Introduction

I am humbled to be asked to take part in this important, solemn ceremony to commemorate the life of humanitarian colleagues who died in the service of others. I wish to thank Barbara Stocking and her team for including me and my organization and giving me the opportunity to speak.

I know that each of us is grateful to the organizers for giving us this opportunity to come together as a community of support to honor the noble work and sacrifice of our fallen colleagues.

With these brief words of introduction, I would like to make three points built around three key words.

I. Remembrance

The untimely death of untold numbers of humanitarian aid workers has gathered us together here today to honor their noble work and sacrifice.

In a sort of cruel irony, they lost their lives while trying to save lives – and to prevent and alleviate human suffering.

Ultimately they paid with their lives to save others, to heal wounds, to connect separated families, to bring water and food to those who have none and shelter those who lost their homes. They acted with compassion. They generated hope. They touched all our lives and those of persons scattered across the globe.

I recall, for example – as if it were yesterday – the vicious attack on IOM’s compound in Kabul three years ago. We lost one of our youngest and most dedicated colleagues. Many others were wounded. All will carry the memory of that vicious attack the rest of their lives. Regrettably, a number of other attacks were to follow elsewhere.

II. Reflection

Unfortunately – on the eve of World Humanitarian Day – the number of concurrent crises and disasters around the globe is increasing, placing a heavy toll on vulnerable people and communities.

We live in an era of unprecedented simultaneous, complex, protracted humanitarian emergencies – from the Western bulge of Africa to the Himalayas.  I do not recall in my long life a similar period. We are, indeed, in the midst of a “perfect storm”:

•  unprecedented crises;
•  unprecedented forced migration – some 65 million;
•  a rising tide of anti-migrant sentiment leading to xenophobia;
•  violation of international humanitarian law by all sides;
•  a serious erosion of international moral authority;
•  unclear power relationships;
•  an appalling lack of political courage and leadership;
•  and, no active negotiations at present that might offer us any hope of a short to medium-term solution to any of these numerous crises.

From a humanitarian perspective, the outlook, therefore, is not promising. Humanitarian space seems likely to continue to shrink – in the absence of political solutions. There are, of course, no humanitarian or military solutions to any of these conflicts, only negotiated ones.

Humanitarian aid workers die in these circumstances because (a) too little has been done to prevent these conflicts; and (b) even less effort has been made to resolve them.

III. Resolve

On the eve of World Humanitarian Day, we are thus struck by the sheer number of concurrent crises and disasters around the globe – all of these exacting a heavy toll on vulnerable people and communities. Humanitarian space is encroached upon more and more, and we are called upon more and more to deliver aid to areas marked by violence and insecurity.

Notwithstanding, we must, at all costs, avoid hanging our heads in discouragement. We must resolve to continue our humanitarian work for as long as disaster – related suffering and loss of life is occurring. This is our calling. To become faint-hearted is not an option.

We must stand together to protect humanitarians and the humanitarian space which allows us to do the critical work of saving lives and assisting the vulnerable. Let us resolve anew to support those affected by crisis – to ensure the safety and security of our humanitarian workers.

Conclusion

Today’s ceremony calls on all of us to remember those dedicated humanitarians who died in service to others;  to reflect together on their contributions; and to resolve to remain steadfast in our humanitarian work.