UN marks World Humanitarian Day

AMMAN — The United Nations in Jordan on Monday celebrated World Humanitarian Day by granting five awards of excellence to women in recognition of their exemplary fieldwork and commitment to humanitarian action, according to a statement from the world body.

The ceremony, held at the King Hussein Club in Amman, was attended by members of the UN, government officials and members of the international and local humanitarian communities. 

Each year, the world commemorates the humanitarian workers killed and injured in the course of their work, while honouring those who continue to work tirelessly to provide life-saving support to people most in need, the statement said.

This year, World Humanitarian Day paid special tribute to women humanitarians and the signficant difference their work makes for millions of women, men and children in urgent need of assistance and protection. Alongside this recognition, the United Natons reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the role of women in humanitarian operations, read the statement.

In his welcoming remarks, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Jordan, Anders Pedersen, reiterated the UN’s commitment to continue to work with Jordanians to provide effective and efficient humanitarian support, but also to strengthen the role of women in humanitarian response.

“For the UN in Jordan, we acknowledge and appreciate the critical role women have in humanitarian action. Stronger engagement of women in humanitarian work helps ensure better responses by making sure the voices of girls, boys, women and men are heard.  Women are also central to advancing gender equality, including through targeted programming that contributes to Sustainable Development Goals,” Pedersen said.

Zola Dowell, head of the Jordan Office for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), commended the many women who are responding to the Syrian crisis in Jordan, while appreciating the Government of Jordan’s efforts to support women in leadership roles.

 “The UN will continue to advocate in all possible fora the recognition of the important role of women in humanitarian action,” Dowell said.

The UN in Jordan invited five humanitarian workers from local communities to share their stories from their daily work within the humanitarian community. 

Awards were given to Samar Muhareb, Malak Alamar, Eman El Khaldi, Shorouq Albawwat and Nisreen Alawad.

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2008 to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 brutal bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq. 

Every year on 19 August, the world commemorates and recognises humanitarian aid workers who risk their lives on the front lines in humanitarian service around the world, concluded the statement.