Washington, D.C., August 19, 2020 (PAHO) — World Humanitarian Day is being observed today to honor humanitarian workers, who help millions of people affected by natural disasters or armed conflicts around the world, particularly the most vulnerable populations, even in the midst of the global pandemic of COVID-19.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) joins this celebration to recognize the dedication of humanitarian aid workers from the United Nations System, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and national and local agencies that are working in extraordinary times to help women, men and children whose lives are upended by crises and by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s World Humanitarian Day comes as the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic.
To pay tribute to the efforts of humanitarians, the UN Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA), PAHO, and other partners have compiled personal stories of some of the #RealLifeHeroes who are stepping up to meet the challenges, particularly humanitarian and health workers who are stepping in to fight COVID-19; and doctors and nurses who continue to provide critical health care to women and children.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role that nurses, and other health workers play in protecting people’s health and saving lives. Healthcare workers are at the forefront of the response, serving bravely on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and risking their lives every day to care for others.
For example, Johis Ortega and Juan M González are advanced practice nurses and professors at the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies, and shared their experience in the front line of the pandemic. “For almost all health professionals, this is uncharted territory. We knew that the number of people infected with COVID-19 was going to rise—but not that it would happen so quickly. And we are going to continue to see a dramatic increase in the numbers, because many of the patients we send home return a few days later when their symptoms get worse”, they said. “The situation is also difficult for the patients, who are not allowed to have family members accompany them”.
Leonor Andino, in Santiago de Chile, never imagined that she would ever provide care to pregnant women and newborns during a pandemic. The day of this interview, Leonor had just completed a 24-hour shift in the new working setup adopted to minimize the movement of people during the pandemic. Health care workers are on duty for a whole day and then get three off. They carry two uniforms so they can change in the middle of their shift. “We are doing everything we can to do our job in the best possible way, so as not to spread the virus or catch it ourselves,” she stated.
María Eugenia Pérez works with rural indigenous communities in nine departments of Colombia, supporting the health authorities from the Pan American Health Organization to protect the life and health of the most vulnerable populations. Being part of the humanitarian teams working in the country helping victims of forced displacement, indigenous communities and migrants has transformed her life, she says.
The dedication, perseverance and self-sacrifice of these real-life heroes represent the best of humanity as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis and the massive increase in humanitarian needs it has triggered. First responders are often people in need themselves — refugees, members of civil-society organizations and local health workers. They bring food, shelter, health care, protection and hope to others amid conflict, displacement, disaster and disease. But humanitarian workers are being tested like never before, struggling with unprecedented movement restrictions and insufficient resources as needs are outpacing funds. And all too often, they risk their own lives to save the lives of others.
The celebration of this important date is an opportunity to recognize the need to respect and continue supporting the work of all humanitarian workers who, under the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence, provide assistance to help communities recover their lives after a disaster, or improve their response capacity to future crises.
Contacts
Leticia Linn
Sebastian Oliel
Ashley Baldwin
mediateam@paho.org
