UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher expressed outrage that humanitarian workers are dying at an unprecedented rate.
“Instead of their courage and humanity, they are being shot and bombed…this violence is inexcusable and destroys aid missions.”
The number of aid workers killed in the fighting in the Gaza Strip has increased. At least 333 humanitarian workers have been killed since 7 October 2023, mostly from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNRWA).
According to a database on the safety of aid workers, 10 local workers lost their lives in Gaza in November this year alone.
OCHA spokesperson Yannes Lark told reporters in Geneva that these figures are a shock wave for our humanitarian community, especially for frontline workers.
According to him, most of the casualties are part of country teams serving various UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, Red Crescent and Red Cross. In 2024, 268 local employees and 13 international staff members lost their lives.
increased risk
Violent conflicts are increasing around the world and the lives of humanitarian aid workers are at risk.
According to UN office spokesman Jens Lark, “They are acting bravely and selflessly in Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon, Ukraine and other violent conflicts.”
He said that 2024 is not over yet, but the death toll has already surpassed last year’s record (280 deaths).
“The threat to aid workers extends beyond Gaza. “High levels of violence, abductions, injuries, torture and arbitrary detention have occurred in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen, among other countries.”
The defense system is strengthened
Violence against humanitarian aid workers reflects a wider trend in areas affected by violent conflict. More than 33,000 people lost their lives in 14 armed conflicts last year, a 72 percent increase over 2022.
Despite these challenges and threats, humanitarian agencies continue to provide vital services and support to people, assisting 144 million people last year.
Against this backdrop, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2730 (2024), which issued a mandate to prevent attacks on aid workers and strengthen protection measures for them.
These recommendations will be presented in the meeting of the Security Council called on November 26 in this regard.
OCHA chief Tom Fletcher stressed that countries and warring parties must ensure the protection of humanitarian workers, uphold international law, prosecute perpetrators and end the era of impunity.