Deir Al-Balah, Gaza — August 19, 2025
As the world marks World Humanitarian Day, the UN has confirmed a devastating milestone: 383 aid workers were killed in the line of duty last year — the highest annual toll ever recorded. Speaking from Gaza, UN humanitarian coordinator Olga Cherevko described the emotional and physical toll on exhausted teams who continue to show up “day in and day out,” despite losing homes, colleagues, and loved ones.

The Gaza conflict alone accounted for 181 deaths, with Sudan reporting 60 more. Violence against aid workers surged in 21 countries, with state actors cited as the most frequent perpetrators. As of mid-August 2025, 265 humanitarian workers have already been killed this year, according to provisional data.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attacks, calling them “a shameful indictment of international inaction.” He urged governments to uphold international humanitarian law and protect those who serve as lifelines for over 300 million people worldwide.

From Gaza, Cherevko described the frustration of delayed missions, impassable routes, and the feeling of being “powerless” despite knowing what aid teams could achieve if given safe access. “Courage alone isn’t going to feed people,” she said. “We need a permanent ceasefire. We need political solutions.”

Most of the victims were national staff serving their own communities. In addition to the fatalities, 308 aid workers were wounded, 125 kidnapped, and 45 detained in 2024.

World Humanitarian Day commemorates the 2003 Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad, which killed 22 UN staff, including Sergio Vieira de Mello. This year’s theme calls for an end to impunity and attacks on civilians and aid workers.