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Post Reply: World Humanitarian Day 2025: Urgent Call to Protect Aid Workers Amid Record Violence

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on August 20, 2025, 7:46 am</div><div id="pl-7614"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-7614-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-7614-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-7614-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
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	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">On August 19, 2025, the global community marked World Humanitarian Day, a somber occasion overshadowed by a distressing milestone: 383 aid workers were killed in 2024, marking the deadliest year on record for humanitarians. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a stark warning, highlighting a 31 percent surge in aid worker deaths compared to 2023, driven largely by escalating conflicts in Gaza and Sudan. This alarming trend shows no signs of abating, with 265 aid workers already killed by August 14, 2025, according to provisional data from the Aid Worker Security Database.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The majority of the 2024 fatalities occurred in Gaza, where 181 aid workers lost their lives, and Sudan, where 60 perished. These regions, embroiled in relentless conflict, have become the most dangerous for humanitarian personnel. In Gaza, over 520 aid workers, predominantly from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), have been killed since October 2023, making it the deadliest location for humanitarians. Sudan’s ongoing civil war, pitting the Sudanese army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has also taken a heavy toll, with aid workers facing targeted attacks and blockades that hinder relief efforts.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Beyond fatalities, the violence against aid workers is multifaceted. In 2024, an additional 308 aid workers were wounded, 125 kidnapped, and 45 detained worldwide. These attacks, often perpetrated by state actors, violate international humanitarian law and disrupt critical lifelines for millions trapped in war and disaster zones. The first eight months of 2025 have already seen 265 aid worker deaths, signaling that this year could surpass the previous year’s grim record.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Olga Cherevko, a veteran UN aid worker based in Gaza, spoke to the resilience of her colleagues amid unimaginable hardship. Approaching two years of war in Gaza, she emphasized the dedication of Palestinian doctors, nurses, and aid workers who continue to serve despite personal losses. “Everyone’s still showing up, day in and day out,” Cherevko said, but stressed that courage alone cannot address the scale of need. Delays in aid missions, dangerous routes, and impassable roads continue to hamper operations, leaving humanitarians powerless to deliver aid at the scale required.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In Sudan, the situation is equally dire. Humanitarian medical facilities, including those operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), have been targeted, with eight facilities attacked in 2024 alone. In Upper Nile state, MSF lost two boats on the River Nile, forcing staff to flee, while a hospital in Old Fangak, serving over 110,000 people, was bombed. These attacks have left entire communities without access to maternal care, vaccinations, or treatment for diseases like tuberculosis and malaria.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, described the surge in violence as “a shameful indictment of international inaction and apathy.” He emphasized that attacks on aid workers are not inevitable and called for those in power to protect civilians, hold perpetrators accountable, and end impunity. The #ActForHumanity campaign, relaunched on World Humanitarian Day, urges global leaders and the public to stand in solidarity with humanitarians and demand protection for aid operations.</p>
<p dir="ltr">UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed this sentiment, noting that humanitarian teams are the last lifeline for over 300 million people affected by conflict or disaster. He warned that funding cuts are exacerbating the crisis, leaving vulnerable populations without essential support. Despite international commitments to protect aid workers, Guterres highlighted a lack of political will and moral courage to enforce these pledges.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The violence against aid workers is part of a larger humanitarian crisis. In Gaza, recent reports indicate ongoing hostilities, with airstrikes and shelling across multiple neighborhoods, further endangering aid operations. Shooting incidents along designated aid convoy routes have resulted in civilian casualties, compounding the challenges of delivering supplies. In Sudan, the rainy season has intensified the crisis, with flooding and cholera outbreaks threatening displaced populations living in makeshift shelters.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Other regions, such as South Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, also rank among the deadliest for aid workers. In South Sudan, conflict and flooding have displaced over 60,000 people, while targeted attacks on medical facilities have crippled healthcare access. In Ethiopia’s Amhara region, the UN is considering suspending relief operations due to the killing of five aid workers and multiple kidnappings in 2024.</p>
<p dir="ltr">World Humanitarian Day, observed annually on August 19, commemorates the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, which killed 22 aid workers, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN Special Representative for Iraq. The day serves as a tribute to the courage of humanitarians and a call to protect those who risk their lives to help others. This year’s theme underscores the need to end attacks on civilians and aid workers, emphasizing accountability under international humanitarian law.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As the world reflects on the sacrifices of aid workers, the UN and humanitarian organizations are urging immediate action. Leaders of multiple agencies, including the World Food Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross, have called for an end to impunity and stronger protections for those on the frontlines. The global community is reminded that protecting aid workers is not just a moral imperative but a legal obligation under international law.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The escalating violence against aid workers demands urgent global attention. The UN Security Council’s resolution 2730, adopted in May 2024, reaffirmed the obligation to protect humanitarian personnel and called for independent investigations into violations. Yet, without concrete action, these commitments risk remaining hollow. Humanitarian organizations are calling for increased funding, safer working conditions, and robust investigations to ensure justice for victims.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As World Humanitarian Day 2025 draws to a close, the message is clear: the world cannot look away while those who dedicate their lives to helping others are targeted with impunity. The courage of aid workers must be met with equal resolve from global leaders to protect them and the millions they serve.</p>
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