Record 383 Aid Workers Killed Globally in 2024 Conflicts

United Nations, Aug 19 (AP) - The UN has reported a record high of 383 aid workers killed across global conflict zones in 2024, with nearly half of these tragic deaths occurring in Gaza amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict. This report was released on the annual day that honors the thousands of individuals who risk their lives to provide aid in crisis situations.

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has emphasized the urgent need for international action, stressing that these killings demand a concerted effort to protect civilians and the aid workers dedicated to helping them.

"Attacks of this magnitude, occurring without accountability, are a damning reflection of worldwide neglect and indifference," Fletcher declared in his statement marking World Humanitarian Day.

"We, as part of the humanitarian community, once again call upon those with power and influence to act for the sake of humanity, to shield civilians and aid personnel, and to hold those responsible for these acts accountable."

The Aid Worker Security Database, which has been documenting incidents since 1997, revealed an increase in killings from 293 in 2023 to 383 in 2024, with more than 180 occurring in Gaza.

The majority of those killed were national staff working within their own communities, either attacked while fulfilling their duties or targeted in their residences, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

OCHA also noted that there has been no indication of this upward trend reversing so far this year.

In 2024, there were 599 major attacks impacting aid workers, a significant rise from the 420 recorded in 2023, according to the database. These attacks resulted in 308 wounded aid workers, 125 kidnappings, and 45 detentions.

The database has already recorded 245 major attacks in the first seven months of this year, with 265 aid worker fatalities.

One of the most brutal incidents unfolded in southern Gaza's Rafah on March 23, when Israeli forces allegedly fired upon identifiable vehicles, killing 15 medics and emergency personnel. Subsequent bulldozing operations buried the bodies with their vehicles in a mass grave, only accessible a week later by UN and rescue teams.

"Every attack on a humanitarian colleague is an attack on all of us and those we strive to serve," Fletcher emphasized. "Such violence against aid workers is not an unavoidable consequence. It has to cease."

The database reported a rise in violence against aid workers in 21 countries in 2024, with government forces and affiliated entities frequently identified as the offenders.

Data from last year points to Palestinian territories recording the highest number of major attacks at 194, followed by Sudan with 64, South Sudan at 47, Nigeria with 31, and Congo with 27.

Sudan witnessed 60 aid worker fatalities in 2024, a significant increase compared to 25 in 2023, thereby ranking second to Gaza and the West Bank.

In Lebanon, 20 aid workers were killed in 2024, a stark contrast to none in 2023, due to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Ethiopia and Syria each saw 14 killings, roughly twice the number in 2023, while Ukraine experienced 13 aid worker deaths in 2024, up from 6 the previous year.

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