A dark blue heart with the words One Woman Can inside it

One woman. Infinite impact.

When one woman can access the resources and opportunities she deserves, she can pull not only herself, but others around her out of poverty and crisis. Join us and invest in women around the world.

World Humanitarian Day 2022: South Sudan continues to be one of the deadliest places to be an aid worker

SOUTH SUDAN, 19 AUGUST 2022 – South  Sudan continues to be one of the deadliest places to be an aid worker, according to analysis done by CARE on data from the Humanitarian Outcomes Aid Worker Security Database. Forty-four aid workers have lost their lives globally since the beginning of this year, including 11 in South Sudan, 8 in Afghanistan and 7 in Myanmar. Not only are these three countries among the most dangerous places for aid workers, but they are also incredibly challenging places for citizens, with nearly 40 million people facing hunger across these countries.

“South Sudan is facing its worst hunger crisis since it gained independence 11 years ago,” says Abel Whande, CARE South Sudan Country Director. “That the very people committed to easing suffering and supporting the most vulnerable continue to be killed is horrifying. Failing to ensure the safety of humanitarians means disruptions to vital aid operations, and with 7.74 million people in South Sudan facing acute hunger, these disruptions could mean the difference between life and death for some. And this year, the knock-on effects of the Ukraine crisis are exacerbating the situation, with sharp increases in the cost of food and fuel causing more pain and suffering.”

The single deadliest day for aid workers in 2022 so far occurred in Afghanistan, when eight polio vaccinators were killed while conducting home visits on Feb. 24. Polio vaccinators have frequently been targeted in Afghanistan, one of only two countries where wild poliovirus is endemic – the other country being Pakistan.

“It’s devastating that eight aid workers have died in Afghanistan this year,” says CARE Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Advocacy Advisor, Mélissa Cornet. “They were doing incredibly important work in a country that is in the midst of a complex humanitarian crisis-nearly 19 million people face acute hunger, the economy has all but collapsed, affected communities are still reeling from last month’s deadly earthquake and the price of food and everyday essentials has skyrocketed over the past year. Women and girls are often disproportionately affected in times of crisis and this crisis is no exception. We continue to hear reports of girls being married at a young age just to help the family survive. It’s essential that aid workers -including women humanitarian workers who are so critical to reaching women and girls -are protected, so they can continue carrying out lifesaving work.”

So far in Myanmar in 2022, seven humanitarian workers have died.

“One million people are now displaced in Myanmar and over 13 million people in the country face hunger. It is crucial that aid workers are protected, and humanitarian organizations have unimpeded access to affected communities to carry out vital work,” says Nate Rabe, Country Director for CARE International in Myanmar.

Three aid workers have died in attacks in Ukraine this year-the first aid worker deaths in the country since 2014.

“The security situation for aid workers has deteriorated sharply since the escalation in conflict in February this year. With a third of Ukrainians displaced from their homes and millions still inside the country, it’s more important than ever that the safety of humanitarian workers is preserved so they can carry out critical work,” says Richard Simpson, CARE Country Representative Ukraine.

“While the situation is incredibly difficult and precarious for so many in Ukraine, tragically, we are witnessing several donor governments re-directing overseas development assistance, especially to respond to the crisis in their own countries, which indirectly impacts funding for other humanitarian crises. As a result, humanitarian appeals of countries experiencing the worst hunger and famine-conditions, including Somalia, Mali, Niger, Afghanistan, and South Sudan, are drastically under-funded,” said Delphine Pinault, Humanitarian Policy Advocacy Coordinator & UN Representative for CARE International.

This year’s World Humanitarian Day theme #ItTakesAVillage is inspired by the saying ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Similarly, it takes a village to support a person in a humanitarian crisis-aid agencies, local volunteers and emergency services come together to provide urgent health care, shelter, food, protection, water, livelihoods, and much more.

-30-

CARE has spokespeople available. For media inquiries, please contact:

Media Relations
CARE Canada
media@care.ca

About CARE Canada:

Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization working around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice. CARE puts women and girls at the centre of our work because we know we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities. CARE develops solutions alongside women and girls to lift themselves, their families, and communities out of poverty and out of crisis. CARE works in over 100 countries around the world.

To learn more about CARE Canada, visit www.care.ca.

Story

Access to water means access to so much more: Mable’s story

Read More
News releases and statements

CARE Statement on Recent Violence in Haiti

Read More
News releases and statements

IPC Report: Half of Gaza Experiencing ‘Catastrophic’ Hunger, Famin...

Read More