At least 350 humanitarian workers lost their lives worldwide last year, marking another distressing year for violence targeting aid workers, according to the United Nations. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported a slight decrease in the death toll from the previous year, which saw the highest number of fatalities on record with 387 aid workers killed globally. Additionally, in 2025, 322 aid workers were injured in attacks, and 235 were abducted, as per the Aid Worker Security Database.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern in a video message on World Humanitarian Day, stating that the act of serving others has become increasingly perilous. The Gaza Strip remained the most dangerous region for aid workers for the third consecutive year, with 186 fatalities last year during Israel’s conflict in the Palestinian enclave, as reported by OCHA.
Furthermore, Sudan witnessed the loss of 71 aid workers in 2025 due to an ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since 2023. The UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, emphasized the urgency for action, condemning the deaths of over 1,000 aid workers in the past three years as unacceptable.
As of the current year, OCHA disclosed that 82 aid workers have been killed, 97 injured, and 39 kidnapped. The UN highlighted the concerning use of armed drones in conflict zones, citing instances in Sudan and Ukraine where drones targeted markets and health facilities, resulting in civilian casualties. Fletcher warned that weaponized drones represent a new threat to civilian lives through deliberate or reckless actions.