Over 100 humanitarian helpers killed in 2009: UN
By DPA, IANSWednesday, August 18, 2010
GENEVA - A total of 102 humanitarian workers were killed around the world in 2009, the UN reported Wednesday, recalling the dangers faced by people only trying to help others.
In a message marking “World Humanitarian Day” Aug 19, the UN paid tribute to all the helpers who had lost their lives last year while helping out on aid missions.
The date marks the anniversary of the devastating Aug 19, 2003 terror bombing in Baghdad, in which 22 people, including then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello, were killed.
Pointing to the dangers faced by humanitarian workers in regions of conflict, the UN said that a total of 278 such helpers were killed, kidnapped, or seriously injured in attacks in 2009. This was a ten-fold increase from 1999.
