Rabat – The year 2024 has become the deadliest on record for humanitarian workers worldwide, with 281 fatalities, according to a recent report from the United Nations.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the significant toll, driven primarily by the ongoing war in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of at least 333 aid workers since October 2023.
The report underlines a disturbing trend of rising violence in conflict zones, with humanitarian workers increasingly targeted by armed groups and state actors.
Tom Fletcher, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, condemned the escalating attack. “Humanitarian workers are being killed at an unprecedented rate, their courage and humanity meeting bullets and bombs,” he said.
The surge in casualties marks a grim milestone, surpassing 2023, which also saw a record number of fatalities—280 humanitarian workers killed across 33 countries.
The Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) ongoing genocidal campaign in Gaza has intensified the crisis, with a disproportionate number of fatalities among local workers.
According to OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke, most of the deaths in Gaza involved employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), with 243 fatalities reported since the IOF war began.
Read also: UN committee: Israeli Tactics in Gaza Amount to Genocide
The violence is not confined to Gaza, however. Other regions grappling with high levels of violence, such as Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen, have also seen a rise in attacks against aid workers.
Reports from these areas have included abductions, harassment, and arbitrary detention, further complicating humanitarian efforts in already volatile environments.
In addition to the toll on aid workers, 2023 saw over 33,000 civilian deaths across 14 armed conflicts, a staggering 72% increase compared to the previous year. These figures reflect the broader impact of violence on civilians in conflict zones.
Despite the dangers, humanitarian organizations have persevered, continuing to provide essential services to millions in need. In 2023 alone, they reached nearly 144 million people, with 116 million assisted by November 2024.
The UN has called on states and parties to conflicts to uphold international law, protect humanitarian workers, and bring perpetrators to justice.
In response to the rising threats, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2730 in May 2024, urging stronger protections for aid workers.
The resolution mandates that the Secretary-General propose measures to protect humanitarian personnel, with recommendations to be discussed at a Security Council meeting later this month.
