UN pays first tribute to aid workers slain saving lives

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World Humanitarian Day is being marked today, the sixth anniversary of the lorry bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, which killed 22 people including special UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.

A foundation set up by his widow Annie and former colleagues is behind the move to pay tribute to the people who provide life-saving food, clean water, vaccines and shelter to civilians caught up in wars or disasters.

"August 19 was the first time that the UN was directly and violently attacked, but it will be an occasion to remember all humanitarian workers who have lost their lives," Mrs Vieira de Mello said in Geneva, where a ceremony will be held. The General Assembly adopted a resolution in December designating the annual day, separate from the UN peacekeepers' day on 29 May.

The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs said 700 aid workers have lost their lives in attacks, kidnappings and robberies in the past 10 years.

The UK-based Overseas Development Institute said 122 aid workers were killed last year compared with 36 in 1998. Kidnappings have risen 350 per cent in the past three years. The three most violent countries for aid workers are Sudan, Afghanistan and Somalia.