Today, the humanitarian community marks World Humanitarian Day, a time to recognize the vital role of aid workers and pay tribute to those who have lost or risked their lives in the course of duty. It is also an occasion to reflect on the plight of the millions of people around the world—including in Yemen—who are caught up in crises, and to reaffirm our shared responsibility to protect the humanitarian lifelines they depend on.

Targeting humanitarian workers is not only a violation of International Humanitarian Law, but also an indirect attack on the millions of vulnerable people they serve. Humanitarian workers must be protected at all times and must be able to carry out their life-saving work safely and without interference or undue restrictions.

So far this year, 17 incidents of violence against humanitarian personnel and assets have been recorded across Yemen. Dozens of personnel from UN, non-governmental and civil society organizations continue to be arbitrarily detained by the de facto authorities, most of them for over a year or more. The humanitarian community continues to call for the protection of all aid workers and the unconditional and immediate release of detained colleagues.

This World Humanitarian Day comes at a time when humanitarian needs are surging. Yemen is now the world’s third largest hunger crisis, with more than 18 million people projected to be acutely food insecure by September. Malnutrition rates and disease outbreaks are escalating, with particularly dire impacts for Yemen’s children. Protection risks are multiplying, especially for women and girls, internally displaced persons, refugees, migrants, people with disabilities and other at-risk groups. While the humanitarian community is prioritizing its response to reach the most vulnerable, the very essential services that women, girls, boys and men rely on to survive are being reduced due to funding cuts and operational constraints. This is creating a collision course—where needs are soaring just as support is slipping away.

Despite tremendous challenges, humanitarians in Yemen have not stopped and will not give up in their efforts to save lives and alleviate suffering across the country, working hand-in-hand with the communities they serve. This year, 155 aid organizations have reached more than 3.2 million people every month with vital aid such as clean water, food, health care, protection assistance, shelter, non-food items and cash. “It’s not just a profession; it is much more and beyond. It’s a calling to step into places and reach people that often feel forgotten, and to offer hope, relief and dignity when it’s needed most”, says Bushra, a Yemeni aid worker.

Today, we stand together with all humanitarians in Yemen and around the world who are pushing against the odds and putting their lives on the line to serve those most in need. Now more than ever, the international community must #ActForHumanity to protect and enable their vital work.