The United Nations reports that at least 350 humanitarian workers lost their lives globally last year, marking another tragic year for violence against aid workers.

According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the death toll in 2025 saw a slight decrease from the previous year, which recorded the highest number of fatalities with 387 aid workers killed worldwide.

In addition to the fatalities, there were 322 aid workers injured in attacks and 235 kidnapped in 2025, as documented by the Aid Worker Security Database.

UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed concern, stating in a video message on World Humanitarian Day that the act of serving others has become increasingly perilous.

The Gaza Strip retained its position as the most dangerous area for aid workers for the third consecutive year, with 186 fatalities reported last year amidst Israel’s conflict in the region, as highlighted by OCHA.

Additionally, Sudan witnessed 71 aid workers losing their lives in 2025 due to the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since 2023.

Displaced Sudanese families receiving food aid at El-Afadh camp in Al Dabbah, Sudan, on Nov. 16, 2025. (Marwan Ali/The Associated Press)

UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, condemned the situation, stating that over 1,000 aid workers had been killed in the past three years, emphasizing the imperative need for accountability and protection.

As of the current year, OCHA reports that 82 aid workers have been killed, 97 injured, and 39 kidnapped.

• Israel’s military actions leading to the deaths of Palestinian aid workers in Gaza raise questions

• Survivors recount the impact of Sudan’s civil war on families

Furthermore, the UN expressed alarm about the increasing use of armed drones in conflict zones, leading to civilian casualties in Sudan and Ukraine.

Fletcher highlighted the grave consequences of weaponized drones, emphasizing the urgent need to protect civilian lives from deliberate harm.