LONDON, 19-Aug-2016 — /EuropaWire/ — If you combine the number of people affected by conflict, natural disasters, disease and extreme poverty around the world they would form the tenth most populous country on earth.
The UK is a global leader in responding to humanitarian crises and today, on World Humanitarian Day (Friday 19 August), we pay tribute to the brave aid workers who risk their lives to help those caught up in conflict and disaster.
International Development Minister Rory Stewart said:
Conflict, natural disasters and poverty mean that right now there are over 125 million people in need of life-saving aid – a level of human suffering not seen since the Second World War.
Many of these terrible problems happen in countries where security is difficult, and where individuals are choosing to risk their lives to save others by delivering water, food, shelter, and medicine to people in need. We offer our sincerest thanks to them on World Humanitarian Day.
By helping countries better prepare for and deal with long-term crises, we are helping to build a more stable, secure and prosperous world for all.
Of all countries, the UK is the second largest provider of humanitarian assistance after the United States. From leading the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone and reaching people affected by the earthquakes in Nepal within hours, to providing the opportunity for jobs and education to those caught up in the Syria crisis, support from the Department for International Development is saving lives and tackling problems at source – all in Britain’s national interest.
Earlier this year, the World Humanitarian Summit brought the international community together to commit to action that will better support and protect those worst affected by conflict and extreme poverty. Building on the success of the Supporting Syria Conference in London, the UK played a key role at the summit, demonstrating Britain’s continued leadership in responding to protracted crises around the world.
Key achievements of the UK’s humanitarian work in 2015-16 include:
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