First World Humanitarian Day remembers UN deaths in Iraq
August 20th, 2009 - 12:06 am ICT by IANSNew York, Aug 19 (DPA) The UN Wednesday marked the first World Humanitarian Day to pay tribute to humanitarian workers killed in missions, including the 22 UN staffers who died in a Baghdad attack six years ago.
Among those killed in Baghdad Aug 19, 2003 was Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Brazilian chief of the UN mission in Iraq, which was freshly set up following the US invasion of Iraq to oust Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
The UN mission in Iraq, located then at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, was blown up by a massive bomb while it was fully staffed.
In another recent attack,the UN office in Algiers was bombed in December 2007, killing 17 local and foreign staffers.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told a crowd of foreign diplomats and UN staffers at UN headquarters in New York that the day was meant to renew the UN’s commitment to help “vulnerable, voiceless and marginalised people wherever they may be”.
“This is also a day on which we pay tribute to the legions of heroic humanitarian personnel,” Ban said. “These men and women come from many backgrounds. But they share a conviction that one person’s suffering is everyone’s responsibility.”
The UN decided to hold the annual World Humanitarian Day Aug 19 to “shine a spotlight” on people in need of assistance worldwide.
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- UN has become target for terrorists: Ban - Dec 12, 2009
- Iraq captures Al Qaeda suspect in Baghdad's UN building bombing - Jan 16, 2010
- Two killed in attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad - Nov 29, 2008
- 6 killed, 10 wounded in Iraq attacks - Apr 16, 2012
- Geneva rights fest to focus on corruption in India - Aug 25, 2011
- 25 killed, over 170 wounded in Iraq attacks - Mar 20, 2012
- TV host killed in Iraq bombing - Apr 04, 2012
- American held captive in Iraq released - Mar 18, 2012
- UN, Iraq agree to plans for reconstruction and development - Aug 14, 2008
- 43 killed, over 190 wounded in Iraq bomb attacks (Lead) - Mar 20, 2012
- Six killed in Iraq violence - Dec 05, 2011
- Eight killed in Iraq violence - Aug 16, 2011
- Nine killed, 21 injured in Iraq - Aug 08, 2011
- Statement by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on World Humanitarian Day - Aug 19, 2009
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