They help where people need it most: humanitarian workers often work in the poorest countries in the world. But that can sometimes be very dangerous.
Last year, more than 140 humanitarian workers were killed in armed conflicts and raids. There have not been so many deaths in a year since 2013, as the UN Emergency Relief Office (OCHA) reported in Geneva on Friday. Another 203 aid workers were injured in conflict zones and 117 were kidnapped. So far this year, 44 people have died trying to provide humanitarian aid.
The most dangerous countries for the helpers are South Sudan, Afghanistan and Syria. The leading cause of death was small arms gunshot wounds, followed by bombing or rocket fire.
Meanwhile, more people around the world than ever are in need of humanitarian assistance. Around 300 million people live in crisis regions, reported OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke. “Never before have humanitarian workers been called upon to respond to such a scale of need – and they are doing so in increasingly dangerous circumstances.” Although more financial aid has been promised than ever before, the needs have increased even more, Laerke said.
The calls for donations coordinated by the United Nations for 2022 for Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine and many other countries currently amount to almost 50 billion US dollars (48.5 billion euros), said Laerke. This includes, among other things, funding for the children’s charity Unicef, the World Food Program (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Of that, however, only $15 billion was received.
Source: Stern
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
