World Humanitarian Day Special Edition

2019 World Humanitarian Day campaign: #WomenHumanitarians

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is held every year on August 19th to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world.

This year’s campaign on Women Humanitarians supports the recognition that women deserve in the strengthening of global humanitarian response as well as in protection efforts under the international law.

We salute all humanitarian organizations and the men and women who sacrifice their time and put their lives and physical integrity at risk to help those in need of assistance all around the world. We especially salute women humanitarians in the Americas and recognize the efforts of the OAS Member States in working together to provide relief and humanitarian assistance in the face of disasters. The Disasters This Week Editor

Rebuilding the future: the role of humanitarian aid in climate resilience. Increased flooding, for example, is not just caused by storm surges and increased rainfall, but also by poor infrastructure. Food shortages following environmental disasters are not only caused by killed livestock and destroyed cropland but also poverty. Likewise, the likelihood of injury due to building collapse increases where there is a lack of education and a lack of access to communication technologies...Read more

Humanitarian assistance to be scaled-up for millions of Venezuelans in need. A collective effort to coordinate and intensify the ongoing humanitarian response, the plan aims to significantly mitigate the impact of the crisis on the country’s most vulnerable populations...Read more

National Preparedness Month. This NPM will focus on planning, with an overarching theme: Prepared, Not Scared. Be Ready for Disasters... Read more

16th August

What happened this week?

New mapping reveals Lost West Coast Estuary Habitat. A team of scientists applied new technologies and data to identify and estimate the historic reach of nearly 450 West Coast estuaries. Their results show that the estuaries historically extended far beyond where they exist now... Read more.

Interesting Facts

Scientists studied 2,500 coral reefs to figure out how to save them. An international group of scientists has surveyed more than 2,500 coral reef systems across 44 countries to determine how to save them in the face of damage caused by climate change and humans, according to a new study...Read more. 

Partners Respond to Ongoing Outbreak of Coral Disease in Florida. Here is a description of the problem, what NOAA and partners are doing in response to the problem, and how you can help... Read more.

Policy Developments and Outlook

The Sargassum Scourge. Floating on the open seas, sargassum provides a lush, vital habitat for marine life—what one oceanographer, Sylvia Earle, calls the “golden floating rainforest of the Atlantic Ocean.”...Read more.

9th August

What happened this week?

Mississippi Levee system breaks after major flooding. The former record was “The Great Flood of 1927,” which the Memphis Commercial Appeal called “the greatest flood in history.” According to The Advocate, this flood led to an upgrade to the nation’s flood control system. The flood destroyed levee systems in place and flooded 2,700 sq miles of land, which displaced more than 700,000 people in seven states, the U.S. Geological Survey said. ...Read more.

Weekend heavy rains damage Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, Retalhuleu and Sacatepequez. In the village of Santo Domingo, San Martín Sacatepéquez, Quetzaltenango, a flash flood caused by the collapse of drains caused slight damage to a house, leaving 2 people affected and 1 homeless. Proceeded to coordinate with municipal personnel to clean the area and repair drains...Read more.

Interesting Facts

Severe Weather Safety Guide Flash Flooding. A reference guide from National Weather Service...Read more. 

Policy Developments and Outlook

Flood-resilience works in Castries South East. Much-needed relief is on the way to residents of Castries South East as local contractors bid to implement drainage and slope stabilization works... Read more

Farmers across Iowa and Nebraska are feeling the effects of climate crisis.  Some farmers are taking unusual and innovative measures to continue growing food. ... Read more