A Somali woman hands her severely malnourished child to a medical officer of the African Union Mission in Somalia. Source: UN/Stuart Price.19 August 2012 – World Humanitarian Day is celebrated annually on 19 August to recognize those humanitarian workers who face danger and adversity and to honour those who have lost their lives or been injured in the course of their humanitarian work.

The UN General Assembly designated 19 August as World Humanitarian Day in memory of the 22 people who were killed in the brutal terrorist attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which took place on 19 August in 2003.

Every year, natural disasters, conflicts and other emergencies threaten the lives and health of millions of people, usually the world's poorest, most marginalized and vulnerable individuals. In the middle of such crises, thousands of dedicated humanitarian workers strive to care for those who have been affected and support local authorities to deliver assistance.