In celebration of the first commemoration of World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Manila, in partnership with the Jose Rizal University (JRU), held a forum on United Nations humanitarian assistance. Stephen Anderson, Country Director and Representative of the World Food Programme, spoke on the United Nation’s role in humanitarian interventions. The event was attended by the Jose Rizal University's teachers and about one hundred high school students.

In December 2008, the General Assembly of the United Nations established the date 19 August 2009 as the first World Humanitarian Day. The commemoration of the Day is a way of increasing public understanding of humanitarian assistance activities worldwide. The Day also aims to honour humanitarian workers who have lost their lives or were injured in the course of their work.

 

United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Islamabad held an advance discussion forum with the heads of national and international print and electronic media, on 6 August 2009. The Humanitarian Coordinator, a.i Wolfgang Herbinge, along with a team of leading UN Communication specialists including UNIC, OCHA, WFP, UNICEF shared the background information and significance of the World Humanitarian Day with media representatives. Media appreciated the United Nations’ initiative to involve them in the planning and advocacy of the event in advance.
UNIC arranged the translation of the public information materials, including the UN Secretary General’s message of into Urdu and widely disseminated to both English and Urdu audience, including media, government, non-governmental organizations and humanitarian community. 
UNIC coordinated with UN Humanitarian Communication focal points and arranged for exclusive interviews. A private broadcaster, FM100 run a two-hour live talk show on 18 August 2009. UNIC also arranged for an exclusive broadcast of the public service announcements (in local and national language) at the Voice of America.
On 19 August, UNIC hosted a Press Conference to commemorate World Humanitarian Day and provided its every communication and coordination support for the event. The Head Coordinator, Martin Mogwanja, and two representatives from a national and international NGOs addressed the press conference. A large number of media attended the press conference.

On 19 August 2009 World Humanitarian Day was observed for the first time worldwide, including Ukraine. The Day was established by the General Assembly (GA) of the United Nations in December 2008 and designated to increase public understanding of humanitarian assistance activities worldwide. Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Press-Club meeting was organized in Ukraine to observe the Day. Ukraine’s and relevant Ministries’ role and perspectives in the providing humanitarian assistance to different countries were the theme of the discussion. Representatives of Ministry of Foreign Affaires and Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine, Ukrainian Red Cross Society and UN Representative Office, and the United Nations Office (UNO) in Kyiv took part in the meeting. Acting Coordinator of the United Nations System in Ukraine, regional representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Belarus , Moldova and Ukraine Simone Wolken thanked President, Government and people of Ukraine for active participation in the humanitarian operations. As Ruslan Biloshytskyi, Chief of Tenders Procedures Department, Humanitarian Assistance and Realization of Material – technical supply of the Ministry of Emergency Situation, said, - “Since 1999, Ministry of Emergency Situations together with other executive Governmental Bodies in cooperation with Ukraine’s Red Cross implemented 33 Governmental Decrees on humanitarian aid in 27 countries, which needed emergency relief. For many times Medical and rescue services of the Ministry were engaged into humanitarian operations. The Ministry’s rescue service together with mobile hospital, Ministry of Health and Red Cross Societies in Ukraine worked on the liquidation of earthquake consequences in Turkey (1999), India (2001), Iran (2003) and Pakistan (2005). For the period mentioned above, suffering countries received near 4 thousands of humanitarian goods. The general amount of resources provided is 388 millions of UAH; the sum was equivalent to 77 millions of US dollars. Only through the last year Ministry of Emergency Situations provided humanitarian aid to 9 countries in need, namely: Palestinian National Autonomy, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Cuba, Moldova, Tadzhikistan,  Georgia, Union of Myanmar, People’s republic of China and Kyrgyz Republic”. Delivering the speech, Simone Wolken admitted that UN highly appreciates Ukraine ’s contribution into peacekeeping operations and stability and human rights protection worldwide. For 17 years of Ukraine’s participation in peacekeeping missions under the UN aegis more than 33 thousands of military personnel of Ukraine participated in re-establishing peace and stability in conflict regions. Today, more than 550 Ukrainians continue to serve and fulfill their duties in 9 Peacekeeping Missions of UN, OSCE and NATO in 8 countries. Ms. Wolken paid tribute to 47 decedent Ukrainian peacekeepers that lost lives during the humanitarian service. Also humanitarian aid received by Ukraine in times of emergency situations was discussed. As Valeriy Sergovskyi, deputy Director of Red Cross Society in Ukraine, mentioned that Ukraine received five million US dollars through the Red Cross in the first months after the explosion at Chernobyl atomic station. “There is an increase in the number of natural disasters every year. Thus, spreading information about possible natural disasters among local population was one of the Red Cross priorities. For example, West of Ukraine underwent floods and powerful storms, East suffered from man-caused disasters, coal-mines explosions, etc. Last year together with Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Red Cross Society in Ukraine formed special working commission in order to improve laws concerning humanitarian aid conveyance. They strived to implement international norms of humanitarian goods delivering in Ukraine”. Answering journalists’ questions, participants of the meeting reported on the main global challenges in humanitarian sphere. Overall number of people suffered from the natural disasters had increased for the last ten years. On average, 211 millions of people undergo through natural cataclysms every year, five-fold – through armed conflicts. Children and women were the most vulnerable groups; poverty, hunger, health and environmental problems were not new to them. There was an increase of requests for humanitarian help due to the economic crisis and other global problems such as growth of world population, global pandemics, lack of provisions and water, prices and migration rate increment.  In 2009 humanitarian society, formed by the UN special agencies, civic organizations, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has appealed to national governments to provide 8.6 millions for humanitarian aid. This is the minimum budget to bring emergency relief to more than 30 millions of people in need in 30 countries.

The United Nations staff members in Tanzania joined the world in commemorating for the first time ever World Humanitarian Day on 19 August 2009. The Day is aimed to honor all humanitarians and to increase public understanding of humanitarian assistance activities worldwide.
The observance, which was coordinated by United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Dar es Salaam, was held at the UN compound and led by the Acting UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Ronald Sibanda who hoisted the UN flag and then led staff members to observe a minute of silence in honour of all humanitarians who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
Thereafter the Acting Resident Coordinator, who is also the WFP Country Director, presented before staff, government representatives and the media, the UN Secretary General’s message to mark the Day.
The UN General Assembly established the Day in December 2008 to honour personnel who have lost their lives in the cause of duty and those who have worked in the promotion of the humanitarian cause.
In the last decade, more than 700 humanitarian workers have made the ultimate sacrifice while striving to help those most in need in some of the world’s most hostile environments. Thousands more have endured bombing, kidnapping, attacks, hijacking, robbery and rape.