Syrian refugees attend a Caritas mobile health clinic in Taalabaya, 20 kilometres from the Syrian border. Caritas medical staff have helped over 6,000 Syrian families in Taalabaya since March 2012. Credits: Eoghan Rice / Trócaire

Today, on World Humanitarian Day, we remember all those affected by disasters and emergencies around the world.  

The theme this year is "The world needs more ....".

Over the last 12 months, Caritas Internationalis has launched 30 emergency appeals for hundreds of thousands of people in need of shelter, food, clean water, security, healthcare and a future with hope.

The UN General Assembly also designated 19 August as a day to pay tribute to all those humanitarian staff who risk their lives to bring support to others.

Every day humanitarian aid workers help millions of people around the world, regardless of who they are and where they are. World Humanitarian Day is a global celebration of people helping people.

Caritas pays special tribute to those humanitarian workers who have gone missing, been injured or killed as a result of their commitment to helping the most vulnerable.

In Syria, Caritas staff and their church partners continue to provide aid despite the war. In the Central African Republic, Caritas Central African Republic Director Fr Elysée Guedjande was shot last month.

World Humanitarian Day also provides an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the core humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence, especially when humanitarian needs are increasing.

Charita Česká republika, our member in the Czech Republic, has created this video to pay tribute to all humanitarian workers around the world.

For further information please contact Patrick Nicholson on +39 06 6987 9725 or by e-mail at nicholson@caritas.va