Last year, the United Nations reported that at least 350 humanitarian workers lost their lives globally, marking another tragic year for violence against aid workers. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed a slight decrease from the previous year’s record of 387 aid worker fatalities in 2024.
In 2025, in addition to the fatalities, 322 aid workers were injured in attacks, and 235 were kidnapped, according to the Aid Worker Security Database. UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasized the increasing dangers faced by those serving others in a video message on World Humanitarian Day.
The Gaza Strip retained its status as the most dangerous area for aid workers for the third consecutive year, with 186 deaths reported last year during Israel’s conflict in the region. Sudan also witnessed significant violence towards aid workers, with 71 casualties amid an ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, expressed deep concern over the unacceptable trend of over 1,000 aid worker fatalities in three years. He stressed the importance of upholding international humanitarian law and ensuring consequences for those violating it to protect civilians and aid workers.
OCHA reported that 82 aid workers have already lost their lives this year, with 97 injured and 39 kidnapped. The UN raised concerns about the increasing use of armed drones in conflict zones, highlighting their role in civilian casualties in Sudan and Ukraine. Fletcher warned about the threat posed by weaponized drones to civilian lives in conflict zones.
