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Jakarta Post

Celebrating the world'€™s humanity

Each day as televisions are turned on, web browsers are opened and news channels are sought out, there are countless images and stories reminding us of the severe humanitarian crises that are threatening and affecting the lives of millions across the globe

Rajan Gengage (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, August 18, 2014

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Celebrating the world'€™s humanity

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ach day as televisions are turned on, web browsers are opened and news channels are sought out, there are countless images and stories reminding us of the severe humanitarian crises that are threatening and affecting the lives of millions across the globe. Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Israel, South Sudan, Myanmar and the Philippines are just some of the places where people'€™s lives have been thrown into chaos.

The humanitarian landscape has changed significantly over the past 20 years and although the number of conflicts has declined, more people than ever are being uprooted by violence. There are approximately 54 million people in 26 countries that need support from humanitarian agencies and hundreds of people are being added to that list every day.

Furthermore, the cost of humanitarian aid has increased, with international aid organizations having appeals costing more than US$17 billion, the highest amount to date.

Yet in the midst of all the chaos, there are thousands of people who give their lives to help bring relief to those in need.

Recently, however, humanitarian workers from the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and international organizations who were once protected by the work they did and the organizations they represented have become the targets. To date, there have been 128 major security incidents resulting in death, injury or kidnapping. So far, 54 national and international staff have been killed.

As humanitarian needs continue to rise, we must do things differently in order to sufficiently address those needs. World Humanitarian Day on Aug. 19 is one day when we can reach out to new supporters and partners and this year'€™s campaign is a chance to take it one step farther.

The theme for this year, '€œThe World Needs More Humanitarian Heroes'€, is an extension of last year'€™s '€œThe World Needs More...'€ theme by bringing the spotlight on humanitarian workers and organizations.

Humanitarian heroes are everywhere, from the streets of our local communities to the refugee camps in some of the most dangerous places in the world. They are national and international, male and female and represent all cultures and backgrounds.

We will harness the power of social media once again to spread the word and get support for humanitarian aid workers through platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, short videos of aid workers'€™ stories and, at the heart of the campaign, a new platform called '€œMessengers of Humanity'€.

This online community will encourage socially conscious citizens to pledge their support for the humanitarian community and to help extend that support beyond one day per year.

'€œMessengers of Humanity'€ is a tool with which people can share their inspiring videos, good stories and beautiful photos and stay connected throughout the year.

Indonesia with its population of more than 240 million people, most of whom are young and active on social media, has often been cited as the '€œsocial media capital of the world'€ and Jakarta'€™s citizens as the most avid tweeters compared to any other city. The country is also often referred to as a '€œsupermarket of natural disasters'€, as it is prone to all types of disasters that can leave massive humanitarian impacts across the country.

As such, Indonesia with its 62 million active social media users has great reason to engage communities in taking action in the name of humanity and to celebrate the spirit that leads people to help those whose lives have been torn apart by natural disasters or conflicts.

Volunteers grouped under Jalin Merapi used social media, such as the Twitter account @jalinmerapi, to mobilize humanitarian assistance for people displaced by the Mount Merapi eruption back in 2010.

Another group called Air Putih Foundation set up Twitter account @infobencana to speed up distribution of relief aid to disaster victims on the tsunami-hit Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra and flashflood-struck Wasior in Papua.

Everyone can be a humanitarian. We can all do something to alleviate human suffering and we all have the ability to exhibit the spirit of humanity and of helping others. There is great potential to keep the momentum of this campaign strong, especially in Indonesia, and it is our hope that all of you will join us in taking this message beyond that one day a year. Today, let us remember and celebrate the world'€™s humanity together.

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The writer is head of office at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) in Indonesia. The views expressed are his own.

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