19 August 2017•Update: 20 August 2017
By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
ANKARA
Turkey's Foreign Ministry issued a World Humanitarian Day message on Saturday, praising aid workers' efforts around the world.
"On the occasion of the World Humanitarian Day, we extend our gratitude and appreciation to the aid workers, who diligently maintain humanitarian aid efforts throughout the world under the most compelling conditions, and we commemorate with respect and gratitude those who have lost their lives in the course of these efforts," a press release said.
The ministry stressed that despite the international community's efforts, the number of people in need, which is around 140 million, "increases every passing day" and "attacks against humanitarian aid workers never cease, humanitarian law violations become widespread and continue to remain unpunished".
"It is a matter of urgent necessity that the commitments made at various platforms, including the World Humanitarian Summit hosted by Turkey, be met for improving this scene which is incompatible with modern world and also for grounding the efforts of humanitarian aid workers on a solid global system," it added.
The ministry called for "global solidarity and determination" in order to provide a future where everyone could live "in peace and hope".
World Humanitarian Day is held every year on Aug. 19 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, according to the UN.
Turkey, despite the fact it is not the richest country in the world, has contributed billions of dollars in humanitarian aid.
According to the Development Initiative's (DI) Global Humanitarian Assistance Report released in June, Turkey came in second after the U.S. among countries that contributed the most humanitarian aid in 2016, with $6 billion.
DI is an independent international development organization that focuses on the role of data in driving poverty eradication and sustainable development.
