Open Letter to the Member States of the U.N. General Assembly, on behalf of the IASC Principals

Signed by 413 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 U.N. 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. CARE International
2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
3. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
4. International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
5. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
6. InterAction
7. International Organization for Migration (IOM)
8. Medair
9. Mercy Corps
10. Save the Children
11. Somali NGO Consortium (SNC)
12. Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR)
13. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
14. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
15. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
16. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
17. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
18. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
19. United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)
20. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
21. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons
22. World Bank
23. World Food Programme (WFP)
24. World Health Organization (WHO)
25. World Vision International
26. A Chance Again Girl Education Foundation (ACAGEF)
27. ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality
28. Abak Peace Foundation
29. Abs Development Organisation for Woman and Child (ADO)
30. Access Development and Relief Organization-ADRO
31. Action Against Hunger
32. Action Contre la Faim
33. Action For Humanity
34. Action for Social and Economic Progress (ASEP)
35. Action for the needy in Ethiopia (ANE)
36. Action pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant (APDE)
37. ActionAid
38. ActionAid International
39. Active in Development Aid (ADA)
40. Adamawa Concern Disable Foundation
41. Adamawa Initiative for Underprivileged Empowerment (ADIFUE)
42. Adamawa Women Initiative for Leadership and Development (ADWILD)
43. ADRA Europe
44. ADRA Lebanon
45. Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
46. Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation
47. Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA)
48. African Relief and Development (ARD-African)
49. Against All Odds Foundation (AGAOF)
50. Agency for Minority Rights and Development (AMARD)
51. Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
52. AKKMA National Coalition Pilipinas
53. Al Mehran Research & Development Foundation (AMRDF)
54. Al Sham Humanitarian Foundation
55. Alaman Organization for Blind Women Care (AOBWC)
56. Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA)
57. Alimat Care Foundation
58. Alliance of International Doctors (AID)
59. Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration (DCR Ambassadors)
60. AMEL Association International
61. Americares
62. AMURT
63. Anera
64. Anglican Missions
65. Arewa Young Women Graduates Support Initiative (AYW-Grads)
66. Association Najdeh
67. Assured Better Life Initiative
68. ASWHAN Adamawa
69. Australian Council for International Development
70. Australian Lutheran World Service
71. AwazCDS-Pakistan
72. AWO International (Germany)
73. Baptist World Aid Australia
74. Bege House Foundation
75. Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief
76. BINAA Organization for Development
77. Bioforce Afrique
78. Blumont
79. Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Centre
80. Bonyan for Youth and Development
81. Bridge Builders Women and Girls Initiative
82. Budapest Centre for Dialogue and Mass Atrocities Prevention
83. Building Blocks for Peace Foundation
84. Building Foundation for Development (BFD)
85. CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
86. CARE
87. Caritas Africa
88. Caritas Australia
89. Cáritas Española
90. Caritas Internationalis
91. Catholic Relief Services Nigeria
92. CCDRN
93. CDA Collaborative Learning
94. CDAC Network
95. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
96. Center of Concern
97. Centre d’Appui aux Initiatives de Developpement Local (CAIDEL)
98. Centre for Community Resource, Health and Social Development (CCRHSD)
99. Centre for Sustainable Development
100. CESVI
101. CHAD INGO Forum
102. Cheerful Hands Initiative (CHI)
103. Child & Women International Development
104. Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative
105. ChildFund Alliance
106. ChildFund International
107. Childvoice
108. Christian Aid
109. Christian Blind Mission Ireland
110. Christian World Service New Zealand
111. CHS Alliance
112. Church World Service
113. Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS)
114. Civil Society Coalition for poverty Eradication (CISCOPE)
115. Community and Family Services International (CFSI)
116. Community Development and Media Centre
117. Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation for Women and Youth (CEPFoWY)
118. Community Empowerment and Social Development Organization (CESDO)
119. Community Reach out Initiative (CRI) Yola
120. Community World Service Asia
121. Concern Worldwide
122. Confluence Development inn (CODI)
123. Congo Explorer
124. Consortium of Youth Associations for the Defense of Victims of Violence (COJEDEV)
125. Coordination of National NGOs Chad (CONA-T)
126. Coordination SUD
127. Cordaid
128. Council for International Development Aotearoa New Zealand
129. Dadah Foundation for Educational Empowerment (DAFEE)
130. DanChurchAid
131. Danuwa Empowerment Foundation
132. Daryas Organization for Developing Woman and Society
133. Dawis Initiative for Sustainability, Community Development (DISCOD)
134. Debbie Kauna Foundation (Disability Rights)
135. DEEG-ROOR Medical Organization
136. Democracy School Yemen (DSYemen)
137. Development Initiatives
138. Development Institutions Network Pakistan (DIN)
139. Developmental Action Without Borders- Nabaa
140. Dharti Development Foundation
141. Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
142. Dóchas
143. Dorcas Sisters Foundation
144. DRC Danish Refugee Council
145. Dream alive women and orphans support foundation (Dawos foundation)
146. Dünya Doktorları/Médecins du Monde
147. Education Cannot Wait
148. Empowerment for Development
149. Environmental Protection Society (EPS)
150. Episcopal Relief & Development
151. EU-CORD Network
152. Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF)
153. Every Casualty Counts
154. Farm Radio International
155. Femenni Development Initiative
156. Femmes et Développement FEDE
157. FHI 360
158. Field Ready-Middle East
159. Fiji Council of Social Services
160. Finnish Refugee Council (FRC)
161. First Step Action for Children Initiative (FSACI)
162. Food for the Hungry
163. Forum des ONGI en RDC
164. Freedom Jasmine
165. Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA
166. Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO)
167. Garib Unnayan Sangstha
168. GBIHLI Guardians Brotherhood International Humanitarian Leadership Inc.
169. Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Children Initiative
170. General Union of Voluntary Societies
171. German Doctors e.V.
172. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
173. Global Communities
174. Global Education Emergencies Support Initiative (GEESI)
175. Global Educational, Economic and Social Empowerment
176. Global Giving International
177. Global Mission Partners
178. Global Support and Development (GSD)
179. Global Women’s Institute
180. Global Womens Health Rights and Empowerment Initiative
181. GOAL
182. GOAL Global
183. Grassroot Life Saving Outreach
184. Grow With Data Youth Foundation (GWD)
185. HD Foundation
186. Headwaters Relief Organization
187. Health And Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) Pakistan
188. Heifer International
189. Hellen Keller International
190. HelpAge Canada
191. HelpAge International
192. Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe
193. Helvetas
194. HIAS
195. Hidig Relief & Development Organization
196. Himaya Daeem Aataa
197. Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF)
198. Hope Revival Organization
199. Hope Rising for the Less Privileged and Vulnerable Foundation
200. Hopeful Women Initiative
201. Horan Foundation – HF
202. Horn of Africa Peace Network (HAPEN)
203. HUJRA Village Support Organization
204. Human Organization for Peaceful Environment (HOPE)
205. Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International
206. Humanity Forum Indonesia
207. Hwa Foundation Sindh Pakistan
208. iACT
209. IHE Delft
210. IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation
211. Ihsan Relief and Development
212. Iimaan Relief and Development Organization
213. Imam Sadr Foundation
214. Independent Public Health Consultant
215. Indus Environment Development Organization (IEDO)
216. Initiative Africaine pour le Développement Durable
217. Initiative For Women’s Health Development and Rights Protection Nigeria
218. Innovative Humanitarian solution (IHS)
219. Institute for Promotion of Civil Society (IPCS)
220. Integrated Regional Support Program
221. Integrated Social Services Program (ISSP)
222. International Medical Corps
223. International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
224. International Rescue Committee
225. INTERSOS
226. IRADO
227. Islamic Relief
228. Islamic Relief Deutschland e.V.
229. Islamic Relief USA
230. Jabu Development Foundation JDF
231. Jaggarta Organization
232. Jami Al Hakeem Foundation (J-HF)
233. Jen initiative for Integrity and Development
234. Jesuit Refugee Service
235. JHPiego
236. Johanniter International Assistance
237. Jordan Health Aid Society International
238. Kanzul Masakin Islamic Foundation
239. LASOONA Relief & Development Organization
240. Lembaga Daya Dharma Keuskupan Agung Jakarta
241. LIFE
242. Life Helpers Initiative (LHI)
243. Life Makers Meeting Place Organization (LMMPO)
244. LM International/Läkarmissionen
245. Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization
246. LSPR Centre for Crisis and Resilience
247. Lutheran World Federation
248. Management Sciences for Health
249. Mandhere Relief and Development Organisation
250. Marginalized Communities Advocacy Network (MCAN)
251. Mariam Ladi Yunusa Foundation
252. Matasa 360 initiative for social justice and development
253. Médecins du Monde International Network
254. Medecins du Monde Network
255. Medecins sans Frontieres – Western and Central Africa (MSF – WaCA )
256. MedGlobal
257. MedGlobal-Yemen
258. Medical Teams International
259. MERCY Malaysia
260. Mercy-USA for Aid and Development
261. Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
262. Morning Star Foundation (MSF)
263. Muslim Hands
264. Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme
265. Muzun for Humanitarian and Development
266. Nahda Makers Organization (NMO)
267. Nak Akphivath Sahakum
268. Nana Maren Association for Charity and Awareness
269. National Disaster Management Network of Nepal (DiMaNN)
270. National initiative for social advocacy (Nisafoundation)
271. NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response)
272. Never Again International – Canada
273. New Followership New Africa Initiative
274. New Ways Organisation
275. NGORC
276. Nigerian Aid Group of Islam NAG-JNI
277. Nkafamiya Rescue Mission
278. No Borders Humanity Organization (NBH)
279. Nonviolent Peaceforce
280. Northwest Syria NGO Forum
281. Norwegian Peoples Aid
282. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
283. Now Bahar Rehabilitation Organization
284. Olive Branch Organisation
285. ONG-ASHAD
286. Oxfam
287. Oxfam America
288. Oxfam International
289. PACIDA
290. Pak Education Society/Pakistan Development Network
291. Pak Mission Society (PMS)
292. Pampam development initiative
293. Pattan Development Organisation
294. PAX
295. Peace Foundation Pakistan
296. People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE)
297. People in Need
298. Permanent Peace Movement
299. Petuniya children youth and women initiative
300. Physicians for Peace
301. Plan International
302. Plan International Ireland
303. Plan International Nigeria
304. Plant with Purpose
305. Population Communication
306. Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS)
307. Premiere Urgence Internationale
308. Project HOPE
309. Project HOPE: The People-to-People Health Foundation Inc.
310. Protect Humanitarians
311. Rahma Worldwide
312. Reformist’s Social Welfare and Development Organization WORDS
313. Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK)
314. Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT)
315. Regional Advocacy for Women ‘s Sustainable Advancement
316. Regional Advocacy for Women’s Sustainable Advancement Alliance for African and Arab States
317. Relief International
318. Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL)
319. Restoration of Hope Initiative (ROHI)
320. Road to Economic Development Organisation
321. Roshni Development Foundation
322. ROWYOD
323. Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA)
324. Rural Agricultural Transformation and Empowerment Initiative
325. Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization READO
326. Rural Education and Economic Development Society
327. Rural Outreach Africa
328. Ruwad alHoukouk FR (Frontiers Rights)
329. Sahara Economic Development Organization
330. Saibaan Pakistan
331. Salam Humanitarian Foundation (SHF)
332. Salient humanitarian organizations
333. Samir Aldarabi
334. Scalabrini International Migration Network – SIMN
335. Search for Common Ground
336. Secours Islamique
337. Sened organization
338. Service Chretien d’Haiti
339. SEWAR organization
340. SHAFAK
341. Shahbaz welfare association
342. SHIFA Welfare Association-SHIFA
343. SIF – Secours Islamique France
344. Siiqqee Women’s Development Association
345. Syrian Local NGO Platform (NES)
346. Smart lives Initiative
347. Smiling Hearts Initiatives International (SHI)
348. Social Development International (SDI)
349. Society for Empowering Human Resource (SEHER)
350. Solidarités International
351. Solution for Humanity (SFH)
352. Somali Relief Centre
353. Sorasun Foundation
354. SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria
355. South Sudan NGO Forum
356. Space Of Peace
357. Sphere
358. Spring of Hope Global Initiative
359. SSEWA-Pak
360. Step Organisation for Democracy and Election
361. Stichting Vluchteling
362. Sukh Development Foundation
363. Sustainable Development Foundation
364. Synergie des ONG Nationales pour les actions Humanitaires au Niger. (SONAH)
365. Syria Relief & Development (SRD)
366. Syrian American Medical Society
367. Syrian Expatriates Medical Association
368. Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)
369. Tabitha for Relief and Development
370. Takaful Al Sham Charity (TAS)
371. Tamkeen Foundation for Development
372. Tarjimly
373. Tearfund
374. Télécoms Sans Frontières
375. Terre des hommes (Tdh) Helping children worldwide
376. The Amazon Healing for Women and Children Empowerment Initiative
377. The Lebanon Humanitarian & Development NGOs Forum (LHDF)
378. The Nigeria INGO Forum
379. The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation
380. The White Helmets
381. The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations – Rasd Coalition
382. Today For Tomorrow Initiative (TFT)
383. Trócaire
384. Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD)
385. United Nations Foundation
386. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
387. United Nations Youth Office
388. UNOPS
389. VENRO – Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs
390. Violet for Aid and Development
391. VOICE
392. Voluntary Service Overseas
393. Volunteers for Emergency and Disaster Rescue Initiative VEDRI, Numan
394. Volunteers for Sustainable Development
395. Wahatana Empowerment Initiative
396. Wajir South Development Association (WASDA)
397. War Child Alliance
398. WATAN
399. Water for South Sudan
400. Watoto Walanga Project
401. Wecare Foundation Sujawal
402. Welthungerhilfe (WHH)
403. Welthungerhilfe Country Office Zimbabwe
404. Will Association
405. Women Economic Emancipation Initiative
406. Women for Women International
407. Women’s Refugee Commission
408. Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA)
409. Yetim Vakfı (Orphan Foundation)
410. Yola Renewal Foundation
411. Youth Front Pakistan
412. Zamzam Foundation
413. Zwala Foundation