UN Staff Federation Honors Fallen Humanitarians on World Day

Credit: United Nations

On this World Humanitarian Day, the members of the CCISUA Staff Federation honour colleagues who dedicate their lives to protecting people in crisis, and we remember with sorrow the many who have fallen in the line of duty.

This year’s theme, “Act For Humanity,” is a call to leaders and the public to confront the normalization of attacks on civilians, including humanitarians, and the impunity that undermines International Humanitarian Law. It is a call to build public support that pressures parties to conflict and world leaders to act to protect civilians and humanitarian workers.

We pay special tribute to our Palestinian colleagues in Gaza, where more than 300 UN staff have been killed since October 2023—the highest toll in UN history. They continue to serve under unimaginable conditions, often enduring the same loss, hunger, and insecurity as the communities they assist.

At the same time, the humanitarian space itself is under grave threat. Severe funding cuts are forcing agencies to scale back life-saving programmes and reduce their workforce. Structural reforms and discussions of mergers raise additional fears that humanitarian action may lose its independence, becoming subordinated to political or migration-management agendas. For staff on the ground, this translates into uncertainty, heavier risks, and the erosion of trust.

As the federation representing thousands of UN staff worldwide, including many humanitarians, CCISUA calls for stronger protection of humanitarian workers, accountability for attacks, adequate funding for principled action, and genuine consultation on reforms that affect the future of humanitarian response.

The future of humanitarian action is at stake. To protect it, we must Act For Humanity!

Nathalie Meynet is President of CCISUA.

The Coordinating Committee for International Staff Unions and Associations of the United Nations System (CCISUA) is the umbrella federation for over 60,000 staff, comprised of UN common system staff unions and associations committed to constructive cooperation in order to provide equitable and effective representation of staff at all levels. CCISUA primarily represents member interests in inter-agency bodies that make decisions and recommendations on conditions of service.