World Humanitarian Day

Every year on 19 August, the international community marks World Humanitarian Day in recognition of aid workers who have lost their lives in the course of their duty.  It is also a day to celebrate humanity and the spirit that inspires people to help others who are in need, even in difficult and dangerous situations, often putting their own lives as risk. 

This year, we are remembering Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff who have died during duty, especially in Syria, where more than 20 Syrian Arab Red Crescent workers lives have been lost at the hands of foreign-backed terrorist groups since the crisis started. All humanitarian workers, including volunteers should be given safe and secure access to deliver life-saving aid and assistance to vulnerable people without exception. Losing just one life is too many.

 Sharing memories of a fallen volunteer with his family in Syria

Kareem Jabour was a Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteer who joined the Red Crescent in 2008. He lost his life eight months ago in Jaramana, while he was trying to move people injured in car bomb to hospital.

Kareem’s father, Dr. Gassan Jabour, remembers the day of the fatal explosion and how his son Kareem went to help the injured. His friend Rami also followed him to the site of the explosion. Sadly, both died. It was a shock, a very hard shock for the families. Kareem was the only son in his.

A close family friend offers his own perspective: “The volunteers are not carrying weapons, they are carrying their lives, and they carry their own lives to save the lives of others. The work of the Red Crescent volunteers is known to everyone in this area, and is respected by everyone.”

Kareem’s father adds his own anecdote of how he has observed volunteers carrying out their work with such high levels of professionalism. Two days ago, his sister broke her hand and he approached the Syrian Arab Red Crescent emergency center for help. He has nothing but admiration for their work, saying, “I am a doctor, and I watched how they did their job so professionally.”

Despite all the fears, worries and difficulties facing the work of a volunteer in this crisis, the work is widely encouraged and supported, particularly by the Syrian Government . It has become a visible phenomenon among the young people of Syria. Kareem’s father explains how the good reputation of volunteers and the work they do is encouraging other young people to join the Red Crescent to volunteer.

Kareem’s mother recalls a day when he came to the house and suddenly started to fill bottles with water, putting them in the refrigerator. “Mum, people do not have cold water to drink.” He was taking the refreshing cold water to displaced people in the shelter near their house.

This was typical of Kareem. I feel grateful to share Kareem’s family memories, whose voices are often unheard.

Lama Hassania