New to Canada

In 2008, the UN General Assembly designated August 19th as World Humanitarian Day.  This day recognizes humanitarian workers who have risked and lost their lives in humanitarian service. Every year, World Humanitarian Day focuses on bringing together people from across the world to advocate for the survival, well-being, and dignity of people affected by crises.

World Humanitarian Day 2019 celebrates Women Humanitarians and their contribution in making the world a better place. The goal of World Humanitarian Day this year is to recognize the strength, power and perseverance of women in humanitarian efforts.  The UN would like to recognize women who have acted as first responders in times of crisis.

Here are our picks for books we hope can give you a little insight into the humanitarian efforts of women in the field.

Chasing Chaos: My Decade in and out of Humanitarian Aid by Jessica Alexander

A Rebel in Gaza: Behind the Lines of the Arab Spring: One Woman's Story by Asmaa al-Ghoul

Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies and Aid by Samantha Nutt

The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and my fight against the Islamic State by Nadia Murad

Why not read one of these books and make it count towards the 2019 Toronto Public Library Reading Challenge?  Let us know if you have read any of these in the comments below.