World Humanitarian Day on August 19 honours humanitarian aid workers all over the world. The day pays tribute to the thousands of humanitarian workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service. Humanitarian aid workers provide life-saving assistance to suffering people all over the world. Anyone and everyone can be a humanitarian.
Marking this year’s World Humanitarian Day, we would like you to meet some of the humanitarians from our team working in remote locations in the Baalbak – Hermel district in Lebanon conducting assessments at the informal settlements and helping improve the quality of life of those forced to flee. Discover what it means to them to be a humanitarian, and what inspires them to their job – in their own words.
If you’re feeling moved by our colleagues’ stories, visit our stories page – and learn more about how you can support humanitarians making a difference in people’s lives every day.
Abed, Medair’s Assessment Assistant reads through the Medair’s communication to community pager to Raed, 22-year-old a Syrian community member and son of the Shawish at the informal settlement in Younine on the 21st of June 2022. ©Medair/Abdul Dennaoui
Abed – Medair’s Assessment Assistant
“Being a humanitarian to me means caring for others. Not just showing that you care, but genuinely caring for those who are affected by conflict or that are forced to flee. As a humanitarian, you must always face the fact that you cannot help everyone, but that you will always go the extra mile and try. Even if it doesn’t work out, you can always give something back and that is care. It’s honestly what truly inspires me to get up in the morning and to go do my field rounds. Genuinely caring matters and people can feel it when you really mean it. Throughout my experience I’ve found that people simply want to be acknowledged and know that they matter, especially those that have been affected by conflict. It’s starts with something as simple as “how are you doing today?” and the rest will follow.
Nadima, Medair Volunteer at the informal settlement in Younine on the 21st of June 2022. ©Medair/Abdul Dennaoui
Nadima – Medair Volunteer
“Being a dedicated humanitarian to me means serving humanity and improving as a human being in the process. Anyone in the world can be affected conflict or a natural disaster and be forced to flee his country and home. We have a responsibility towards those we serve. Everyone in the world has the right to live a life with dignity. ”
Osman, Medair’s volunteer conducting an assessment on the beams holding the roof at Abdul Karim, 65-year-old, a Syrian community members tented home at the informal settlement in Younine on the 21st of June 2022. ©Medair/Abdul Dennaoui
Osman – Medair Volunteer
“Being a humanitarian to me means standing side by side with the affected communities and understanding their needs by listening to what they have to say. Only by truly understanding their needs, can we help improve the quality of their lives. During these difficult times the affected communities are struggling more and more, and the needs are rising. Our support and dedication towards the affected communities is essential. As a humanitarian, I also believe personal development is important. Allowing yourself to continue working on your skill set and improving your knowledge in the field to continue evolving. It’s what always inspires me. In my day-to-day job I try to learn as much as I possibly can to improve my technical know – how, so that I am making better decisions that lead to better outcomes for the affected communities.
Fatima, Medair’s senior assessment officer at the informal settlement in Younine on the 21st of June 2022. ©Medair/Abdul Dennaoui
Fatima – Medair’s Senior assessment officer
“I started with Medair nine years ago as a volunteer supporting the unified assessment team in the field conducting assessments on the tented homes at the informal settlements in Lebanon. Today, I am a senior assessment officer with Medair. I say nine years ago, and it still feels like yesterday. I believe when you are passionate about the work you do, you tend to lose track of time. For me, I don’t personally consider working as a humanitarian in the field my job, it’s more of my passion in life. I have a passion for helping people and standing by those who are forced to flee their homes. Waking up every day, knowing I get to support and stand by the affected community is like my fuel pushing me forward. It makes me want to be better and do better. Growing up it was difficult for me and my family. Having come from a poor community myself, I understand and acknowledge the difficulty of not having a home and needing support and not being able to provide it for yourself. I feel a great sense of responsibility towards the affected communities; to treat them with the utmost respect, care and give them hope for the future, all while preserving their dignity. To me, every day is a day to celebrate humanitarians.
Amar, Medair staff member at the informal settlement in Younine on the 21st of June 2022. ©Medair/Abdul Dennaoui
Amar – Medair Staff
“The best part about being a humanitarian is being able to extend a helping hand to another person, regardless of who they are and where they come from. I find joy in helping others and will continue to do so for as long as I can. We are accountable, responsible and in service to those forced to flee and affected by conflict. Even the slightest action can have the biggest impact, and to me this is what is inspiring about being a humanitarian.”
Medair’s work in Lebanon is made possible by the support of United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and generous private donors.
This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organization.
