On the afternoon of 19 August 2003, the United Nations headquarters in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad was badly damaged by a devastating truck bomb attack.
The blast resulted in the death of 22 people, including the then High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello. The bomb was targeting the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).
Among the survivors was Francis Mead, who was working for UNICEF at the time. In this video, Mr. Mead watches footage of the bombing and shares his memories of the attack. He talks about the chaos and confusion of the moment, the fear and pain he felt, but also how he still believes in humanitarian work and why it is valuable.
This video is a powerful and moving account of one man's experience of terrorism. It is a reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of never forgetting the victims. #worldhumanitarianday #nomatterwhat
