Humanitarian Medal | |
---|---|
Type | Service medal |
Awarded for | Humanitarian service |
Description | Nickel-silver, 36mm diameter |
Presented by | United Kingdom |
Eligibility | British forces and civilian personnel |
Post-nominals | None |
Campaign(s) | Humanitarian efforts in the UK and overseas |
Clasps | |
Status | Currently awarded |
Established | July 2023 |
First award | 18th February 2025 |
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The Humanitarian Medal is a British award intended to recognise the efforts of those involved in providing aid and support to human welfare during or in the aftermath of a humanitarian crisis. The medal is awarded to people that have responded to emergencies both in the United Kingdom or overseas. The first medal was awarded to UK-MED staff member Anna Daniell by His Majesty King Charles III on 18th January 2025 in recognition of her services in Lebanon with the UK Emergency Medical Team.[ citation needed ]
In July 2023, a new award was instituted that would recognise the efforts of workers in various types of humanitarian crisis. This award was to be awarded to people employed by various organisations, including but not limited to the armed forces, civilian services, civilian health care organisations and charities. [1]
The obverse of the medal features the effigy of the sovereign, while the reverse consists of a laurel wreath interwoven with a banner containing the words "For Humanitarian Service". [2] [3]
The medal ribbon, 1+1⁄4 inches (32 mm) wide, consists of a central white stripe, representing civilians and peace, with narrow stripes of red, light blue, dark blue and purple either side. The red stripe is intended to represent humanitarian organisations, light blue to represent the NHS, with the other two colours representing other services. [2]
Similar to military awards such as the General Service Medal, the Humanitarian Medal will be awarded just once, with service undertaken for different situations recognised through the award of a clasp to the medal itself. [2]
Qualification for award of the Humanitarian Medal comes under a range of different criteria:
In January 2025, the first humanitarian responses for which receipt of the medal was permitted were announced: [4]