Stop killing humanitarian workers...
The perpetrators neglect and breach the regulations that protect civilians in times of war. The killing of aid workers has become routine, rarely appearing in the news. This signifies a collapse of humanity, responsibility and guidance
Published: 03:08 PM,Aug 19,2025 | EDITED : 07:08 PM,Aug 19,2025
Humanitarian Day is observed worldwide on August 19. Similar to any other day, this one also went by with the unveiling of various data and events honouring humanitarian workers and those who perished while performing their duties.
Also, on this day, the world renews its request to stop the killings of aid workers. In the midst of this grim yearly refrain, sadly, aid workers face targeting, detention, obstruction, or death. As with each day, regulations intended to safeguard civilians during conflicts are disregarded without consequence.
The perpetrators neglect and breach the regulations that protect civilians in times of war. The killing of aid workers has become routine, rarely appearing in the news. This signifies a collapse of humanity, responsibility, and guidance.
According to data from the World Health Organisation, the number of attacks resulting in deaths or injuries to health personnel has increased by 75 per cent in the last three years compared to the previous three years. These attacks have led to a devastating 240 per cent increase in deaths of personnel and patients.
The year 2024 was the deadliest on record for aid workers, with 383 killed, 308 wounded, and 125 kidnapped. With 265 aid workers already killed in 2025, we risk surpassing last year's tragic toll.
“Humanitarian workers are facing an alarming level of violence, their bravery and compassion responding to gunfire and explosives,” stated Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
Globally, nearly 95 per cent of the fatalities are local aid workers —individuals from the regions in which they function. In Gaza, Sudan, Syria, and many other places, humanitarian workers encounter assaults, deaths, wounds, and kidnappings alongside the civilians they support.
“Impunity for assaults on humanitarian workers has become the ‘new normal,’” stated Gilles Michaud, Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security.
Due to multiple factors like varying security measures, these individuals often do not have access to the same resources or protections as international staff — and consequently lack the same ability to evacuate if conditions worsen.
'There is an abundance of strong international legal systems to address this. What is missing is the political determination to adhere,” stated Joyce Msuya, Assistant-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, during the Security Council meeting, emphasizing, “Gaza is the most perilous location for humanitarians to date,” she remarked.
The recent killing of 15 Palestinian paramedics and rescue personnel, whose bodies were found in a mass grave, led to global outrage; however, many violations and attacks continue to go unreported.
Last November, the International Criminal Court released arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza.
The people of Gaza — particularly women and children — are facing the repercussions. Families are living among the ruins of their destroyed homes. Famine is not simply a danger but is expected to worsen rapidly in almost all regions of Gaza.
Humanitarian aid personnel and recipients of assistance must be safeguarded and not attacked. Even conflicts have regulations. The Fourth Geneva Convention ensures that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in need safely. Nonetheless, assaults on aid personnel in conflict zones are increasingly happening globally.
Last November, the Security Council passed a resolution addressing the increasing violence and dangers faced by humanitarian workers. The resolution instructs the Secretary-General to suggest actions to avert and address such incidents, bolster accountability, and strengthen safeguards for humanitarian staff and resources.
There is no need to wait for an annual occasion like World Humanitarian Day to remind conflicting parties and leaders of nations of their responsibilities and duties under international humanitarian law. So let us uphold the spirit of global solidarity and local empowerment — not just in words, but through concrete action.
Turning a blind eye when humanitarian workers are targeted only emboldens those who seek to hinder their work. The repercussions of these attacks extend far beyond the loss of individual lives, but severely hinder the delivery of crucial aid to populations teetering on the brink of disaster.