On August 19, 2003, Sérgio Vieira de Mello, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, and 21 of his colleagues lost their lives in a terrorist attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. In recognition of this tragic event, the United Nations General Assembly, through a resolution adopted on December 11, 2008, designated August 19 as “World Humanitarian Day.” Every year on this meaningful day, humanitarian workers who dedicate themselves to saving lives under the most challenging circumstances, as well as those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, are respectfully remembered.
In line with the humanitarian legacy of our late founder, Salih Tatlıcı, the Salih Tatlıcı Foundation has taken a meaningful step internationally on the occasion of this special day. Since its establishment in 1992, our Foundation has been guided by the belief that every human being has the right to protection, care, and life. In accordance with this principle, our Foundation has made a donation to INTERSOS, one of Italy’s largest independent humanitarian organizations.
“We Must Take Action for Humanity”
Regarding the donation, Uğur Tatlıcı, Executive Board Member of our Foundation, stated:
“On World Humanitarian Day, we gratefully recognize the dedicated humanitarian workers who deliver life-saving assistance to millions of people in need around the world. Unfortunately, serving others and defending the right to life has become more dangerous than ever before. We are going through a difficult period in which humanitarian funding is being cut, access to aid is being restricted, convoys are being stopped, and people in desperate need are being left without support.
Families struggling with hunger, children waiting hopefully for food, and patients in urgent need of medical care require the world to take action without delay. Humanity must respect the rules of war, ensure safe humanitarian corridors, hold those responsible for violations accountable, and provide the resources that are urgently needed.
As the Salih Tatlıcı Foundation, we are honored to support INTERSOS, an organization that works impartially on behalf of humanity on a global scale, with a strong sense of responsibility toward these humanitarian challenges.”
About INTERSOS
INTERSOS is an independent international humanitarian organization based in Italy that operates on the front lines in areas affected by war, conflict, violence, extreme poverty, and natural or human-made disasters. Since its establishment in 1992, the organization has been reaching the most vulnerable communities in crisis-affected regions, focusing on vital areas such as emergency shelter, medical care, and the distribution of essential supplies.
A member of ICVA, VOICE, and LINK 2007, INTERSOS also holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and observer status within the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Working in strong partnership with local associations and international institutions, the organization strives to help ensure access to basic necessities and fundamental human rights, including food, water, and healthcare.
In addition to providing emergency humanitarian assistance, INTERSOS seeks to lay the foundations for sustainable development and continues to raise awareness of humanitarian values, fundamental rights, and human dignity within communities. The organization conducts its activities through its headquarters in Rome and regional offices in Amman and Nairobi, adhering to the principles of transparency and efficiency throughout its operations.
Salih Tatlıcı Foundation
