Small things you can do to help humanitarian causes

Every year August 19 marks World Humanitarian Day. This day, relegated by the United Nations, aims to recognise the aid workers who risk their lives for humanitarian causes.

According to UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, 65 million people across the world are currently displaced, having been forced out of their homes due to war, violence and conflict.

Children are being recruited and used to fight and women are being disregarded and tortured. Aid workers are providing resources for those in need, but this can often mean they end up as a target. Unfortunately, we live in a world where this dangerous work is necessary to help the innocent survive.

While the UK may seem a million worlds away from a humanitarian crisis, every little bit you can do helps.

Join the World Humanitarian Day movement

This year the UN's WHD movement is #NotATarget. Humanitarian workers are often targeted which is why the UN are urging people to join #NotATarget to demand world leaders do everything they can help to protect those in conflict. All you need to do is sign with a selfie.

Find out more here worldhumanitarianday.org/

Donate

While donating money isn’t possible for everyone, donating even a small amount can make a world of difference.

The Red Cross, Unicef, Save the Children and Oxfam are just some of the charities working tirelessly to help in war-torn countries and they are always in need of donations.

Take your clothes to a local charity shop

If donating money isn’t an option, clean out your closet and donate all the items you haven’t worn in years to a local charity shop to help support their causes that way.

Volunteer at home

Get involved in your local humanitarian charity, whether this be dedicating a few hours of your Sunday to helping out in the charity shop, organising a bake sale or signing up for charity runs - a little bit of your time can make a huge difference in your community.

Alternatively, you can help through a programme like the Red Cross’ Missing Maps Project - where you can help to map areas that aren’t well recorded, helping people who may be in need in those areas.

To find out more, visit missingmaps.org/

Volunteer abroad

The UN has around 7,000 workers in the field and you can sign up to be one too, that is if you have a university degree and two years relevant experience. If you are keen to get into this line of work, there are a number of programs you can take to increase your skill set and increase your chances of being selected as an overseas volunteer.

Be aware

One of the most important things you can do is be aware. Watch the news, see what’s happening in the world; what wars are going on? How many people are being displaced? Have there been any major natural disasters? The more aware you are of what is happening, the more likely you are to help and to talk to your friends about it and spread the word.

We can become very consumed with what’s happening in our own bubbles, but there’s a whole world out there that could use our help.