New York, NY – As the world marks World Humanitarian Day on August 19th, the United Nations is sounding the alarm over the alarming rise in attacks against humanitarian workers.
2023 witnessed a record number of fatalities, more than doubling the annual average, highlighting a disturbing trend that threatens the very foundation of global aid efforts.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has declared 2023 the deadliest year for aid workers on record, with 261 fatalities. The trend continues into 2024, with the first six months of the year already seeing an unprecedented number of aid worker deaths in the context of the Gaza conflict. The situation underscores a critical failure in the global commitment to protect those who dedicate their lives to helping others in need.
“The normalization of violence against aid workers and the lack of accountability are unacceptable, unconscionable, and enormously harmful for aid operations everywhere,” stated Joyce Msuya, acting head of OCHA. “Attacks on humanitarian workers and humanitarian assets must stop. Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop.”
The UN’s data paints a grim picture:
In 2023, 78 aid workers were kidnapped and 196 wounded worldwide.
The vast majority of those killed or injured are national humanitarian workers.
South Sudan has been the most dangerous place for aid workers for several consecutive years, with Sudan a close second.
The UN’s 2024 Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) highlights the urgent need for increased funding for humanitarian aid. Despite a required $48.65 billion to assist 186.5 million people in need, funding levels are significantly lower than in previous years.
This World Humanitarian Day, the UN is calling for decisive action to end the impunity surrounding attacks on aid workers and civilians. The #ActForHumanity campaign aims to build public support and pressure world leaders to take concrete steps to ensure the safety and security of those who provide vital aid in conflict zones.
The day commemorates the tragic bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad in 2003, which killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including UN Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello. It serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by those who work tirelessly to alleviate suffering and promote human dignity around the world.
