Statement by the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano on World Humanitarian Day

This year, the theme of World Humanitarian Day is #TheHumanRace, drawing attention to the climate emergency, which is causing global damage on an unforeseen scale. We see firsthand in Iraq that extreme temperatures and water scarcity are impacting people's health and livelihoods, and we know that climate change is one of the largest risk factors for future humanitarian crises.  

I look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government over the coming year to assess how we can collectively mitigate the impact of the climate emergency on vulnerable Iraqis, while we continue our ongoing work serving Iraqis in need of humanitarian assistance.  

I also take the opportunity to memorialize today those United Nations staff who lost their lives during the attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad on 19 August 2003.