Open Letter to the Member States of the UN General Assembly, on behalf of the IASC Principals

Excellencies,

This World Humanitarian Day, our staff and volunteers around the world will stand in solidarity to spotlight the horrifying toll of armed conflicts on their colleagues and on all civilians, particularly children.

The brutal hostilities we are seeing in multiple conflicts around the world have exposed a terrible truth: We are living in an era of impunity. Attacks that kill or injure civilians, including humanitarian and health-care personnel, are devastatingly common. Yet despite widespread condemnation, serious violations of the rules of war too often go unpunished.

This status quo is shameful and cannot continue.

In 2023, tens of thousands of civilians were killed or injured in armed conflict, with fatalities among humanitarian workers doubling compared to the previous year.

The toll in 2024 – the number of deaths, injuries, detentions and kidnappings – is already staggering. The overwhelming majority of recorded attacks on aid workers are inflicted on national staff. Women-led organizations and female humanitarian staff face unique and often increased risks, just because they are women. The impact on the mental health of civilians and humanitarian workers has reached unprecedented levels.

And yet parties to conflict continue to flout laws meant to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, and civilian objects.

This year, on World Humanitarian Day, we appeal to all States, parties to armed conflict, and the wider international community to:

End attacks on civilians and take active steps to protect them – and the critical civilian infrastructure they rely on.

Protect all aid workers, including local and national actors, and their premises and assets and facilitate their work, as called for in UN Security Council Resolution 2730 adopted this May.

Hold perpetrators to account. Those who commit violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) cannot go unpunished.

We should not have to wait for an annual moment such as World Humanitarian Day to remind all parties to armed conflict, and all States, of their obligations under IHL. Adherence to IHL must happen every day irrespective of occasion. It is non-negotiable and is not subject to exceptions.

It is vital that all parties to armed conflict and all States adhere to their obligations and leverage their influence to ensure respect for the rules of war and minimize human suffering.

Fulfilling these obligations requires more than mere declarations – it demands immediate and decisive actions.Turning a blind eye when humanitarian workers are targeted only emboldens those who seek to hinder their work. This only serves to increase food insecurity, childhood malnutrition, involuntary displacement and the spread of infectious diseases and other threats. The immediate effects of these will not only be limited to areas of conflict but often spread far beyond.

We will continue to stay and deliver in humanitarian crises around the world – but the situation requires us to take a united stand to call for the protection of our staff, volunteers and the civilians we serve.

Signed by:

1. CARE International

2. A Chance Again Girl Education Foundation (ACAGEF)

3. ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality

4. Abak Peace Foundation

5. Abs Development Organisation for Woman and Child (ADO)

6. Access Development and Relief Organization-ADRO

7. Action Against Hunger

8. Action Contre la Faim

9. Action For Humanity

10. Action for Social and Economic Progress (ASEP)

11. Action for the needy in Ethiopia (ANE)

12. Action pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant (APDE)

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13. ActionAid

14. ActionAid International

15. Active in Development Aid (ADA)

16. Adamawa Concern Disable Foundation

17. Adamawa Initiative for Underprivileged Empowerment (ADIFUE)

18. Adamawa Women Initiative for Leadership and Development (ADWILD)

19. ADRA Europe

20. ADRA Lebanon

21. Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)

22. Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation

23. Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA)

24. African Relief and Development (ARD-African)

25. Against All Odds Foundation (AGAOF)

26. Agency for Minority Rights and Development (AMARD)

27. Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)

28. AKKMA National Coalition Pilipinas

29. Al Mehran Research & Development Foundation (AMRDF)

30. Al Sham Humanitarian Foundation

31. Alaman Organization for Blind Women Care (AOBWC)

32. Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA)

33. Alimat Care Foundation

34. Alliance of International Doctors (AID)

35. Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration (DCR Ambassadors)

36. AMEL Association International

37. Americares

38. AMURT

39. Anera

40. Anglican Missions

41. Arewa Young Women Graduates Support Initiative (AYW-Grads)

42. Association Najdeh

43. Assured Better Life Initiative

44. ASWHAN Adamawa

45. Australian Council for International Development

46. Australian Lutheran World Service

47. AwazCDS-Pakistan

48. AWO International (Germany)

49. Baptist World Aid Australia

50. Bege House Foundation

51. Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief

52. BINAA Organization for Development

53. Bioforce Afrique

54. Blumont

55. Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Centre

56. Bonyan for Youth and Development

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57. Bridge Builders Women and Girls Initiative

58. Budapest Centre for Dialogue and Mass Atrocities Prevention

59. Building Blocks for Peace Foundation

60. Building Foundation for Development (BFD)

61. CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development

62. CARE

63. Caritas Africa

64. Caritas Australia

65. Cáritas Española

66. Caritas Internationalis

67. Catholic Relief Services Nigeria

68. CCDRN

69. CDA Collaborative Learning

70. CDAC Network

71. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)

72. Center of Concern

73. Centre d'Appui aux Initiatives de Developpement Local (CAIDEL)

74. Centre for Community Resource, Health and Social Development (CCRHSD)

75. Centre for Sustainable Development

76. CESVI

77. CHAD INGO Forum

78. Cheerful Hands Initiative (CHI)

79. Child & Women International Development

80. Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative

81. ChildFund Alliance

82. ChildFund International

83. Childvoice

84. Christian Aid

85. Christian Blind Mission Ireland

86. Christian World Service New Zealand

87. CHS Alliance

88. Church World Service

89. Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS)

90. Civil Society Coalition for poverty Eradication (CISCOPE)

91. Community and Family Services International (CFSI)

92. Community Development and Media Centre

93. Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation for Women and

Youth (CEPFoWY)

94. Community Empowerment and Social Development Organization (CESDO)

95. Community Reach out Initiative (CRI) Yola

96. Community World Service Asia

97. Concern Worldwide

98. Confluence Development inn (CODI)

99. Congo Explorer

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100. Consortium of Youth Associations for the Defense of Victims of Violence

(COJEDEV)

101. Coordination of National NGOs Chad (CONA-T)

102. Coordination SUD

103. Cordaid

104. Council for International Development Aotearoa New Zealand

105. Dadah Foundation for Educational Empowerment (DAFEE)

106. DanChurchAid

107. Danuwa Empowerment Foundation

108. Daryas Organization for Developing Woman and Society

109. Dawis Initiative for Sustainability, Community Development (DISCOD)

110. Debbie Kauna Foundation (Disability Rights)

111. DEEG-ROOR Medical Organization

112. Democracy School Yemen (DSYemen)

113. Development Initiatives

114. Development Institutions Network Pakistan (DIN)

115. Developmental Action Without Borders- Nabaa

116. Dharti Development Foundation

117. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe

118. Dóchas

119. Dorcas Sisters Foundation

120. DRC Danish Refugee Council

121. Dream alive women and orphans support foundation (Dawos foundation)

122. Dünya Doktorları/Médecins du Monde

123. Education Cannot Wait

124. Empowerment for Development

125. Environmental Protection Society (EPS)

126. Episcopal Relief & Development

127. EU-CORD Network

128. Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF)

129. Every Casualty Counts

130. Farm Radio International

131. Femenni Development Initiative

132. Femmes et Développement FEDE

133. FHI 360

134. Field Ready-Middle East

135. Fiji Council of Social Services

136. Finnish Refugee Council (FRC)

137. First Step Action for Children Initiative (FSACI)

138. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

139. Food for the Hungry

140. Forum des ONGI en RDC

141. Freedom Jasmine

142. Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA

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143. Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO)

144. Garib Unnayan Sangstha

145. GBIHLI Guardians Brotherhood International Humanitarian Leadership Inc.

146. Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Children Initiative

147. General Union of Voluntary Societies

148. German Doctors e.V.

149. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

150. Global Communities

151. Global Education Emergencies Support Initiative (GEESI)

152. Global Educational, Economic and Social Empowerment

153. Global Giving International

154. Global Mission Partners

155. Global Support and Development (GSD)

156. Global Women’s Institute

157. Global Womens Health Rights and Empowerment Initiative

158. GOAL

159. GOAL Global

160. Grassroot Life Saving Outreach

161. Grow With Data Youth Foundation (GWD)

162. HD Foundation

163. Headwaters Relief Organization

164. Health And Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) Pakistan

165. Heifer International

166. Hellen Keller International

167. HelpAge Canada

168. HelpAge International

169. Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe

170. Helvetas

171. HIAS

172. Hidig Relief & Development Organization

173. Himaya Daeem Aataa

174. Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF)

175. Hope Revival Organization

176. Hope Rising for the Less Privileged and Vulnerable Foundation

177. Hopeful Women Initiative

178. Horan Foundation - HF

179. Horn of Africa Peace Network (HAPEN)

180. HUJRA Village Support Organization

181. Human Organization for Peaceful Environment (HOPE)

182. Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International

183. Humanity Forum Indonesia

184. Hwa Foundation Sindh Pakistan

185. iACT

186. IHE Delft

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187. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation

188. Ihsan Relief and Development

189. Iimaan Relief and Development Organization

190. Imam Sadr Foundation

191. Independent Public Health Consultant

192. Indus Environment Development Organization (IEDO)

193. Initiative Africaine pour le Développement Durable

194. Initiative For Women's Health Development and Rights Protection Nigeria

195. Innovative Humanitarian solution (IHS)

196. Institute for Promotion of Civil Society (IPCS)

197. Integrated Regional Support Program

198. Integrated Social Services Program (ISSP)

199. InterAction

200. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

201. International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)

202. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

203. International Medical Corps

204. International Organization for Migration (IOM)

205. International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)

206. International Rescue Committee

207. INTERSOS

208. IRADO

209. Islamic Relief

210. Islamic Relief Deutschland e.V.

211. Islamic Relief USA

212. Jabu Development Foundation JDF

213. Jaggarta Organization

214. Jami Al Hakeem Foundation (J-HF)

215. Jen initiative for Integrity and Development

216. Jesuit Refugee Service

217. JHPiego

218. Johanniter International Assistance

219. Jordan Health Aid Society International

220. Kanzul Masakin Islamic Foundation

221. LASOONA Relief & Development Organization

222. Lembaga Daya Dharma Keuskupan Agung Jakarta

223. LIFE

224. Life Helpers Initiative (LHI)

225. Life Makers Meeting Place Organization (LMMPO)

226. LM International/Läkarmissionen

227. Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization

228. LSPR Centre for Crisis and Resilience

229. Lutheran World Federation

230. Management Sciences for Health

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231. Mandhere Relief and Development Organisation

232. Marginalized Communities Advocacy Network (MCAN)

233. Mariam Ladi Yunusa Foundation

234. Matasa 360 initiative for social justice and development

235. Medair

236. Médecins du Monde International Network

237. Medecins du Monde Network

238. Medecins sans Frontieres - Western and Central Africa (MSF - WaCA )

239. MedGlobal

240. MedGlobal-Yemen

241. Medical Teams International

242. Mercy Corps

243. MERCY Malaysia

244. Mercy-USA for Aid and Development

245. Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies

246. Morning Star Foundation (MSF)

247. Muslim Hands

248. Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme

249. Muzun for Humanitarian and Development

250. Nahda Makers Organization (NMO)

251. Nak Akphivath Sahakum

252. Nana Maren Association for Charity and Awareness

253. National Disaster Management Network of Nepal (DiMaNN)

254. National initiative for social advocacy (Nisafoundation)

255. NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response)

256. Never Again International - Canada

257. New Followership New Africa Initiative

258. New Ways Organisation

259. NGORC

260. Nigerian Aid Group of Islam NAG-JNI

261. Nkafamiya Rescue Mission

262. No Borders Humanity Organization (NBH)

263. Nonviolent Peaceforce

264. Northwest Syria NGO Forum

265. Norwegian Peoples Aid

266. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

267. Now Bahar Rehabilitation Organization

268. Olive Branch Organisation

269. ONG-ASHAD

270. Oxfam

271. Oxfam America

272. Oxfam International

273. PACIDA

274. Pak Education Society/Pakistan Development Network

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275. Pak Mission Society (PMS)

276. Pampam development initiative

277. Pattan Development Organisation

278. PAX

279. Peace Foundation Pakistan

280. People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE)

281. People in Need

282. Permanent Peace Movement

283. Petuniya children youth and women initiative

284. Physicians for Peace

285. Plan International

286. Plan International Ireland

287. Plan International Nigeria

288. Plant with Purpose

289. Population Communication

290. Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS)

291. Premiere Urgence Internationale

292. Project HOPE

293. Project HOPE: The People-to-People Health Foundation Inc.

294. Protect Humanitarians

295. Rahma Worldwide

296. Reformist's Social Welfare and Development Organization WORDS

297. Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK)

298. Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT)

299. Regional Advocacy for Women 's Sustainable Advancement

300. Regional Advocacy for Women's Sustainable Advancement Alliance for African

and Arab States

301. Relief International

302. Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL)

303. Restoration of Hope Initiative (ROHI)

304. Road to Economic Development Organisation

305. Roshni Development Foundation

306. ROWYOD

307. Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA)

308. Rural Agricultural Transformation and Empowerment Initiative

309. Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization READO

310. Rural Education and Economic Development Society

311. Rural Outreach Africa

312. Ruwad alHoukouk FR (Frontiers Rights)

313. Sahara Economic Development Organization

314. Saibaan Pakistan

315. Salam Humanitarian Foundation (SHF)

316. Salient humanitarian organizations

317. Samir Aldarabi

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318. Save the Children

319. Scalabrini International Migration Network - SIMN

320. Search for Common Ground

321. Secours Islamique

322. Sened organization

323. Service Chretien d'Haiti

324. SEWAR organization

325. SHAFAK

326. Shahbaz welfare association

327. SHIFA Welfare Association-SHIFA

328. SIF - Secours Islamique France

329. Siiqqee Women's Development Association

330. Syrian Local NGO Platform (NES)

331. Smart lives Initiative

332. Smiling Hearts Initiatives International (SHI)

333. Social Development International (SDI)

334. Society for Empowering Human Resource (SEHER)

335. Solidarités International

336. Solution for Humanity (SFH)

337. Somali NGO Consortium (SNC)

338. Somali Relief Centre

339. Sorasun Foundation

340. SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria

341. South Sudan NGO Forum

342. Space Of Peace

343. Sphere

344. Spring of Hope Global Initiative

345. SSEWA-Pak

346. Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR)

347. Step Organisation for Democracy and Election

348. Stichting Vluchteling

349. Sukh Development Foundation

350. Sustainable Development Foundation

351. Synergie des ONG Nationales pour les actions Humanitaires au Niger.

(SONAH)

352. Syria Relief & Development (SRD)

353. Syrian American Medical Society

354. Syrian Expatriates Medical Association

355. Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)

356. Tabitha for Relief and Development

357. Takaful Al Sham Charity (TAS)

358. Tamkeen Foundation for Development

359. Tarjimly

360. Tearfund

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361. Télécoms Sans Frontières

362. Terre des hommes (Tdh) Helping children worldwide

363. The Amazon Healing for Women and Children Empowerment Initiative

364. The Lebanon Humanitarian & Development NGOs Forum (LHDF)

365. The Nigeria INGO Forum

366. The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation

367. The White Helmets

368. The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations - Rasd Coalition

369. Today For Tomorrow Initiative (TFT)

370. Trócaire

371. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

372. Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD)

373. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

374. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

375. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

(UN Women)

376. United Nations Foundation

377. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

378. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

379. United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)

380. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

381. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near

East (UNRWA)

382. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally

Displaced Persons

383. United Nations Youth Office

384. UNOPS

385. VENRO - Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs

386. Violet for Aid and Development

387. VOICE

388. Voluntary Service Overseas

389. Volunteers for Emergency and Disaster Rescue Initiative VEDRI, Numan

390. Volunteers for Sustainable Development

391. Wahatana Empowerment Initiative

392. Wajir South Development Association (WASDA)

393. War Child Alliance

394. WATAN

395. Water for South Sudan

396. Watoto Walanga Project

397. Wecare Foundation Sujawal

398. Welthungerhilfe (WHH)

399. Welthungerhilfe Country Office Zimbabwe

400. Will Association

401. Women Economic Emancipation Initiative

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402. Women for Women International

403. Women's Refugee Commission

404. World Bank

405. World Food Programme (WFP)

406. World Health Organization (WHO)

407. World Vision International

408. Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA)

409. Yetim Vakfı (Orphan Foundation)

410. Yola Renewal Foundation

411. Youth Front Pakistan

412. Zamzam Foundation

413. Zwala Foundation