At least 350 humanitarian workers lost their lives globally last year, 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 decrease in the death toll from the previous year, which saw the highest number of casualties on record with 387 aid workers killed worldwide in 2024.
In addition to the fatalities, 322 aid workers sustained injuries in attacks in 2025, while 235 were abducted, as per the Aid Worker Security Database. UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasized the increasing risks faced by those serving others in a video message on World Humanitarian Day.
The Gaza Strip remained the most perilous environment for aid workers for the third consecutive year, with 186 deaths recorded last year during Israel’s conflict in the Palestinian enclave, as reported by OCHA. Additionally, 71 aid workers were killed in Sudan in 2025 amid an ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since 2023.
UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, expressed deep concern over the escalating violence, highlighting that over 1,000 aid workers have been killed in the past three years. He stressed the need for states to uphold international humanitarian law and take decisive actions to safeguard civilians and humanitarian workers.
As of the current year, 82 aid workers have already lost their lives, with 97 injured and 39 kidnapped, according to OCHA. The UN also voiced alarm regarding the use of armed drones in conflict zones, citing their destructive impact on civilian populations. Fletcher warned against the rising threat posed by weaponized drones, emphasizing the urgent need for protection of civilian lives in conflict zones.