The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that 2024 is on track to be the deadliest year for humanitarian workers, with 281 deaths recorded globally.
Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, stated on November 22 that the unprecedented rise in fatalities reflects the extreme dangers faced by aid workers, who are often met with violence while performing their duties.
OCHA noted that 2023 also saw a high number of casualties, with 280 humanitarian workers killed across 33 countries. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has significantly contributed to this toll, with over 320 humanitarian personnel reported dead since October 7, 2023, many of whom were affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The agency highlighted the increasing violence, kidnappings, and arbitrary detentions faced by aid workers in conflict zones, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen.
This trend is part of a broader escalation in civilian casualties in conflict areas, with over 33,000 civilian deaths reported in 14 war zones last year, a 72% increase from 2022.
Despite these dangers, OCHA affirmed that humanitarian organizations continue to provide essential assistance, reaching nearly 144 million people in need last year, with more than 116 million receiving help worldwide.
In response to the rising violence against aid workers, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2730 in May, mandating the Secretary-General to recommend measures to prevent such incidents, enhance accountability, and strengthen protections for humanitarian personnel and resources.