World Humanitarian Day is celebrated each year on 19 August to raise awareness of the importance of humanitarian assistance worldwide and the challenges faced by aid workers.
Last year, 102 humanitarian workers lost their lives in the course of duty - most were from the country they were working in.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon marked the occasion by praising the tireless efforts of humanitarian workers: ""on World Humanitarian Day, we renew our commitment to life-saving relief efforts – and remember those who died while serving this noble cause”.
The devastating floods in Pakistan, thought to have affected some 20 million people, are a stark reminder of the pressing need for the UN's humanitarian work.
