August 19, 2022 | English
Today, there are more than 53 million internally displaced people around the world living in countries devastated by conflict, violence and disaster.
With internal displacement expanding for the 15th consecutive year, and complex emergencies emerging or continuing in countries such as Ukraine, Ethiopia and Afghanistan, humanitarian assistance is more important than ever to assist people affected by crises, provide protection and assistance, and pave the way for access to solutions.
On World Humanitarian Day today, we salute aid workers around the world who work in countries affected by humanitarian crises and internal displacement. We also express our loyalty and homage to those who have been harmed or lost their lives serving humanity and sincerely appreciate the efforts of those who continue to provide services in complex and precarious circumstances.
IDPs are among the most vulnerable people in the world today, as they have been forced to flee their homes but often remain near or trapped in conflict areas, at risk of physical assault or deprived of adequate shelter, food and health services.
In the face of these challenges, as well as the increasing number of deaths and injuries from attacks affecting humanitarian workers, protection and humanitarian corridors are vital to both aid workers and affected communities alike.
UNHCR and the Special Rapporteur call on states, in compliance with international humanitarian law, to ensure the security and protection of all humanitarian workers, to spare the civilian population from the effects of hostilities, including accountability for harm, and to ensure that humanitarian workers have permanent and comprehensive access to populations in need, and vice versa.
Noting the high level and severity of the risks related to internal displacement across the world, the international humanitarian community must work alongside those affected. Among the first responders on the ground are local and national authorities; emergency services; and many segments of civil society: affected residents, teachers, drivers, counsellors, health workers, legal experts, human rights defenders, voluntary organisations, NGOs, national human rights institutions, and many others.
As an interconnected global community, we must work together to protect those forcibly displaced within their own countries.
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