Who is a humanitarian?
Do you know the meaning of the word humanitarian?
Well, a humanitarian is a person who volunteers their time, resources, money and services to help during emergencies like natural calamity , accidents or war.
Natural calamity is something that happens to the environment or nature that destroys people, animals, homes, roads and even forests. Examples of natural calamities are floods, wildfires, mudslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions or hurricanes.
Anybody who volunteers to help people in need during emergencies and natural disasters by donating clothes, food, water, shelter and medical services is a humanitarian.
World Humanitarian Day is celebrated on August 19 every year.
- On this day, we thank all the people who risk their lives to help others.
- We remember the humanitarians who died while helping people in dangerous places.
- We encourage everyone to be kind and helpful, no matter how small the act is.
Here are some examples of famous humanitarians known for helping people in need:
- Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun and founder of the Missionaries of Charity, an organization that serves the poorest people in the world. Her dedication to helping the poorest and sickest communities in Kolkata (then Calcutta) earned her the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. She died aged 87years on September 5, 1997.
- Princess Diana
Princess Diana was a member of the British Royal Family and first wife of the current King Charles. The princess did so much to publicise work on behalf of homeless, disabled people, children and people with HIV/Aids. She also highlighted the dangers of landmines and the urgent need for their removal in communities that left people dead or disabled She died on 31 August 1997.
- Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai is from Pakistan and is known for her fight for girls’ education. She was shot in 2012 for opposing Taliban restriction on female education. She received the Nobel Peace Price at the age of 17 years making her the youngest Laureate.
There are also organisations that work around the world to help people in need. These organisations are also known as Humanitarian Organisations and here are some examples.
- Red Cross / Red Crescent
They have offices all over the world that give emergency help like food, water, and shelter. You can read more about the Kenya Red Cross here, https://www.redcross.or.ke/
- UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Helps save children’s lives, defend their rights and help them fulfil their potential. You can get more information about UNICEF here, https://www.unicef.org/
- Doctors Without Borders
Also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) helps people with medical care in places affected by war or serious diseases.You can read more about Doctors Without Borders here, https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
- World Food Programme (WFP)
The World Food Programme (WFP) helps fight hunger around the world. They give food to people in emergencies and teach ways to improve nutrition.You can read more about WFP here, https://www.wfp.org/
Being a humanitarian is not about wearing a special uniform. It’s about having a kind heart and being ready to help.