Last year, a total of 350 humanitarian workers lost their lives worldwide, marking another tragic year of violence against aid workers, as reported by the United Nations. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that the death toll in 2025 decreased slightly compared to the previous year, which saw the highest number of fatalities on record with 387 aid workers killed globally.
In addition to the fatalities, 322 aid workers were injured in attacks, and 235 were abducted throughout the year, according to the Aid Worker Security Database. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the increasing dangers faced by those serving others in a video message delivered on World Humanitarian Day.
The Gaza Strip remained the most perilous environment for aid workers for the third consecutive year, with 186 casualties reported in 2025 during Israel’s conflict in the region. Sudan also witnessed significant violence against aid workers, with 71 individuals losing their lives in the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
Expressing deep concern, the UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, denounced the unacceptable toll of over 1,000 aid worker fatalities in the past three years. Fletcher stressed the critical importance of upholding international humanitarian law and ensuring consequences for those who violate these principles.
As of the current year, OCHA has reported that 82 aid workers have been killed, 97 injured, and 39 kidnapped. The UN has raised alarms regarding the increasing use of armed drones in conflict zones, highlighting their destructive impact on civilian populations. In particular, drones have been utilized in attacks on civilian areas in Sudan and Ukraine, leading to a significant number of civilian casualties.
The proliferation of weaponized drones represents a new and dangerous trend in conflicts, posing a severe threat to civilian lives, as stated by Fletcher.