It has been 19 years since the terrorist attack on the UN compound at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad: “the darkest day in our lives at the United Nations”, in the words of the Secretary-General at the time, Kofi Annan.

The truck bomb killed 22 international and local staff, including the including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. On 11 December 2008, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Resolution A/63/139 on the Strengthening of the Coordination of Emergency Assistance of the United Nations which, among other important humanitarian decisions, designated 19 August as World Humanitarian Day (WHD). The Resolution gives, for the first time, a special recognition to all humanitarian and United Nations and associated personnel who have worked in the promotion of the humanitarian cause across the globe.

The memory of the horrors of that day only strengthens the resolve of the entire UN system to redouble its efforts to achieve peace, security and development while honouring the lives of those who perished and the thousands of other UN staff members who have given their lives while serving in the cause of peace.