2013 Was Worst Year For Aid Workers, World Humanitarian Day Report Shows

News outlets report on World Humanitarian Day and discuss a report (.pdf) showing more aid workers died in 2013 than any other year.

Devex: 2013 worst year ever for aid workers
“2013 was the most dangerous year for aid workers since the international development community started gathering in 1997 official statistics about the security of humanitarians around the world, data released Monday shows…” (Valerio, 8/19).

IRIN: World Humanitarian Day: Staying Safe
“World Humanitarian Day this year brought grim news: More aid workers died in 2013 than any year since records began. In total, 155 were killed, while another 305 and were either seriously wounded or kidnapped, according to newly released data from the Aid Worker Security Database…” (8/19).

U.N. News Centre: World Humanitarian Day: U.N. honors sacrifices, celebrates spirit of aid workers
“The United Nations [marked] World Humanitarian Day [Tuesday] by paying tribute to aid workers who carry out life-saving activities around the world, often in dangerous and difficult circumstances, while celebrating the spirit of humanitarian work worldwide…” (8/19).

U.N. News Centre: Briefing Security Council, U.N. deputy chief urges protection for frontline ‘humanitarian heroes’
“United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson had one main message — ‘we must protect humanitarian workers’ — as he marked World Humanitarian Day with a special briefing to the Security Council, addressing a subject critical to people caught in conflict…” (8/19).

VOA News: WHO: Protect Health Workers
“The World Health Organization warns of a growing trend of targeting health workers and hospitals during conflicts and humanitarian crises. The U.N. agency issued the warning to mark World Humanitarian Day, August 19th…” (DeCapua, 8/19).

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