On August 19, World Humanitarian Day, the European Commission pays tribute to those who dedicate their lives to preserving and improving the lives of others who need assistance to survive. From its Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Directorate General (ECHO), the European Commission seeks to ensure that the help allocated as main global institutional donor in humanitarian sphere delivers concrete results.

On the forth occasion that the World Humanitarian Day is marked around the world, this date aims to honour humanitarian staff who lost their lives trying to help other and to raise awareness about humanitarian assistance worldwide. The United Nations has chosen "people helping people" as the motto of 2011 campaign. Also, this day was established in 2008 by the UN General Assembly which picked 19 August in memory of the 22 UN humanitarian workers who were killed by the bomb explosion in the UN office in Baghdad, Iraq, on 19 August 2003.

According to the UN, over the last ten years it has become increasingly dangerous for aid workers to deliver assistance to those in need, reason why the European Union advocated in a campaign launched in 2010 for the security of humanitarian aid workers. According to recent data, attacks on humanitarian posts have tripled, resulting in about 100 deaths per year. In 2010 there have been 129 security incidents targeting humanitarian workers; 69 of them were killed, 86 were injured and 87 were kidnapped.

As highlighted by Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, World Humanitarian Day marks a time of remembrance and regret and of resolve to continue to help those most in need despite the dangers.

The European Union, main provider of humanitarian aid

The European Union is the world's largest institutional humanitarian donor. Since the beginning of 2011 it has delivered over 37% of global humanitarian funding apart from collaborating with over 200 relief organisations. In 2010, the Commission funded the activities of the world's most efficient humanitarian aid operators with 1.115 billion Euro. This support is translated into relief and hope for 151 millions of suffering people in 80 countries.

Through its Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Directorate General (ECHO), the Commission has given humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries around the world. The biggest recipients of EU humanitarian funding have been: Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, the occupied Palestinian territory, Pakistan, Russia and Burundi. In addition, major crises where EU solidarity has made a big difference are the South Asian tsunami of 2004, ECHO has already sent help after the earthquake that shaked Haiti and floods in Pakistan.