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

Signed by 413 humanitarian organizations around the world who are calling for the protection of civilians, including their staff

19 August 2024

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:

1. End attacks on civilians and take active steps to protect them – and the critical civilian infrastructure they rely on.
2. 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.
3. 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. A Chance Again Girl Education Foundation (ACAGEF)
2. ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality
3. Abak Peace Foundation
4. Abs Development Organisation for Woman and Child (ADO)
5. Access Development and Relief Organization-ADRO
6. Action Against Hunger
7. Action Contre la Faim
8. Action For Humanity
9. Action for Social and Economic Progress (ASEP)
10. Action for the needy in Ethiopia (ANE) 
11. Action pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant (APDE) 
12. ActionAid
13. ActionAid International
14. Active in Development Aid (ADA) 
15. Adamawa Concern Disable Foundation 
16. Adamawa Initiative for Underprivileged Empowerment (ADIFUE)
17. Adamawa Women Initiative for Leadership and Development (ADWILD)
18. ADRA Europe
19. ADRA Lebanon
20. Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
21. Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation
22. Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA)
23. African Relief and Development (ARD-African)
24. Against All Odds Foundation (AGAOF) 
25. Agency for Minority Rights and Development (AMARD)
26. Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
27. AKKMA National Coalition Pilipinas
28. Al Mehran Research & Development Foundation (AMRDF)
29. Al Sham Humanitarian Foundation
30. Alaman Organization for Blind Women Care (AOBWC)
31. Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA) 
32. Alimat Care Foundation
33. Alliance of International Doctors (AID) 
34. Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration (DCR Ambassadors) 
35. AMEL Association International
36. Americaires
37. AMURT
38. Anera 
39. Anglican Missions
40. Arewa Young Women Graduates Support Initiative (AYW-Grads) 
41. Association Najdeh
42. Assured Better Life Initiative
43. ASWHAN Adamawa
44. Australian Council for International Development
45. Australian Lutheran World Service 
46. AwazCDS-Pakistan
47. AWO International (Germany)
48. Baptist World Aid Australia
49. Bege House Foundation 
50. Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief
51. BINAA Organization for Development 
52. Bioforce Afrique
53. Blumont
54. Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Centre
55. Bonyan for Youth and Development
56. Bridge Builders Women and Girls Initiative
57. Budapest Centre for Dialogue and Mass Atrocities Prevention
58. Building Blocks for Peace Foundation
59. Building Foundation for Development (BFD) 
60. CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development 
61. CARE
62. CARE International
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 
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
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
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
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 Networt
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
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
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
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