IHC to celebrate World Humanitarian Day in Dubai with 'Walk for Humanitarian Heroes'

Under the Patronage of UN Messenger of Peace and Chairperson of International Humanitarian City, HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, Wife of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), IHC organising the World Humanitarian Day (WHD) 2014 Dubai celebration tomorrow Tuesday at The Dubai Mall – the world’s largest shopping, leisure and entertainment destination attracting visitors from all over the world with A Walk for Humanitarian Heroes. August 19 marks the anniversary of the UN Headquarters bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2003 when 22 people were killed. In an effort to raise public awareness of humanitarian assistance worldwide - and the people who risk their lives in order to provide it - the United Nations General Assembly designated August 19 as World Humanitarian Day in 2008. Since then, World Humanitarian Day has become a global celebration of humanitarian action. This year, the aim of the World Humanitarian Day, celebrated under the theme 'The World Needs More', is to bring the focus back on the humanitarian workers and organisations that risk their lives every day to bring relief to communities in need of assistance. As part of the WHD celebrations in Dubai, the Walk for Humanitarian Heroes will symbolise our solidarity with all humanitarian workers around the world, and aims to promote awareness among our community for humanitarian work across the globe. The walk will take place as per the following details: IHC noted that the meeting point (start and end point) of the event in Dubai is Souk Atrium (Ground floor) at 5pm. The event will be see the participation of notable figures such as artists Fayez Al Saeed, Balqees Ahmed Fathi, Rania Shaban, Roua Al Saban, Ahmad Abdullah, Saoud Al Kaabi and poet Anwer Al Mashiri, who are continuing to support the campaign by being "Humanitarian Heroes" with spreading their messages through WHD interviews currently being aired until the day of the event. With the unfortunate series of humanitarian crises that IHC and its member organisations have been responding to, we are keen on spreading the message on the importance of humanitarian heroes around the world. "We are honoured to bring this global campaign to Dubai and the U.A.E. for the third year, and join our UN partners in celebrating humanitarian work and recognising the dire risks aid workers face every day, sacrificing their own life to save the lives of others in need. We would like to take this opportunity to express gratitude to our partners whose joined efforts made this campaign possible – Dubai Media Incorporated, Etisalat, Emirates Airlines, The Dubai Mall, Alhan Art Production and Group 32," said Shaima Al Zarooni, IHC CEO. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates-international/1395268731019.html