August 19 is recognized worldwide as World Humanitarian Day, when “[w]e honor … those who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and those who continue to bring assistance and relief to millions,” a Manila Bulletin editorial states. “World Humanitarian Day is a collaborative global celebration of humanitarian aid work joining the United Nations and over 500 national and international non-governmental organizations aimed at engaging and inspiring the general public to get involved,” the editorial notes.

“To guarantee that humanitarian workers are safe, we need to improve awareness of the principles of humanitarian aid work: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. The commemoration of the day is, therefore, focused on three main areas: To draw attention to humanitarian needs worldwide; to explain what humanitarian aid work entails; and to honor and remember those who have lost their lives in humanitarian service,” the newspaper writes (8/18).