130 million people depend on assistance to survive: Ban Ki-moon

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said in a message on World Humanitarian Day Friday that a record 130 million people depend on assistance to survive. The General Assembly established World Humanitarian Day in 2008 to honour humanitarian aid workers who have been killed or injured in the course of their work. August 19 was chosen because it is the anniversary of 2003 bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad which killed 22 staff members including top UN envoy to Iraq Sergio Vieira



de Mello. UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said it is a day to remember sacrifices and courageous actions and to pay tribute to the thousands of humanitarian workers around the world.

UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien urged people around the world to show solidarity, use their voice and demand that world leaders take action.