The United Nations System in Eritrea in partnership with Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare of the State of Eritrea commemorated the World Humanitarian Day at Asmara (Children's' Home) orphanagecentre on August 21, 2009.

The UNRC, Government Representatives and UN Heads of Agencies touring the orphanage centre

Representing the Minister of Labour and Human Welfare, Ato Mihretab Fissehaye, Director General for Social Welfare Department, welcomed the gathering and extended his gratitude for UN family in Eritrea for organizing the event and contributing donations for the needy children. He further more stressed that to avoid humanitarian crises the root causes must be addressed.

After thanking the Government for hosting the event, the UN Resident/ Humanitarian Coordinator Dr. Mamadou P. Diallo said in his remarks that “Even though this year's World Humanitarian Day is being commemorated in Eritrea with a very modest activity, it is an important event at a very important venue, observed the event with the needy children at the right place, orphanage centre”.

He further stressed that the memory of those humanitarians who have sacrificed their lives and fallen while helping victims of humanitarian crises should inspire us to push forward the humanitarian work.

UNOCHA head of office in Eritrea , Stephen Lukudu, briefed the participants the background information of the event. In his remarks he said that the inaugural of World Humanitarian Day is in part dedicated to the memory of all those aid workers who have lost their lives while bringing assistance to others.

The head of OCHA further expressed that a mong those dedicated who fallen is one of the great humanitarians, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who died on 19 th of August 2003 alongside with 21 other UN colleagues in the bombing in Baghdad .

After the speeches, the Resident Coordinator presented gifts (cloths, school bags and shoe) contributed from UN family to the orphanage centre. The donation was received by the Director General for social welfare department at the Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare, Mr. Mihretab Fissehaye.