Human Rights Council
Nineteenth session
Agenda items 2 and 3
Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the
High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development

Summary

Every day of the year, New Zealand Red Cross international humanitarian aid workers are making a difference to the lives of vulnerable people across the globe.

Wednesday 19 August is World Humanitarian Day, selected to honour all humanitarian aid workers. In recognition, New Zealand Red Cross pays tribute to its 44 humanitarian aid workers who have undertaken 55 international missions in the past 12 months.

It is also the day to reflect on those who have lost their lives in the field while working with New Zealand Red

A major independent evaluation published today calls for a fairer system of funding emergencies so that all those affected can escape suffering and death and rebuild their lives. This is essential given the rise in natural disasters the world is facing.
The Tsunami Evaluation Coalition (TEC), an international multi-agency effort to enhance humanitarian aid, applauds the public for their record-breaking donations to the 2004 Asian tsunami, while highlighting how this enormous influx of funds revealed discrepancies in how aid money is raised and spent.