On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Five years later, the General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day (WHD).
WHD advocates for the survival, wellbeing and dignity of people affect by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the significant role that cities and citizens can play in aiding refugees.