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

Signed by 412 humanitarian organizations around the world who are calling for the protection of civilians, including their staff

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 International 
62. Caritas Africa 
63. Caritas Australia 
64. Cáritas Española 
65. Caritas Internationalis 
66. Catholic Relief Services Nigeria 
67. CCDRN 
68. CDA Collaborative Learning 
69. CDAC Network 
70. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) 
71. Center of Concern 
72. Centre d'Appui aux Initiatives de Developpement Local (CAIDEL)
73. Centre for Community Resource, Health and Social Development (CCRHSD) 
74. Centre for Sustainable Development 
75. CESVI 
76. CHAD INGO Forum 
77. Cheerful Hands Initiative (CHI) 
78. Child & Women International Development 
79. Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative 
80. ChildFund Alliance 
81. ChildFund International 
82. Childvoice 
83. Christian Aid 
84. Christian Blind Mission Ireland 
85. Christian World Service New Zealand 
86. CHS Alliance 
87. Church World Service 
88. Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS) 
89. Civil Society Coalition for poverty Eradication (CISCOPE) 
90. Community and Family Services International (CFSI) 
91. Community Development and Media Centre 
92. Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation for Women and Youth (CEPFoWY) 
93. Community Empowerment and Social Development Organization (CESDO) 
94. Community Reach out Initiative (CRI) Yola 
95. Community World Service Asia 
96. Concern Worldwide 
97. Confluence Development inn (CODI) 
98. Congo Explorer 
99. Consortium of Youth Associations for the Defense of Victims of Violence (COJEDEV) 
100. Coordination of National NGOs Chad (CONA-T) 
101. Coordination SUD 
102. Cordaid 
103. Council for International Development Aotearoa New Zealand 
104. Dadah Foundation for Educational Empowerment (DAFEE) 
105. DanChurchAid 
106. Danuwa Empowerment Foundation 
107. Daryas Organization for Developing Woman and Society 
108. Dawis Initiative for Sustainability, Community Development (DISCOD) 
109. Debbie Kauna Foundation (Disability Rights) 
110. DEEG-ROOR Medical Organization 
111. Democracy School Yemen (DSYemen) 
112. Development Initiatives 
113. Development Institutions Network Pakistan (DIN) 
114. Developmental Action Without Borders- Nabaa 
115. Dharti Development Foundation   
116. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe 
117. Dóchas 
118. Dorcas Sisters Foundation   
119. DRC Danish Refugee Council 
120. Dream alive women and orphans support foundation (Dawos foundation) 
121. Dünya Doktorları/Médecins du Monde 
122. Education Cannot Wait 
123. Empowerment for Development 
124. Environmental Protection Society (EPS) 
125. Episcopal Relief & Development 
126. EU-CORD Network
127. Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF) 
128. Every Casualty Counts 
129. Farm Radio International 
130. Femenni Development Initiative 
131. Femmes et Développement FEDE 
132. FHI 360 
133. Field Ready-Middle East 
134. Fiji Council of Social Services 
135. Finnish Refugee Council (FRC) 
136. First Step Action for Children Initiative (FSACI) 
137. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 
138. Food for the Hungry 
139. Forum des ONGI en RDC 
140. Freedom Jasmine 
141. Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA 
142. Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO) 
143. Garib Unnayan Sangstha 
144. GBIHLI Guardians Brotherhood International Humanitarian Leadership Inc. 
145. Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Children Initiative 
146. General Union of Voluntary Societies   
147. German Doctors e.V. 
148. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect 
149. Global Communities 
150. Global Education Emergencies Support Initiative (GEESI) 
151. Global Educational, Economic and Social Empowerment 
152. Global Giving International 
153. Global Mission Partners 
154. Global Support and Development (GSD) 
155. Global Women’s Institute 
156. Global Womens Health Rights and Empowerment Initiative 
157. GOAL 
158. GOAL Global 
159. Grassroot Life Saving Outreach 
160. Grow With Data Youth Foundation (GWD) 
161. HD Foundation   
162. Headwaters Relief Organization 
163. Health And Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) Pakistan 
164. Heifer International 
165. Hellen Keller International 
166. HelpAge Canada 
167. HelpAge International 
168. Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe 
169. Helvetas 
170. HIAS 
171. Hidig Relief & Development Organization 
172. Himaya Daeem Aataa 
173. Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF) 
174. Hope Revival Organization 
175. Hope Rising for the Less Privileged and Vulnerable Foundation 
176. Hopeful Women Initiative 
177. Horan Foundation - HF 
178. Horn of Africa Peace Network (HAPEN) 
179. HUJRA Village Support Organization 
180. Human Organization for Peaceful Environment (HOPE) 
181. Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International 
182. Humanity Forum Indonesia 
183. Hwa Foundation Sindh Pakistan 
184. iACT 
185. IHE Delft 
186. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation 
187. Ihsan Relief and Development 
188. Iimaan Relief and Development Organization 
189. Imam Sadr Foundation 
190. Independent Public Health Consultant 
191. Indus Environment Development Organization (IEDO) 
192. Initiative Africaine pour le Développement Durable
193. Initiative For Women's Health Development and Rights Protection Nigeria 
194. Innovative Humanitarian solution (IHS) 
195. Institute for Promotion of Civil Society (IPCS) 
196. Integrated Regional Support Program 
197. Integrated Social Services Program (ISSP) 
198. InterAction 
199. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 
200. International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) 
201. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) 
202. International Medical Corps 
203. International Organization for Migration (IOM) 
204. International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) 
205. International Rescue Committee 
206. INTERSOS 
207. IRADO 
208. Islamic Relief 
209. Islamic Relief Deutschland e.V.
210. Islamic Relief USA 
211. Jabu Development Foundation JDF 
212. Jaggarta Organization 
213. Jami Al Hakeem Foundation (J-HF) 
214. Jen initiative for Integrity and Development 
215. Jesuit Refugee Service 
216. JHPiego 
217. Johanniter International Assistance 
218. Jordan Health Aid Society International 
219. Kanzul Masakin Islamic Foundation 
220. LASOONA Relief & Development Organization 
221. Lembaga Daya Dharma Keuskupan Agung Jakarta 
222. LIFE 
223. Life Helpers Initiative (LHI) 
224. Life Makers Meeting Place Organization (LMMPO) 
225. LM International/Läkarmissionen 
226. Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization 
227. LSPR Centre for Crisis and Resilience 
228. Lutheran World Federation 
229. Management Sciences for Health 
230. Mandhere Relief and Development Organisation 
231. Marginalized Communities Advocacy Network (MCAN) 
232. Mariam Ladi Yunusa Foundation 
233. Matasa 360 initiative for social justice and development 
234. Medair 
235. Médecins du Monde International Network 
236. Medecins du Monde Network 
237. Medecins sans Frontieres - Western and Central Africa (MSF - WaCA ) 
238. MedGlobal 
239. MedGlobal-Yemen 
240. Medical Teams International 
241. Mercy Corps 
242. MERCY Malaysia 
243. Mercy-USA for Aid and Development 
244. Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies 
245. Morning Star Foundation (MSF) 
246. Muslim Hands 
247. Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme 
248. Muzun for Humanitarian and Development 
249. Nahda Makers Organization (NMO) 
250. Nak Akphivath Sahakum 
251. Nana Maren Association for Charity and Awareness 
252. National Disaster Management Network of Nepal (DiMaNN) 
253. National initiative for social advocacy (Nisafoundation) 
254. NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response) 
255. Never Again International - Canada 
256. New Followership New Africa Initiative 
257. New Ways Organisation 
258. NGORC 
259. Nigerian Aid Group of Islam NAG-JNI 
260. Nkafamiya Rescue Mission 
261. No Borders Humanity Organization (NBH) 
262. Nonviolent Peaceforce 
263. Northwest Syria NGO Forum 
264. Norwegian Peoples Aid 
265. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) 
266. Now Bahar Rehabilitation Organization 
267. Olive Branch Organisation 
268. ONG-ASHAD 
269. Oxfam 
270. Oxfam America 
271. Oxfam International 
272. PACIDA 
273. Pak Education Society/Pakistan Development Network 
274. Pak Mission Society (PMS) 
275. Pampam development initiative 
276. Pattan Development Organisation 
277. PAX 
278. Peace Foundation Pakistan 
279. People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE) 
280. People in Need 
281. Permanent Peace Movement 
282. Petuniya children youth and women initiative 
283. Physicians for Peace 
284. Plan International 
285. Plan International Ireland 
286. Plan International Nigeria 
287. Plant with Purpose 
288. Population Communication 
289. Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS) 
290. Premiere Urgence Internationale 
291. Project HOPE 
292. Project HOPE: The People-to-People Health Foundation Inc. 
293. Protect Humanitarians 
294. Rahma Worldwide 
295. Reformist's Social Welfare and Development Organization WORDS 
296. Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) 
297. Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT) 
298. Regional Advocacy for Women 's Sustainable Advancement 
299. Regional Advocacy for Women's Sustainable Advancement Alliance for African and Arab States 
300. Relief International 
301. Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL) 
302. Restoration of Hope Initiative (ROHI) 
303. Road to Economic Development Organisation 
304. Roshni Development Foundation 
305. ROWYOD 
306. Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA) 
307. Rural Agricultural Transformation and Empowerment Initiative 
308. Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization READO 
309. Rural Education and Economic Development Society 
310. Rural Outreach Africa 
311. Ruwad alHoukouk FR (Frontiers Rights) 
312. Sahara Economic Development Organization 
313. Saibaan Pakistan 
314. Salam Humanitarian Foundation (SHF) 
315. Salient humanitarian organizations 
316. Samir Aldarabi 
317. Save the Children 
318. Scalabrini International Migration Network - SIMN 
319. Search for Common Ground 
320. Secours Islamique 
321. Sened organization 
322. Service Chretien d'Haiti 
323. SEWAR organization 
324. SHAFAK 
325. Shahbaz welfare association 
326. SHIFA Welfare Association-SHIFA 
327. SIF - Secours Islamique France 
328. Siiqqee Women's Development Association 
329. Syrian Local NGO Platform (NES) 
330. Smart lives Initiative 
331. Smiling Hearts Initiatives International (SHI) 
332. Social Development International (SDI) 
333. Society for Empowering Human Resource (SEHER) 
334. Solidarités International 
335. Solution for Humanity (SFH) 
336. Somali NGO Consortium (SNC) 
337. Somali Relief Centre 
338. Sorasun Foundation 
339. SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria 
340. South Sudan NGO Forum 
341. Space Of Peace 
342. Sphere 
343. Spring of Hope Global Initiative 
344. SSEWA-Pak 
345. Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR) 
346. Step Organisation for Democracy and Election 
347. Stichting Vluchteling 
348. Sukh Development Foundation 
349. Sustainable Development Foundation 
350. Synergie des ONG Nationales pour les actions Humanitaires au Niger. (SONAH) 
351. Syria Relief & Development (SRD) 
352. Syrian American Medical Society 
353. Syrian Expatriates Medical Association 
354. Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) 
355. Tabitha for Relief and Development 
356. Takaful Al Sham Charity (TAS) 
357. Tamkeen Foundation for Development 
358. Tarjimly 
359. Tearfund 
360. Télécoms Sans Frontières 
361. Terre des hommes (Tdh) Helping children worldwide 
362. The Amazon Healing for Women and Children Empowerment Initiative 
363. The Lebanon Humanitarian & Development NGOs Forum (LHDF) 
364. The Nigeria INGO Forum 
365. The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation 
366. The White Helmets 
367. The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations - Rasd Coalition 
368. Today For Tomorrow Initiative (TFT) 
369. Trócaire 
370. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 
371. Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD) 
372. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 
373. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 
374. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) 
375. United Nations Foundation 
376. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) 
377. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 
378. United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) 
379. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 
380. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) 
381. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons 
382. United Nations Youth Office 
383. UNOPS 
384. VENRO - Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs 
385. Violet for Aid and Development 
386. VOICE 
387. Voluntary Service Overseas 
388. Volunteers for Emergency and Disaster Rescue Initiative VEDRI, Numan 
389. Volunteers for Sustainable Development   
390. Wahatana Empowerment Initiative 
391. Wajir South Development Association (WASDA) 
392. War Child Alliance 
393. WATAN 
394. Water for South Sudan 
395. Watoto Walanga  Project 
396. Wecare Foundation Sujawal 
397. Welthungerhilfe (WHH) 
398. Welthungerhilfe Country Office Zimbabwe 
399. Will Association 
400. Women Economic Emancipation Initiative 
401. Women for Women International 
402. Women's Refugee Commission 
403. World Bank 
404. World Food Programme (WFP) 
405. World Health Organization (WHO) 
406. World Vision International 
407. Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA) 
408. Yetim Vakfı (Orphan Foundation) 
409. Yola Renewal Foundation 
410. Youth Front Pakistan 
411. Zamzam Foundation 
412. Zwala Foundation