World Humanitarian Day (August 19, 2024)

On this World Humanitarian Day, France pays tribute to all humanitarian aid workers and condemns all attacks on humanitarian personnel and infrastructure. We call for guaranteeing safe, unhindered humanitarian access and the protection of civilians in accordance with international law.

As the UN Secretary-General said today, 2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel. In Gaza, at least 289 humanitarian aid workers lost their lives, along with 885 health workers. In Sudan, 56 health workers lost their lives, and the parties to the conflict continue to stand in the way of humanitarian aid.

France is working hard to defend international humanitarian law and the humanitarian principles enshrined in its Humanitarian Strategy adopted in December 2023 at the National Humanitarian Conference. Its humanitarian funding has risen from €170 million in 2018 to €823 million in 2023. France will continue to take the lead in this area, just as it did by organizing humanitarian conferences for Gaza in November 2023 and for Sudan and its neighbors in April 2024 in Paris.