In war zones, where fear and destruction dominate, humanitarians and volunteers bring something powerful: courage. Often among the first to reach those in need, volunteers—including UN Volunteers—step into danger not for glory, but to save lives and ease suffering. Their work is urgent and essential. They deliver food under fire, set up shelters in rubble, and offer hope where there’s none. Through volunteering, they embody solidarity and compassion. Humanitarians are not a target, but often they are. On World Humanitarian Day, we pay homage to the fallen heroes, and salute the rising wave of humanitarians—under the theme Act for Humanity, recognizing those who step forward when it matters most.
Humanity in action
When war broke out in Ukraine in February 2022, many people did not anticipate it would continue into 2025. UN Volunteers were among the humanitarians actively serving from Moldova to Poland, Romania to Slovakia, Czechia to Bulgaria—in some 12 countries. Anton Shevchenko was one of the UN Volunteers serving in Ukraine. As a Gender Advocate with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Kyiv, he traveled to Mykolaiv and Chernivtsi to oversee emergency efforts on the ground. He trained local authorities and NGOs on preventing gender-based violence.
“In Mykolaiv, we met displaced women with no safe shelter. We used that data to push for change.” shared Anton. The work was emotionally intense. Listening to stories of loss and survival wasn’t easy, he added.
This action is part of the UN's humanitarian efforts for more than 12.7 million people inside Ukraine who require aid, and the more than 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees worldwide.
Not in Gaza, but with Gaza
When we speak of humanitarians, how can we not speak of volunteers responding to Gaza in what the UN reports call characteristics consistent with genocide. UN Volunteers may not be inside Gaza—but their courage crosses borders. From Egypt to Jordan to Lebanon, their service with UN initiatives is what’s keeping this humanitarian lifeline alive. From Reema Alshurafa managing medical supplies in blackout conditions to Nour Shehadeh and Wafa Aldeek coordinating life-saving donations, to Elias AlMarouchi and Malak Kanj reporting on the crisis, these volunteers are the backbone of a response that refuses to give up. They’ve worked through loss of teammates—and still showed up.
Every dataset we process, map we design, product we publish, and tool we create is a vital part of the humanitarian response, crafted to strengthen the coordination of life-saving aid." shares Malak Kanj, an Associate Information Management Officer with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
OCHA's humanitarian situation updates indicate that between October 2023 and June 2025, over 55,000 Palestinians, including some 17,000 children, were killed. Over 127,300 Palestinians were injured. Conditions continue to worsen. There is a severe risk of famine, with children dying of hunger and humanitarian access blocked.
Vaccines and hope
As violence in Darfur enters its second year, eastern Chad is at a breaking point. Since April 2023, over 844,000 people have fled Sudan into Chad—68,500 in just the past few weeks. Urgent needs include shelter, food, water, medical care, and protection. Humanitarians are on the ground, including UN Volunteers. With them, Dr. Marie Camille Lembembe, an Associate Public Health Officer with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), provides humanitarian services, including vaccinations for children and treatment for urgent health cases. She is based several hundred kilometers from the border city of Tine in Goz Beida.
For Dr. Marie Camille Lembembe, being a UN Volunteer is not about being a hero. "It’s about standing with people who’ve lost everything, listening to them, and doing your part with respect and humility,” she shares.
World Humanitarian Day shines a spotlight on people risking everything to survive—and those risking everything to help. It’s a reminder that compassion isn’t optional. It’s action. And it must never go quiet.
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Online Volunteer, Danielle Radin, contributed to the segment on Ukraine.