The United Nations (UN) on Monday condemned the “normalization” of violence against aid workers, highlighting the death of more than 280 humanitarian workers in 2023.
Marking the World Humanitarian Day on August 19, the UN has called for action and greater accountability to stop these violations against civilians and protect all aid workers.
Deadly Year
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) called 2023 “the deadliest year on record for the global humanitarian community,” after the killing of 280 aid workers in 33 countries. This high figure represents a 137% increase compared to 2022, when 118 aid workers died.
The OCHA suggested that 2024 could be even deadlier. As of August 7, conflicts have led to the killing of 172 aid workers, according to the provisional count from the Aid Worker Security Database.
Conflicts Death Toll
The first three months of the war in Gaza, from October to December, accounted for more than half of the deaths of 2023, as a result of airstrikes. Since October, more than 280 aid workers have lost their lives in Gaza alone, the majority of them staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Furthermore, the extreme levels of violence in Sudan and South Sudan have significantly contributed to the death toll in 2023 and 2024. The OCHA pointed that most of those killed were national staff. Meanwhile, many humanitarian workers continue to be detained in Yemen.
Unacceptable Violence
On the occasion of the World Humanitarian Day, the UN Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, said: “The normalization of violence against aid workers and the lack of accountability are unacceptable, unconscionable and enormously harmful for aid operations everywhere.”
The UN official called the international community to act, saying: “Today, we reiterate our demand that people in power act to end violations against civilians and the impunity with which these heinous attacks are committed.”
Action Needed
Leaders of multiple humanitarian organizations worldwide have written a letter to UN member states urging for greater efforts to “protect aid workers, their premises and assets.” They also called the international community to hold perpetrators to account for violating the international humanitarian law.
“We will continue to stay and deliver in humanitarian crises around the world – but the situation requires us to take a united stand to call for the protection of our staff, volunteers and the civilians we serve,” the letter noted.
World Humanitarian Day
The world commemorates the World Humanitarian Day on August 19 each year. It marks the killing of 22 aid workers in a bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2003. Five years later, the UN adopted a resolution to designate August 19 as World Humanitarian Day (WHD).
Each year, the WHD commemoration focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across various humanitarian organizations to support the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers.
How much more do those in power need to see before they act? It's time they #ActForHumanity!
International humanitarian law is being violated, and civilians and aid workers are paying the price.
This #WorldHumanitarianDay, @muzoonrakan1 added her voice. Add yours and share. pic.twitter.com/3vkP7TfZLA
— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) August 18, 2024
In 2024, the humanitarian community celebrates the WHD with a digital campaign using the hashtag #ActforHumanity. The campaign aims to mobilize public support to help in putting more pressure on warring parties and world leaders to provide better protection for civilians, including humanitarian and aid workers, caught in conflict zones.
