UN chief calls for creating a more humane world

UN chief calls for creating a more humane world
UN secretary general has called for a "more humane world" as events take place to mark World Humanitarian Day 2015.
3 min read
19 August, 2015
100 million people are affected by natural disasters, conflict, hunger and disease [AFP]

The United Nations Secretary-General has called for the creation of a "more humane world" in a message released on 18 August, the eve of World Humanitarian Day.

Ban Ki-moon drew attention to the 100 million people who are affected by natural disasters, conflict, hunger and disease, whose needs are far outstripping the capacity to help them.

"On this Day we also celebrate our common humanity," he said.


"The families and communities struggling to survive in today's emergencies do so with resilience and dignity. They need and deserve our renewed commitment to do all we can to provide them with the means for a better future."

Established in December 2008 by the UN, World Humanitarian Day is observed annually and recognises the work of all humanitarian, UN and associated personnel who have worked in the promotion of the humanitarian cause and those who have lost their lives carrying out their duties.

     Top UN officials have appealed for people around the world to join a global digital storytelling campaign.

It marks the day when the then Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mell and his 21 colleagues were killed in a bomb at the UN headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August 2003.

Later today a wreath will be laid at the UN headquarters in New York to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the Baghdad bombing.

To mark World Humanitarian Day 2015, top UN officials have appealed for people around the world to join a global digital storytelling campaign designed by the UN and partners by drastically changing their social media feeds and sharing tales of humanitarian heroism. The aim is to empower the voiceless.

Ban Ki-Moon urged everyone to show solidarity as global citizens by signing up to the #ShareHumanity campaign.

"By donating your social media feeds for just one day you can promote humanitarian action and help to give a voice to the voiceless by sharing their stories of crisis, hope and resilience," he said.

Last week, Australian singer Cody Simpson, Chinese martial artist Jet Li, British media mogul Richard Branson and Brazilian footballer Kaka launched the campaign.

Simpson is among the participants, including humanitarian workers, media innovators and celebrity musicians who took to the stage last night alongside Ban Ki-Moon at a major event at the UN Headquarters in New York.


Stephen O'Brien, the newly appointed Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the UN News Centre that the UN seeks to deliver humanitarian assistance to meet the fundamental basic needs of saving lives and of making sure the recipients can live without vulnerability.


"The impact of this should give the affected people dignity, opportunities to grow resilience to avoid a repeat cycle of fear and security for families, communities and lives.

"At the end of the day, every life saved is an achievement in itself. That takes a huge number of people working together and the political will and determination of the world,” he said.