World Humanitarian Day 2022: A Tribute to Aid Workers on the Front Lines in North-East Nigeria
August 19 is observed as World Humanitarian Day around the world. The day is celebrated to honor individuals who indulge in humanitarian work. It is also marked to celebrate the contribution of humanitarian volunteers who work relentlessly for a cause. On this day, volunteers who have died or injured themselves while at work are also paid tributes.
Today on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, the humanitarian community in north-east Nigeria honors all aid workers stepping up to respond each day to the crisis in the region by providing life-saving assistance to millions of women, children and men.
This year’s theme #ItTakesAVillage is built upon the metaphor, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ At an event commemorating World Humanitarian Day today in Maiduguri Mr. Matthias Schmale, United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria stated, “Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole community to help people in need; to provide urgent health care, shelter, food, protection, transportation, security, water and much more.”
He noted that the humanitarian ‘village’ in north-east Nigeria proudly includes volunteers and paid staff from civil society, national and international NGOs, government, the United Nations and crisis-affected people themselves. The vast majority of aid workers in Nigeria — including those who are exposed to the most risk — are Nigerians.
“Despite the many challenges in this crisis, we should all be immensely proud of the impact humanitarians have in north-east Nigeria.
“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.” – Nelson Mandela
All the power that we need to change the world and make it a better place, we already have it in our hands. It is up to us to use it and bring a change. Best wishes on this World Humanitarian Day. Visions for Nigeria foundation.
