- The sharp rise has been driven largely by the war in Gaza, South Sudan and Sudan
- 65% of aid workers killed in 2025 were in Gaza
At least one humanitarian worker, on average, has been killed, injured, kidnapped, or detained every single day for the past 25 years. Save the Children warns on World Humanitarian Day that this 2025 is on course to be the most dangerous yet for those delivering life-saving aid.
Since 2000, more than 8,500 major attacks on aid workers have been documented, according to the latest figures from the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD). The risks are rising year on year, despite international law explicitly prohibiting attacks on humanitarian personnel.
Last year was already the deadliest on record, with 383 aid workers killed – 172 by this time in 2024. Although world leaders responded with fresh commitments to protect humanitarian staff, these have yet to translate into real safety on the ground.
So far this year, 265 aid workers have been killed – a 54% increase from about this time last year – putting this year on track to surpass all previous death tolls.
The sharp rise in fatalities over the past three years has been driven largely by the war in Gaza, where Israeli forces have killed 173 humanitarian workers in 2025 alone – more than the total number of aid workers killed globally in 2022. Among them were two Save the Children staff members tragically killed in Gaza – we mourn their loss and demand justice for their families.
Moazzam Malik, Chief Executive Officer at Save the Children UK, said:
“Every day, aid workers risk their lives to save others – yet for more than two decades, at least one of them has been killed, injured, kidnapped, or detained in increasing numbers.
“The promise of protection under international law is broken. Our work is underfunded, overstretched, and under attack. We cannot accept a world where those who save lives are targeted for it. The UK Government has long championed humanitarian principles, but these principles mean nothing without enforcement. Attacks on aid workers are war crimes. Words alone will not save lives. We need action, accountability, and the political will to investigate, prosecute, and end the cycle of impunity.”
Over the past five years, the most dangerous countries for aid workers have been the occupied Palestinian territory – by far – followed by South Sudan, and Sudan.
Save the Children is urging the UK Government to:
- Publicly demand accountability for every violation of international humanitarian law, including attacks against aid workers.
- Ensure the perpetrators of such attacks face justice.
- Lead efforts at the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week in September to strengthen global commitments to protect aid workers and uphold the laws of war.
END
World Humanitarian Day, first marked in 2009, was established by the UN to honour those who risk – and often lose – their lives to deliver aid, and to raise awareness of the growing threats they face.
Notes to Editor:
· "Major incidents" are defined as killings, kidnappings, detentions, and attacks that result in serious injury. Kidnappings and detentions are only included as a 'major incident' if the aid worker was held for more than 24 hours, as defined by the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD).
· Between January 2000 and August 2025, more than 8,500 major attacks against aid workers, according to data from the AWSD. That equals about 0.90 attacks against aid workers every day during this period.
· As of 18 August 2025, 172 national aid workers and one international aid worker has been killed in oPt so far in 2025, according to AWSD.