A staggering 383 aid workers lost their lives in 2024, marking a grim record for the humanitarian community. According to the United Nations, this figure represents a 31% increase from the previous year, primarily driven by relentless conflicts in Gaza and Sudan. The UN aid chief, Tom Fletcher, condemned the lack of accountability for these killings, describing it as a “shameful indictment” of international apathy.
The UN reported that state actors were the most common perpetrators of the killings in 2024. Most of the aid workers killed were local staff, attacked either in the line of duty or in their homes. In addition to the fatalities, 308 aid workers were wounded, 125 kidnapped, and 45 detained last year. Gaza was the deadliest location, with 181 humanitarian workers killed, followed by Sudan, where 60 lost their lives.
Fletcher emphasized that even one attack against a humanitarian colleague is an attack on all of us and the people we serve. He urged those with power and influence to act for humanity, protect civilians and aid workers, and hold perpetrators accountable. “Violence against aid workers is not inevitable. It must end,” Fletcher stressed. Provisional figures show that 265 aid workers have been killed this year, as of August 14, suggesting that the toll for 2025 may be equally disturbing.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also reported a concerning trend, verifying over 800 attacks on healthcare in 16 territories so far this year. These attacks have resulted in more than 1,110 health workers and patients killed and hundreds injured. The WHO highlighted the devastating impact of these attacks, which deprive communities of life-saving care and weaken already strained health systems.
The UN’s World Humanitarian Day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by humanitarian workers. On August 19, 2003, UN rights chief Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 other humanitarians were killed in the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad. The international community continues to grapple with the challenge of protecting aid workers and ensuring accountability for attacks against them.
