At least 350 humanitarian workers lost their lives globally last year, marking another tragic year of violence against aid workers, as reported by the United Nations. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) disclosed that the death toll in 2025 saw a slight decrease from the previous year, which recorded the highest number of fatalities with 387 aid workers killed worldwide. Alongside the fatalities, 322 aid workers sustained injuries in attacks, and 235 were abducted, according to the Aid Worker Security Database.
UN Secretary General António Guterres highlighted the escalating dangers faced by those serving others, emphasizing the heightened risks in a video message delivered on World Humanitarian Day. The Gaza Strip maintained its status as the most perilous area for aid workers for the third consecutive year, with 186 casualties reported last year amid the conflict in the region. Additionally, Sudan witnessed 71 aid worker fatalities in 2025 due to the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since 2023.
Expressing deep concern, the UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, condemned the staggering toll of over 1,000 aid worker deaths in the past three years, emphasizing the imperative for states to uphold international humanitarian laws and take proactive measures to protect civilians and humanitarian workers. As of the current year, OCHA reported that 82 aid workers have been killed, 97 injured, and 39 kidnapped.
Furthermore, the UN raised alarms regarding the use of armed drones in conflict zones, citing their deployment in attacks on civilian areas such as markets and health facilities in Sudan, resulting in a significant number of civilian casualties. The weaponization of drones has posed a new threat to civilian lives, with Fletcher underscoring the urgent need to address the deliberate targeting of civilians in armed conflicts.
Overall, the escalating violence against aid workers underscores the critical need for enhanced protection measures and accountability for perpetrators of such attacks.