On August 19, 2003, a brutal suicide truck bomb ripped through the UN's Canal Hotel in Baghdad. Inside, diplomats and aid workers, including the respected Sérgio Vieira de Mello, were working tirelessly for peace. The unthinkable blast claimed 22 lives, shattering the notion of a safe humanitarian frontline and forcing aid workers to accept an invisible peril. This catastrophic event is why August 19 is now commemorated as World Humanitarian Day. World Humanitarian Day honours the dedication of aid workers who risk their lives to help others. It raises global awareness about the plight of people affected by crises and advocates for the safety and security of all humanitarians, ensuring they can continue their vital work without fear.

Twenty years on, however, this tragic event is a stark reminder that the humanitarian frontline has shifted from a geopolitical theatre to a planetary one, and our response must change with it. It's now defined by systemic climate crises, not just a localised catastrophes: local is now truly........

© The Express Tribune