Murdering humanitarians: More aid workers killed in 2024 than ever

This is the astir lethal twelvemonth to beryllium a humanitarian worker. Of 281 assistance workers killed, astir person been successful Palestine.

More assistance workers person been killed successful 2024 than successful immoderate different twelvemonth connected record, the United Nations has said.

At slightest 281 assistance workers person been killed crossed 19 countries, surpassing the erstwhile grounds of 280 assistance workers killed successful 2023, according to information from the Aid Worker Security Database (AWDS).

Nearly two-thirds (178) of humanitarian workers killed were successful Palestine. Israel killed 175 assistance workers successful Gaza and 3 successful the occupied West Bank.

Since October 7, 2023, astatine slightest 333 humanitarian workers successful Gaza person been killed successful Israeli attacks, according to the UN.

(Al Jazeera)

The lifesaving enactment assistance workers do

Aid workers, besides called humanitarian workers, are captious successful delivering life-saving assistance to communities affected by crises specified arsenic conflicts, earthy disasters oregon poverty.

They administer food, supply shelter, connection aesculapian care, guarantee entree to cleanable h2o and sanitation, and present different indispensable situation absorption services.

A Palestinian kid receives a polio vaccine astatine an UNRWA session successful Deir el-Balah, Gaza, during a run for children nether 10 organised by WHO, UNRWA, and UNICEF, October 14, 2024 [Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency]

Humanitarian workers usually enactment with not-for-profit organisations, including UN agencies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), arsenic good arsenic planetary and nationalist nongovernmental organisations (NGOs).

The bulk of assistance workers are section unit who play a cardinal relation successful delivering assistance, supported by planetary workers who supply further expertise and resources.

In Gaza, astir assistance workers are employed by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees successful the Near East (UNRWA).

Since October 7, astatine slightest 243 of UNRWA’s 13,000 unit members person been killed – 1 retired of each 50 employees – the highest unit decease toll successful UN history.

Threats to assistance workers worldwide

Outside Palestine, astatine slightest 103 assistance workers person been killed this year, including 25 successful Sudan, 11 successful Ukraine and 11 successful the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

“They amusement the champion involvement humanity has to offer. And they are getting killed, successful grounds numbers, successful return,” OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters connected Friday astatine a briefing successful Geneva.

“States and parties to struggle indispensable support humanitarians, uphold planetary law, prosecute those liable and telephone clip connected this epoch of impunity,” Tom Fletcher, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and exigency alleviation coordinator concluded.

(Al Jazeera)