In 2024, the UN reported an unprecedented number of aid worker fatalities, with 281 lives lost, surpassing the 280 recorded in 2023. Conflict zones such as Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine were particularly lethal for these humanitarian efforts. Aid organizations, including the Red Cross and Red Crescent, experienced severe violence, abductions, injuries, and harassment. Of those killed, 268 were national staff and 13 were international personnel, underscoring the pervasive dangers faced by local workers in these regions.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the intense violence following the Israel-Hamas conflict, resulting in the deaths of 320 humanitarian workers. Other regions, notably Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen, also experienced high levels of violence. Despite these challenges, aid workers reached 116 million people in 2024, demonstrating their resilience and commitment.
The alarming trend of violence is not confined to humanitarian workers; civilian casualties have also surged, with over 33,000 civilians killed in 14 conflicts in 2023, marking a 72% increase from the previous year. The UN and humanitarian agencies have condemned this violence, urging states and conflict parties to ensure protection and accountability in conflict zones. They emphasize the need for adherence to international laws to safeguard those who risk their lives to help others.
