Sudan & many other places, aid workers on the frontlines of the world's conflicts are being killed in unprecedented numbers. On this #WorldHumanitarianDay, 413 humanitarian organizations called on the Member States of the United Nations General Assembly to: ❌ End attacks on civilians ❌ Protect aid workers ❌ Hold perpetrators to account Read the letter: https://lnkd.in/eEfTdJ8H Here, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres calls for an end to impunity. #ActForHumanity | United Nations OCHA

In conflict zones around the world, violence against aid workers shows a blatant disregard for International Humanitarian Law. This year, World Humanitarian Day calls attention to the dangers civilian aid workers face everyday. Humanitarian work requires access to vulnerable populations in sometimes dangerous areas. The attack on FSD’s Kharkiv offices just last month by a Russian missile as well as the deadly attacks on HALO deminers in Afghanistan in 2021 highlight the risks deminers face while trying to protect others. Today, we recognize their bravery and join the international community in calling for the protection of humanitarian aid workers around the world so that they can continue supporting vulnerable communities. #ActForHumanity #WorldHumanitarianDay

#SUDAN - The world's largest #HumanitarianCrisis Indiscriminate violence, massacres, torture, systematic looting, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), bombing of civilian infrastructure, cutting off essential services and obstructing humanitarian aid: this has been the daily reality for thousands of civilians for over a year. According to the latest report of the UN Fact Finding Mission for Sudan, rape and sexual violence are widely used as weapons of war by the parties to the conflict. More than 10.7 million people have been displaced, 2.1 million have fled to neighbouring countries, and half the population (25.6 million) is suffering from hunger and is in urgent need of humanitarian aid. The official death toll is 26,000 in Khartoum state alone, but recent estimates put the figure at 66,000. (more 👉) 📢 Act Now: #ProtectCivilians #KeepEyesOnSudan #SudanConflict FIDH - International Federation for Human Rights

In #Rakhine State, towns and #villages have been consistently targeted by the military regime and #armed groups. We are concerned by recent reports of high levels of displacement in #Buthidaung. We call on all armed actors to ensure the protection of civilians. Deliberate use of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech is stoking sectarian and intercommunal conflict. Reports of forced recruitment, including of #Rohingya, is further dividing communities and exploiting tensions and mistrust. All populations are facing extreme levels of food insecurity. The situation is increasingly dangerous for all civilians, including Rakhine, #Rohingya and other ethnic communities. There must be accountability for all atrocities committed in Myanmar. We recall the #International #Court of #Justice’s #provisional measures order and the need for compliance with it to safeguard human rights and prevent violations. We welcome #UN Security Council Resolution 2669 on the situation in #Myanmar, calling for the immediate end to all forms of violence and urging all parties to respect human rights and to allow full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access. https://lnkd.in/g7Bk7Tfn

In #Rakhine State, towns and #villages have been consistently targeted by the military regime and #armed groups. We are concerned by recent reports of high levels of displacement in #Buthidaung. We call on all armed actors to ensure the protection of civilians. Deliberate use of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech is stoking sectarian and intercommunal conflict. Reports of forced recruitment, including of #Rohingya, is further dividing communities and exploiting tensions and mistrust. All populations are facing extreme levels of food insecurity. The situation is increasingly dangerous for all civilians, including Rakhine, #Rohingya and other ethnic communities. There must be accountability for all atrocities committed in Myanmar. We recall the #International #Court of #Justice’s #provisional measures order and the need for compliance with it to safeguard human rights and prevent violations. We welcome #UN Security Council Resolution 2669 on the situation in #Myanmar, calling for the immediate end to all forms of violence and urging all parties to respect human rights and to allow full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access. https://lnkd.in/g6kAAU6x

On this #WorldHumanitarianDay 2024, we remember the unsung heroes who go above and beyond to provide aid and comfort to those in need. Humanitarians work in the most dangerous places to bring relief and hope. Their efforts remind us of the power of empathy and action in creating positive change. 2023 marked the deadliest attacks on aid workers globally. Attacks harming humanitarians have become common and can be a violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Attacks on humanitarian workers and humanitarian assets must stop. Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop. This World Humanitarian Day, we demand an end to these violations and the impunity with which they are committed. It is time for those in power to end impunity and #ActForHumanity. Paul Spiegel