UN Iraq commemorates 22nd anniversary of attack on its Baghdad headquarters

 Iraq and the United Nations family in the country commemorated the anniversary of the 19 August 2003 terrorist attack on the then-UN headquarters in Baghdad, paying tribute to those who paid the ultimate price for the sake of Iraq’s peace and development. 

H.E. President of the Republic of Iraq, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, joined the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan, survivors, and other UN staff in commemorating the 22nd anniversary at the United Nations Integrated Compound in Baghdad. Twenty-two colleagues, including Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Sergio Vieira de Mello, were killed on that painful day, and more than 150 were injured.

Members of the UN Guard Unit performed the ceremonial memorial service and a choral tribute. A minute of silence was observed in honour of the victims of the horrific bombing. Wreaths were laid at the memorial by the President on the Republic of Iraq, and by the SRSG and a representative of the survivors, a UNAMI staff member. In a separate ceremony later, the Special Representative laid a wreath at the cenotaph at the original site in the Iraqi capital of the Canal Hotel former UN headquarters which now houses a rehabilitation center. Remembrance ceremonies were also held in the UN offices in Erbil and Basra.

“Let us remember today the twenty-two who gave their lives in service and the brave survivors and colleagues who still serve in the world’s most difficult places, and to the Iraqi people who sacrificed dearly for their country,” Dr. Al Hassan said in his remarks at the memorial.

The representative of the survivors stated: “As we mark this anniversary, we renew our promise to continue the mission that Sergio and his colleagues believed in. We are inspired by their courage, and by the survivors who kept working, despite fear and loss.”

The commemoration will be the last for UNAMI as the Mission’s mandate ends on 31 December 2025, and its residual activities transition to more than 20 specialized UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes.

“Let our work be worthy of their sacrifice until the last day of our mandate,” the SRSG said. “The United Nations will continue working alongside the people, leadership and Government of Iraq, always guided by the principles of the UN Charter. We do so with deep respect for the resilience of the Iraqi people and express gratitude for the trust they placed in us, even in the most difficult days after 2003. Whatever we achieved, we achieved together as partners. The progress belongs first to Iraq and the people of Iraq.”

The tragic event of 19 August 2003 profoundly changed the way in which humanitarians operate – from being respected, to being targeted – and led to the creation of World Humanitarian Day.

Dr. Al Hassan remarked: “Last year alone, 390 humanitarian workers were killed, a 31 per cent increase from 2023, most of them national colleagues. The highest numbers of fatalities were in Gaza and Sudan. We recognize their courage and renew our commitment to deliver relief and hope to those most in need.”

The SRSG’s full statement is available at the following links on the UNIraq website:

Arabic 

English

Kurdish