UN Humanitarian Coordinator Timo Pakkala has praised the people of Pakistan for their meritorious services to help rescue their countrymen in the wake of devastating floods last year. The appreciation coincides with the World Humanitarian Day (WHD) which was celebrated across the world yesterday. In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly designated August 19 as the World Humanitarian Day.
The theme for this year’s commemoration was “People Helping People” in order to highlight the role of those working for any organisation or for a reward but just for the sake of helping people who needed help. “The day’s theme this year is most relevant to our situation in Pakistan. In the previous years, people of Pakistan have shown great resilience in facing disasters in the country and their zeal to rebuild and come back to normal life is phenomenal,” Timo Pakkala said.
In order to promote this year’s Day, a video contest has been launched by the United Nations globally. The contest consists of pitching an idea of how to change the world to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The contestants are expected to make a 30-second video of their idea starting with the phrase “Excuse me, Mr Secretary-General…” and upload the video on Youtube. An entry form has to be filed in on www.uncitizenambassadors.org.
The winners of the contest will receive a customized HD Mino Flip Camera courtesy of the UN Foundation, honorary title of “Citizen Ambassador to the UN” for two years, complimentary flight and two-nights’ stay in New York City (date to be announced). The winning videos will be screened at the UN by the end of year 2011. The deadline for entering the contest is September 8, 2011.