Foreign
UN Population Fund (UNFPA) salutes humanitarian heroes and heroines for their immense contributions in saving lives of millions even in the face of medical, political and physical challenges.
The Executive Director of the fund, Dr Natalia Kanem, sent the salutation in a statement by Mrs Kori Habib, the Media Associate of UNFPA on Wednesday in Abuja in commemoration of the World Humanitarian Day, annually marked on Aug. 19
Kanem specially commended doctors, nurses and midwives who risk their lives to assist pregnant women during delivery.
She said “we also honour counsellors and caseworkers who have been supporting survivors of Gender-Based Violence, which has worsened under COVID-19.
“We honour the women and youth leaders who stand strong for human rights and dignity as humanitarian frontline responders.
“And we recognise the extraordinary debt owed to all health workers who continue to serve amid a pandemic that has claimed nearly 750,000 lives.”
Kanem reiterated the concern of UNFPA in recognising the heightened risks faced by women humanitarians and health workers especially, adding that women constituted around 70 percent of the health and social services workforce.
According to her, women are more likely to grapple with unsafe working conditions and unequal access to safety equipment and support.
She added that “we know that standing strong for sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equality also pose serious risks, and that threats, assaults and killings are increasing for women human rights activists.”
She condemned the increase in violence against health workers in recent times, particularly this year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She noted that “last year saw attacks against aid workers surpass all previous records, with hundreds of humanitarian workers assaulted, injured, kidnapped or killed.
“This year, threats to healthcare personnel are escalating amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Not only do health workers face exposure to the deadly coronavirus, but they are also enduring a rising tide of violence, with attacks driven by fear and misinformation.”
She said that in spite of the violence and disease, these real-life humanitarian heroes were undeterred, thereby making people across the world to rise to the challenge of humanitarian work in their communities and around the world.
The executive director, who pledged partnership with government, called for zero attacks on humanitarian workers, civilians, and civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and clinics.
“On World Humanitarian Day, UNFPA commemorates those injured or killed in the course of their duties, and we pay tribute to those who continue to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.
“We are inspired by the UNFPA staff and partners who are overcoming unprecedented hurdles to provide assistance to people affected by humanitarian crises in more than 60 countries, including those who found themselves in dire need as the result of COVID-19.
“We will continue to work with governments and partners to get to zero unmet need for family planning, zero preventable maternal death, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices such as child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Humanitarian Day is an international day dedicated to recognise humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian reasons.
The theme for the 2020 celebration is Meet#RealLifeHeroes, so as to pay special tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian services, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. (NAN)
– Aug. 19, 2020 @ 12:55 GMT |
Tags: heroines World Humanitarian Day: UNFPA salutes humanitarian heroes
