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Xinhua News Agency, United Nations, August 19 (Reporter Pan Yunzhao) August 19 is World Humanitarian Day. UN Secretary-General Guterres delivered a video speech on the same day, paying tribute to humanitarian workers and calling for an end to attacks on humanitarian workers and all civilians.

Guterres said that last year, UN-coordinated humanitarian operations provided life-saving assistance to more than 140 million people. Amid severe funding shortages, humanitarian workers worked hard to overcome difficulties and provide assistance to those in need.

Guterres said that 2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers. In Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere, humanitarian workers and civilians have been attacked, killed, injured and kidnapped. He called for an end to attacks on humanitarian workers and all civilians, and said that governments should put pressure on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, stop transferring weapons to armies and groups that violate international law, and end impunity and bring perpetrators to justice.

According to data released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, a total of 280 humanitarian workers were killed worldwide in 2023, a record high. Another 78 humanitarian workers were kidnapped and 196 were injured.

On August 19, 2003, the United Nations Office in Baghdad, Iraq, was attacked by a car bomb, killing more than 20 people including the United Nations Special Representative for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and injuring more than 150 people. In order to commemorate the staff who sacrificed their lives in the attack, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in December 2008 to designate August 19 of each year as World Humanitarian Day. (End)