LAST year when the data on killings of humanitarian aid workers for the year 2023 was released, there was a widespread feeling of shock as the incidents had risen very steeply to an all-time high. However, recently when the data for 2024 was released by the United Nations, a further big increase in these killings has been noticed. What is no less distressing, if the trends for this year (2025) are an indication, next year may record a further increase in this highly unfortunate statistic.
What is more, this is a reflection of the wider and highly worrying reality that the overall humanitarian crisis is increasing, it is being increasingly caused by war and conflict and these strifes, in turn, are becoming more and more cruel. It is this tragic reality and cruelty which is resulting in so many aid workers being killed, injured and kidnapped.
According to the recent data released by the United Nations for the year 2024, 383 humanitarian aid workers were killed, while 308 were wounded and 125 were kidnapped.
Thus, there was a big, about 31 per cent increase in killings in 2024, compared to the 293 aid workers killed in 2023.
The statistics available for this year (2025) up to August indicate that, unless effective remedial actions are taken, this year the number of aid workers killed may turn out to be even higher. Already about 265 aid workers have been killed this year, and the most violent conflicts like those of Gaza and Sudan are becoming even more worrying.
The data for 2024 makes it clear that Gaza and Sudan have become the most dangerous places for aid workers. In 2024, 181 out of the total number of 383 aid workers killed were in Gaza, while 60 were killed in Sudan. 20 were killed In Lebanon. Fourteen each were killed in Syria and Ethiopia. Thus, it is clear that West Asia and North Africa account for most of the deaths of aid workers. In particular the shockingly high number of killings being concentrated in the tiny territory of Gaza is another shocking reminder of the extent to which humanitarian norms have been violated by the Israeli army.
At a time when humanitarian crisis is worsening in the world to levels seldom, if ever, seen in this century, it is deeply worrying that the life of humanitarian aid workers is getting increasingly endangered. If those who are supposed to provide life-saving help are themselves endangered, who’ll provide this help? In a situation of increasing attacks on aid-workers, the availability of humanitarian aid providers in some seriously affected crisis zones may decline, seriously and adversely affecting the ability of the humanitarian effort to reach out to those who need this help desperately.
While the statistics generally capture those aid providers who are employed or registered with various formal organisations, there are also several persons, including women, in communities who are more active in helping community members to access humanitarian help. They may be regarded as informal humanitarian aid workers and volunteers. Several of them being more active community members also face threats of various kinds. We do not even know how many of them are getting killed or wounded in increasingly more dangerous situations. Hence while the available statistics convey a very worrying and even frightening situation, the reality may be even worse.
There is a very strong need for more effective security for humanitarian aid workers in the formal as well as the informal sector. There should be strong action against anyone harming aid workers so that the possibilities of restraint being exercised can increase. There should be adequate compensation for those aid workers (or their families) who have been killed, injured, kidnapped, detained, arrested, or are missing.
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Bharat Dogra writes extensively on environment, development and welfare issues. The views expressed here are the writer’s own, and Clarion India does not necessarily subscribe to them. He can be reached at: bharatdogra1956@gmail.com
