The year 2023 marked a tragic milestone for the global humanitarian community, with 280 aid workers killed in 33 countries, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This figure represents a staggering 137% increase compared to 2022, when 118 aid workers lost their lives. As the world commemorates World Humanitarian Day, the grim reality of escalating violence against humanitarian workers has taken centre stage.
RISING DEATH TOLL IN 2024
The alarming trend of violence against aid workers appears to be worsening. As of August 7, 2024, provisional data from the Aid Worker Security Database reports that 172 aid workers have already been killed this year, signalling a potential for an even deadlier outcome than 2023.
KEY CONFLICT ZONES
More than half of the deaths in 2023 occurred in the first three months of hostilities in Gaza, primarily due to airstrikes. Over 280 aid workers, most of them affiliated with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), were killed in Gaza alone since October. The ongoing conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan have also contributed significantly to the rising death toll in both 2023 and 2024.
In these conflict zones, the majority of casualties are among national staff members, who often bear the brunt of the violence due to their frontline roles in humanitarian operations.
VIOLENCE AND IMPUNITY
Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, condemned the growing normalization of violence against aid workers. “The normalization of violence against aid workers and the lack of accountability are unacceptable, unconscionable and enormously harmful for aid operations everywhere,” Msuya stated.
CALL FOR ACTION
On World Humanitarian Day, humanitarian workers and supporters worldwide have organized events to stand in solidarity with those affected by armed conflicts, including humanitarian staff. A joint letter from leaders of humanitarian organizations will be sent to the Member States of the UN General Assembly. The letter calls for an end to attacks on civilians, protection for all aid workers, and accountability for perpetrators of such heinous crimes.
THE BROADER IMPACT
The loss of humanitarian workers has far-reaching consequences, disrupting vital aid operations and leaving vulnerable populations without the support they desperately need. The increasing danger faced by aid workers not only endangers their lives but also hampers the ability of organizations to deliver essential services in conflict zones.
DETENTIONS IN YEMEN
In addition to the fatalities, many humanitarian workers continue to face detentions in Yemen, further complicating the delivery of aid in the region. These detentions highlight the complex and dangerous environment in which aid workers operate.
As the international community reflects on the harrowing statistics of violence against aid workers, there is an urgent need for concerted action to protect those who risk their lives to help others. The calls for accountability and the protection of humanitarian workers are not just about safeguarding the lives of these dedicated individuals but also about ensuring that aid can reach those who need it most in the world’s most dangerous places.
World Humanitarian Day serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by aid workers and the critical need for global solidarity in protecting them. The rising toll of violence against these individuals demands immediate and decisive action from the international community.