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🇫🇷 France /Disasters & Emergencies

UN: 350 humanitarian workers killed in 2025, calls violence 'totally unacceptable'

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • 350 humanitarian workers were killed in 2025, with 186 in Gaza and 71 in Sudan, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
  • The total number of aid workers killed, injured, or abducted in 2025 reached 907, a slight decrease from 2024's figure of 377 deaths.
  • UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called the violence "totally unacceptable" and urged states to enforce international humanitarian law.

The United Nations has decried the escalating violence against humanitarian workers, reporting that 350 aid workers were killed in 2025. The figures, compiled by the Humanitarian Outcomes research center and released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), highlight the perilous conditions faced by those delivering aid.

More than 1,000 humanitarian workers have been killed in just three years, and it is totally unacceptable.

— Tom FletcherUN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher commented on the alarming number of aid worker deaths.

Gaza and Sudan were the most dangerous locations, with 186 and 71 aid workers killed respectively. Overall, 907 humanitarian personnel were killed, injured, or abducted in 2025, a number slightly lower than the 377 deaths recorded in 2024. As of early 2026, 82 aid workers have been killed, 97 injured, and 39 abducted globally.

But simply condemning it will not protect them. States must enforce international humanitarian law and use all means at their disposal to protect civilians and our colleagues. And those who break the rules must face the consequences.

— Tom FletcherTom Fletcher urged international action to protect aid workers and hold violators accountable.

"More than 1,000 humanitarian workers have been killed in just three years, and it is totally unacceptable," stated Tom Fletcher, the UN's head of humanitarian operations. He emphasized that simply condemning these acts is insufficient, calling on states to uphold international humanitarian law and ensure consequences for perpetrators.

The proliferation of cheap and adaptable armed drones is particularly concerning, allowing an ever-increasing number of actors to access lethal power.

— OCHAOCHA highlighted the growing threat posed by armed drones in conflict zones.

OCHA also expressed concern over the proliferation of cheap, adaptable armed drones, which are increasingly enabling various actors to wield lethal force. The report notes that armed drones were responsible for "80% of civilian deaths in Sudan during the first four months of 2026," impacting markets and health facilities. Fletcher warned that while technology evolves, the laws of war remain constant, underscoring the deliberate or reckless disregard for civilian lives.

Militarized drones have become the new face of an old danger: the deliberate or reckless disregard for civilian lives.

— Tom FletcherFletcher described the impact of drones on civilian populations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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