AMMAN - The UN in Jordan marked World Humanitarian Day on Thursday by screening a documentary film about a man who sacrificed his life in helping the most disadvantaged people across the world.
The Royal Film Commission (RFC) screened "Sergio", a documentary on UN Special Representative in Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello who spent a lifetime in war zones and refugee camps working towards a better tomorrow. On August 19, 2003 de Mello was killed in the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
Based on the biography "Chasing the Flame" by Samantha Power, "Sergio" follows the story of de Mello from the moment he took up his post as UN envoy to Iraq in 2003 up to the rescue attempts to save him from the rubble of the Canal Hotel, which then served as the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
Directed by Greg Barker, the film recreates the events on the day of the bombing, interspersed with testimonies from Sergio's colleagues, fiance and the paramedics who tried to save him.
World Humanitarian Day is observed on August 19 to commemorate humanitarian workers, who are increasingly being targeted, ultimately hurting the world's poorest and most vulnerable, the UN said.
The day also commemorates the 2003 Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad, which claimed the lives of 22 UN staff members, including de Mello.
So far in 2010, at least 30 humanitarian workers have been killed while carrying out their work, UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said in a statement released yesterday.
Last year, 102 humanitarian workers lost their lives, the deadliest year ever for humanitarian workers, according to the UN. In comparison, there were 30 deaths among aid workers in 1999. In addition, nearly 280 aid workers were victims of security incidents, more than quadruple the number 10 years ago.
In light of the 2003 Baghdad attack, in 2005 the UN adopted the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of UN and Associated Personnel, providing legal protection to staff delivering emergency humanitarian assistance and to those providing political and development assistance in peace-building situations, protection previously only afforded to peacekeepers.
© Jordan Times 2010
