The UN calls on the world to respond to the record number of deaths among humanitarian workers
2023 was the deadliest year for aid workers, with 280 deaths in 33 countries. About this stated United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
Most of these deaths occurred in the first three months of fighting in the Gaza Strip, mostly due to airstrikes. However, 2024 may turn out to be even more tragic — as of August 7, 172 humanitarian workers have already died.
“We once again appeal to world leaders to stop violations of the rights of civilians and end impunity for these horrific attacks.”, — said Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
The UN emphasizes that the extraordinarily high level of violence in Sudan and South Sudan also contributed to the increase in the number of deaths among humanitarian workers in 2023 and 2024.
Most of the deaths in 2023 were recorded between October and December, during the fighting in Gaza. During this period, more than 280 humanitarian workers were killed in Gaza, most of whom were staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
