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Number of aid workers killed in action at record high, UN urges governments to act

Geneva/New York, August 19 – The UN and humanitarian organizations said 280 aid workers were killed in 33 countries in 2023 and such deadly casualties may be higher this year as 172 have died in the world’s conflicts as of August 17, the UN said as it celebrated the World Humanitarian Day 2024.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said a letter signed by aid organizations was sent to the 193 UN member states to #ActforHumanity by taking action to end attacks on civilians, protect all aid workers and hold perpetrators to account.

It said aid workers at frontlines of conflicts died in unprecedented number in 2023, a 137-percent increase over 2022 which recorded 118 deaths. It said more than half of the 280 deaths in 2023 were recorded in the first three months after the Gaza war exploded on October 7, and they included staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Other aid workers died in conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan.

“This World Humanitarian Day, our staff and volunteers around the world will stand in solidarity to spotlight the horrifying toll of armed conflicts on their colleagues and on all civilians, particularly children,” the letter said.

“The brutal hostilities we are seeing in multiple conflicts around the world have exposed a terrible truth: We are living in an era of impunity. Attacks that kill or injure civilians, including humanitarian and health-care personnel, are devastatingly common. Yet despite widespread condemnation, serious violations of the rules of war too often go unpunished. This status quo is shameful and cannot continue.”

“In 2023, tens of thousands of civilians were killed or injured in armed conflict, with fatalities among humanitarian workers doubling compared to the previous year.

The toll in 2024 – the number of deaths, injuries, detentions and kidnappings – is already staggering. The overwhelming majority of recorded attacks on aid workers are inflicted on national staff. Women-led organizations and female humanitarian staff face unique and often increased risks, just because they are women. The impact on the mental health of civilians and humanitarian workers has reached unprecedented levels.”

“And yet parties to conflict continue to flout laws meant to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, and civilian objects.”

Joyce Msuya, UN Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, called for action.

“The normalization of violence against aid workers and the lack of accountability are unacceptable, unconscionable and enormously harmful for aid operations everywhere,” she said. “Today, we reiterate our demand that people in power act to end violations against civilians and the impunity with which these heinous attacks are committed.”

The UN said World Humanitarian Day is observed annually on 19 August – the date in 2003 when a bomb attack at the UN’s headquarters in Baghdad killed 22 humanitarian workers, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq.

Each year, the commemoration focuses on a theme in efforts to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people caught in crises, and the safety and security of aid workers.

The 2024 campaign, #ActForHumanity, aims to build public support to help pressure warring parties and world leaders to better ensure the protection of civilians, including humanitarians, caught in conflict zones

Additional resources:

https://www.aidworkersecurity.org
https://www.worldhumanitarianday.org

United Nations journalists – United Nations journalists – United Nations journalists

United Nations News – United Nations News – UN Correspondents Association – UNCA Awards Number of aid workers killed in action at record high, humanitarians urge governments to act

Additional resources:

https://www.aidworkersecurity.org
https://www.worldhumanitarianday.org

United Nations journalists – United Nations journalists – United Nations journalists

United Nations News – United Nations News – UN Correspondents Association – UNCA Awards 

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