As the global aid community marked World Humanitarian Day on Thursday, UN chief António Guterres paid tribute to all those who help people in need and urged support for the day’s #TheHumanRace campaign, which aims to protect the most vulnerable people from the climate emergency.  

“Humanitarian workers are here to help the world’s most vulnerable people when disaster strikes”, the Secretary-General said.

“But around the world, aid workers face growing threats. In the past 20 years, shootings, kidnappings, and other attacks on humanitarian organizations have increased tenfold. This year alone, at least 72 humanitarian workers have been killed in conflict zones.”

This year’s campaign for World Humanitarian Day – #TheHumanRace –  underscores how climate extremes are wreeaking havoc across the world and overwhelming frontline responders. Mr. Guterres warned that the climate emergency “is a race we are losing. But it’s a race we can and must win.” More

The United Nations is encouraging everyone across the world to participate in the literal race against the climate emergency. UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, on Monday launched #TheHumanRace, a global challenge to show solidarity with people in the most disaster-prone countries and those hardest hit by climate change.

Organized in partnership with the popular exercise app Strava, the challenge encourages participants to log 100 minutes of physical activity, and culminates in the week of World Humanitarian Day, celebrated annually on 19 August.

“The climate emergency is a race we are losing, but it is a race we can win … let’s lace up our running shoes and win the climate race for us all,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

To join the #TheHumanRace, just log your 100 minutes of running, cycling, swimming, walking, or other activity, on the Strava app during the week of 16-31 August. More