What is World Humanitarian Day and why is it important? 

This article has been updated in August 2025.

World Humanitarian Day takes place every 19 August to recognize the dedication, commitment and sacrifice of humanitarians around the world.

As the United Nations explains:

The day aims to promote the well-being, dignity and ultimately the survival of those affected by disasters, and the safety and security of the aid workers who rush to help them.

Like other international days and weeks, it's used to raise awareness and educate the public on global challenges and issues.

The World Economic Forum's 2025 Global Risks Report highlights the worsening humanitarian impacts of the ongoing conflicts, with state-based armed conflict, now ranked as the top current risk by 23% of respondents.

It warns that levels of global cooperation across many areas of geopolitics and humanitarian issues "may reach new lows" in the coming years.

From conflict to climate change, it is often humanitarians who respond to the impacts and minimize human suffering in the process.

World Humanitarian Day takes place on the 19 August every year to mark the anniversary of the 2003 bomb attack on the UN headquarters at Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq. The attack killed 22 humanitarian workers.

It also killed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Humanitarians work in disaster and conflict zones to protect and save people in need, often by providing basic necessities like food.

And the need is significant, only accelerated by the climate crisis and the unfolding conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and Yemen.

More than 408 aid workers including more than 280 UNRWA staff (the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees) have been killed in Gaza since the war began on 7 October 2023.

The work can be extremely dangerous, with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledging the past year has been especially devastating for UN humanitarian workers.

“More than one in every 50 UNRWA staff in Gaza has been killed in this atrocious conflict. This is the highest staff death toll in United Nations history,” he said in June.

“Some were killed delivering life-saving aid; others alongside their families; others while shielding the vulnerable.”

Funding is a serious issue and needs continue to outstrip available resources. In June 2025, the UN warned that less than 18.5% of the funding immediately required to respond to the most life-threatening needs in the world has been received, and just over 12% of the total humanitarian funding required in 2025 through the Global Humanitarian Overview ($44 billion).

On this crucial day, the World Economic Forum reiterates its full support for humanitarian principles and humanitarian aid workers worldwide.

The Forum's Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics brings together partners to promote peace efforts, build more resilient societies to withstand shocks and boost financing efforts, for example through its Humanitarian and Resilience Investing initiative.