19.08.2026 10:51
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) announced that violence against humanitarian workers has reached a record level, stating that 907 humanitarian aid workers were killed, injured, or abducted in 2025.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) announced that violence against humanitarian workers has reached a record level, stating that 907 humanitarian aid workers were killed, wounded, or kidnapped in 2025. Gaza remained the deadliest region for the third consecutive year.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) published a report on the occasion of August 19, World Humanitarian Day. The report stated that violence against aid workers reached a record level in 2025, using the phrase, "907 of our colleagues were killed, wounded, or kidnapped." It was conveyed that although there was a decrease compared to the previous year, with 350 fatalities last year, the overall level of violence did not decline. It was also noted that 322 aid workers survived attacks with injuries, and 235 were kidnapped. The report said, "Gaza, where 186 humanitarian workers lost their lives, remained the deadliest place for the third consecutive year, followed by Sudan with 71 deaths."
82 AID WORKERS KILLED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
The report also recorded that since the beginning of 2026, 82 aid workers have been killed, 97 have been injured, and 39 have been kidnapped worldwide. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, stated, "More than a thousand aid workers have been killed in just 3 years, and this is absolutely unacceptable. However, speaking out about this will not protect the next aid worker. States must comply with international humanitarian law and use every means to protect civilians and our colleagues. There must be real consequences for those who break the rules."
CONCERN OVER THE INCREASING USE OF DRONES
The report noted growing concern over the proliferation of armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), stating, "These tools are putting lethal power into the hands of an increasing number of people. Humanitarian workers are increasingly being targeted by armed drones. In March of this year, a drone strike on a residence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo killed 1 aid worker. In May, within just one week, 4 humanitarian convoys were attacked in Ukraine."
The report used the phrase, "In Sudan, UAVs caused 80 percent of civilian deaths in the first 4 months of 2026. These vehicles struck marketplaces and health facilities. In Ukraine, 80 civilians were killed by drones in April of this year, while civilians were killed and civilian infrastructure was damaged due to drone attacks in Russia. In Colombia, attacks carried out with armed UAVs quadrupled between 2024 and 2025."