Last year, a total of 350 humanitarian workers lost their lives worldwide, marking another tragic year for violence against aid workers, according to the United Nations. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported a slight decrease in the death toll compared to 2024, which saw a record high of 387 aid workers killed globally.
Alongside the fatalities, 322 aid workers sustained injuries in attacks in 2025, with an additional 235 individuals being kidnapped, as per the Aid Worker Security Database. UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the increasing risks faced by those in humanitarian service, emphasizing the growing dangers in a video message on World Humanitarian Day.
The Gaza Strip maintained its status as the most perilous environment for aid workers for the third consecutive year, with 186 deaths in 2025 amid Israel’s conflict in the region. Sudan also witnessed significant violence, with 71 aid workers losing their lives due to the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since 2023.
Expressing deep concern, the UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, condemned the unacceptable toll of over 1,000 aid worker deaths in just three years. Fletcher stressed the critical need for states to uphold international humanitarian laws and take necessary steps to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel, urging real consequences for violators of such laws.
In the current year, OCHA reported that 82 aid workers have already been killed, with 97 injuries and 39 abductions. Additionally, the UN raised alarms regarding the increasing use of armed drones in conflict zones, citing their devastating impact on civilian populations. Drones have been employed in attacks on markets and health facilities in Sudan, resulting in a significant number of civilian casualties. Fletcher warned that weaponized drones represent a new form of danger, posing serious threats to civilian lives in conflict regions.
