World Humanitarian Day Recognized Friday

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Friday was World Humanitarian Day, an observance set by the United Nations to recognize aid workers around the world, including those in Michigan, who give their time to humanitarian service. This year there’s a call for global solidarity for those who need assistance to survive, including refugees resettling in the United States. Ken Grunow, the Michigan coordinator for Amnesty International, says humanitarian workers not only respond to crisis, they also strengthen communities, build peace and advocate for those without a voice. This year’s World Humanitarian Day theme is “One Humanity.”

“Their performance once they are settled is really quite amazing,” Grunow said. “They tend to be people who are very ambitious in terms of making themselves capable of looking after themselves. They tend to be people who contribute a great deal to the economy and so forth.”

Along with Amnesty International, Grunow says many humanitarian organizations are working around the globe including Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children.