# Aid Worker Violence 2025 - Canonical dossier: [Web edition]() - Markdown edition: [Plain-text edition]() - Issue: Issue 007 - Rubric: Humanitarian Access / Protection - Byline: Totally Fine Foundation editorial desk - Reading time: 9 min - Last reviewed: 2026-09-06 > At least 350 aid workers were killed worldwide in 2025, according to the Aid Worker Security Database figures verified through December 31, 2025 and published in August 2026. Gaza accounted for 186 of those deaths and Sudan for 71 — together nearly three-quarters of the global total. A separate OCHA-linked count put 907 aid workers killed, injured or kidnapped in major security incidents during the same year, including 322 injured and 235 kidnapped. The 2026 toll is already contested: 84 by the IRC on August 18-19, 82 by OCHA and UN-linked reporting on August 19. ## Cover - Kicker: Field dossier / global / humanitarian protection - Cover lines: At least 350 aid workers were killed worldwide in 2025, per the Aid Worker Security Database / Gaza and Sudan: 257 of 350 deaths, nearly three-quarters of the global count / 907 aid workers killed, injured or kidnapped in major security incidents in 2025, per OCHA-linked reporting / The 2026 count is already split: 84 by the IRC, 82 by OCHA and UN-linked reporting / International humanitarian law protects aid workers as civilians when they are entitled to civilian protection — intentionally attacking them can constitute a war crime / The IRC reportedly called on governments and parties to conflict to protect aid workers and hold those responsible accountable #### Hero visual provenance - Caption: South Sudan, Juba, February 2014. Displaced people shelter at the UN House IDP Camp, in stores once used by the UN. Photo: Oxfam East Africa / CC BY 2.0. - Alt text: IDPs find safe shelter at the UN compound in Juba, South Sudan, February 2014. - Credit: Oxfam East Africa - Rights / license: CC BY 2.0 - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ## Metrics ### 350 — Aid workers killed worldwide in 2025 - Category: Fatalities - Caveat: Aid Worker Security Database figures verified through December 31, 2025 and published in August 2026; does not cover 2026 or incidents outside major attacks. **Source trail:** [aidworkersecurity.org — Aid Worker Security Database: 2025 summary statistics]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-aidworkersecurity-org`); [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`) ### 84 per IRC; 82 per OCHA and UN-linked reporting — Aid workers killed in 2026 as of August 18-19 - Category: Fatalities - Caveat: Disputed count: IRC figure from August 18-19, 2026; OCHA/UN figure from August 19, 2026; does not include later 2026 deaths. **Source trail:** [rescue.org — IRC statement on 2025 aid worker deaths and accountability]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-rescue-org`); [unocha.org — UN relief chief's World Humanitarian Day remarks on violence against aid workers]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-unocha-org`); [news.un.org — Aid Workers Under Fire as Drones Reshape Warfare]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-news-un-org`) ### 186 — Aid workers killed in Gaza in 2025 - Category: Fatalities by context - Caveat: Per UN News and Humanitarian Outcomes reporting published August 2026; covers Gaza only, not other contexts. **Source trail:** [news.un.org — Aid Workers Under Fire as Drones Reshape Warfare]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-news-un-org`); [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`) ### 71 — Aid workers killed in Sudan in 2025 - Category: Fatalities by context - Caveat: Per UN News and Humanitarian Outcomes reporting published August 2026; covers Sudan only, not other contexts. **Source trail:** [news.un.org — Aid Workers Under Fire as Drones Reshape Warfare]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-news-un-org`); [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`) ### 907 total; 322 injured; 235 kidnapped — Aid workers killed, injured, or kidnapped in major security incidents in 2025 - Category: Casualties - Caveat: Per Humanitarian Outcomes and OCHA-linked reporting published August 2026; limited to major security incidents and the stated categories; does not cover detentions or arrests. **Source trail:** [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`); [unocha.org — UN relief chief's World Humanitarian Day remarks on violence against aid workers]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-unocha-org`) ## The 2025 Toll on Aid Workers ### The 2025 toll: 350 killed, 907 killed, injured or kidnapped At least 350 aid workers were killed worldwide in 2025, according to the Aid Worker Security Database figures verified through December 31, 2025 and published in August 2026. A separate count, from Humanitarian Outcomes and OCHA-linked reporting published in August 2026, recorded 907 aid workers killed, injured, or kidnapped in major security incidents during 2025. That figure includes 322 injured and 235 kidnapped. The 350 figure counts killings. The 907 figure covers killed, injured, or kidnapped in major security incidents. **Source trail:** [aidworkersecurity.org — Aid Worker Security Database: 2025 summary statistics]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-aidworkersecurity-org`); [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`); [unocha.org — UN relief chief's World Humanitarian Day remarks on violence against aid workers]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-unocha-org`) ### Gaza and Sudan: 257 of 350 deaths In 2025, Gaza accounted for 186 aid-worker deaths and Sudan for 71. Together, the two contexts accounted for 257 of the 350 deaths, or about 73 percent — nearly three-quarters of the global total. **Source trail:** [news.un.org — Aid Workers Under Fire as Drones Reshape Warfare]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-news-un-org`); [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`) ### The law and the IRC's reported call for accountability International humanitarian law protects humanitarian personnel as civilians when they are entitled to civilian protection. Intentionally attacking them can constitute a war crime under international law. The International Rescue Committee reportedly called on governments and parties to conflict to protect aid workers and hold those responsible for attacks accountable. **Source trail:** [apnews.com — Security Council Approves Resolution Demanding Protection for UN and Aid Workers]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-apnews-com`); [rescue.org — IRC statement on 2025 aid worker deaths and accountability]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-rescue-org`) ## Actors and positions ### Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD) - Role: Database of major attacks on aid workers - Confidence: high - Position: Records and publishes summary statistics on aid worker casualties - Supporter framing: Independent data source used to verify 2025 figures - Opposing account: No opposing account documented in the provided evidence - Independent assessment: Primary source for the 350 killed figure, verified through December 31, 2025 **Source trail:** [aidworkersecurity.org — Aid Worker Security Database: 2025 summary statistics]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-aidworkersecurity-org`) ### Humanitarian Outcomes - Role: Research organization - Confidence: high - Position: Publishes aid worker violence data and analysis - Supporter framing: Research basis for 2025 casualty totals - Opposing account: No opposing account documented in the provided evidence - Independent assessment: Cited by OCHA and UN-linked reporting for 907 total casualties in major security incidents **Source trail:** [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`) ### International Rescue Committee (IRC) - Role: Humanitarian NGO - Confidence: medium - Position: Calls on governments and warring parties to protect aid workers and end impunity - Supporter framing: Advocates for protection and accountability for attacks on aid workers - Opposing account: No opposing account documented in the provided evidence - Independent assessment: The call is reported by the IRC and is assessed as likely, not independently established **Source trail:** [rescue.org — IRC statement on 2025 aid worker deaths and accountability]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-rescue-org`) ### UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) / Tom Fletcher - Role: UN humanitarian coordination; Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator - Confidence: high - Position: States that violence against humanitarians must not be normalized - Supporter framing: Official UN position on World Humanitarian Day - Opposing account: No opposing account documented in the provided evidence - Independent assessment: Official statement by the UN relief chief **Source trail:** [unocha.org — UN relief chief's World Humanitarian Day remarks on violence against aid workers]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-unocha-org`) ## Claims and evidence ### At least 350 aid workers were killed worldwide in 2025. - Claimant: Aid Worker Security Database and Humanitarian Outcomes - Evidence status: confirmed - Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in the provided evidence - Independent assessment: Figures verified through December 31, 2025 and published in August 2026 **Source trail:** [aidworkersecurity.org — Aid Worker Security Database: 2025 summary statistics]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-aidworkersecurity-org`); [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`) ### The number of aid workers killed so far in 2026 was 84 according to the IRC, but 82 according to OCHA and UN-linked reporting. - Claimant: IRC versus OCHA and UN-linked reporting - Evidence status: disputed - Counterclaim: IRC reports 84; OCHA and UN-linked reporting report 82 - Independent assessment: The discrepancy is unresolved in the provided evidence **Source trail:** [rescue.org — IRC statement on 2025 aid worker deaths and accountability]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-rescue-org`); [unocha.org — UN relief chief's World Humanitarian Day remarks on violence against aid workers]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-unocha-org`); [news.un.org — Aid Workers Under Fire as Drones Reshape Warfare]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-news-un-org`) ### In 2025, Gaza accounted for 186 aid-worker deaths and Sudan for 71; together they accounted for 257 of 350 deaths, about 73%. - Claimant: UN News and Humanitarian Outcomes - Evidence status: confirmed - Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in the provided evidence - Independent assessment: Confirmed by AWSD-linked reporting published August 2026 **Source trail:** [news.un.org — Aid Workers Under Fire as Drones Reshape Warfare]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-news-un-org`); [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`) ### A total of 907 aid workers were killed, injured, or kidnapped in major security incidents during 2025, including 322 injured and 235 kidnapped. - Claimant: Humanitarian Outcomes and OCHA-linked reporting - Evidence status: confirmed - Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in the provided evidence - Independent assessment: Limited to major security incidents and the stated categories **Source trail:** [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`); [unocha.org — UN relief chief's World Humanitarian Day remarks on violence against aid workers]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-unocha-org`) ### International humanitarian law protects humanitarian personnel as civilians when they are entitled to civilian protection, and intentionally attacking them can constitute a war crime under international law. - Claimant: International law as cited in UN Security Council and AP reporting - Evidence status: confirmed - Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in the provided evidence - Independent assessment: Conditional legal statement exactly as supported by verified claim 5 **Source trail:** [apnews.com — Security Council Approves Resolution Demanding Protection for UN and Aid Workers]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-apnews-com`); [securitycouncilreport.org — Security Council Report April 2025 Forecast: Protection of Humanitarian and UN Personnel]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-securitycouncilreport-org`) ### The International Rescue Committee called on governments and parties to conflict to protect aid workers and hold those responsible for attacks accountable. - Claimant: International Rescue Committee - Evidence status: likely - Counterclaim: No counterclaim documented in the provided evidence - Independent assessment: Reported by the IRC; assessed as likely, not independently established **Source trail:** [rescue.org — IRC statement on 2025 aid worker deaths and accountability]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-rescue-org`) ## Language record ### The International Rescue Committee - Role: Humanitarian NGO - Context: IRC statement on World Humanitarian Day Quotation text is available in the web edition and the cited original source; it is not republished in this machine-readable edition. **Source:** [rescue.org — IRC statement on 2025 aid worker deaths and accountability]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-rescue-org`) ### Tom Fletcher - Role: Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator - Context: Remarks at the Daily Press Briefing at UN Headquarters on World Humanitarian Day, Kyiv, 19 August 2026 Quotation text is available in the web edition and the cited original source; it is not republished in this machine-readable edition. **Source:** [unocha.org — UN relief chief's World Humanitarian Day remarks on violence against aid workers]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-unocha-org`) ## Timeline ### 2025-12-31 — At least 350 aid workers killed worldwide in 2025 - Event type: casualty\_update - Confidence: high At least 350 aid workers were killed worldwide in 2025, according to the Aid Worker Security Database figures verified through December 31, 2025 and published in August 2026. **Source trail:** [aidworkersecurity.org — Aid Worker Security Database: 2025 summary statistics]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-aidworkersecurity-org`); [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`) ### 2025-12-31 — Gaza and Sudan account for 257 of 350 aid worker deaths in 2025 - Event type: casualty\_update - Confidence: high In 2025, Gaza accounted for 186 aid-worker deaths and Sudan for 71; together, the two contexts accounted for 257 of 350 deaths, or about 73%, nearly three-quarters of the global total, according to UN News and Humanitarian Outcomes. **Source trail:** [news.un.org — Aid Workers Under Fire as Drones Reshape Warfare]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-news-un-org`); [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`) ### 2025-12-31 — 907 aid workers killed, injured or kidnapped in major security incidents in 2025 - Event type: casualty\_update - Confidence: high A total of 907 aid workers were killed, injured, or kidnapped in major security incidents during 2025, including 322 injured and 235 kidnapped, according to Humanitarian Outcomes and OCHA-linked reporting published in August 2026. **Source trail:** [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org`); [unocha.org — UN relief chief's World Humanitarian Day remarks on violence against aid workers]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-unocha-org`) ### 2026-08-19 — Aid worker deaths in 2026 reported as 84 by IRC and 82 by OCHA/UN - Event type: casualty\_update - Confidence: low As of August 18-19, 2026, the International Rescue Committee reported 84 aid workers killed so far in 2026, while OCHA and UN-linked reporting on August 19, 2026 cited 82; the discrepancy remains disputed. **Source trail:** [rescue.org — IRC statement on 2025 aid worker deaths and accountability]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-rescue-org`); [unocha.org — UN relief chief's World Humanitarian Day remarks on violence against aid workers]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-unocha-org`); [news.un.org — Aid Workers Under Fire as Drones Reshape Warfare]() (`src-aid-worker-violence-2025-news-un-org`) ## Visual essay ### Gallery image 01 #### Visual provenance - Caption: Gaza, Palestine, 1 December 2025. UK-funded tents arrive in Gaza. Photo: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office / CC BY 4.0. - Alt text: UK-funded tents arrive in Gaza, 1 December 2025. - Credit: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - Rights / license: CC BY 4.0 - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### Gallery image 02 #### Visual provenance - Caption: Adre, Chad, 24 January 2025. Foreign Secretary David Lammy meets Sudanese refugees in the border town of Adre. Photo: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office / CC BY 2.0. - Alt text: Foreign Secretary David Lammy meets Sudanese refugees in Adre, Chad, 24 January 2025. - Credit: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - Rights / license: CC BY 2.0 - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### Gallery image 03 #### Visual provenance - Caption: A food distribution at a UN shelter, as documented by Al Jazeera English. Date and location are not specified in the photo metadata. Photo: Al Jazeera English / CC BY-SA 2.0. - Alt text: Food distribution at a UN shelter. - Credit: Al Jazeera English - Rights / license: CC BY-SA 2.0 - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ## Linked visual references ### Reconstruction of the Tal as-Sultan Attack That Killed 15 Aid Workers - Photographer: Al Jazeera English - Publisher: Al Jazeera - Recognition: Core investigative reconstruction of a single mass-casualty incident against aid workers - Why it matters: Documents the deadliest single attack on aid workers in Gaza in 2025, contributing to the 186 deaths recorded there. - Original: [Open reference]() ### IFRC Reports Five Volunteers Killed Distributing Food in Sudan - Photographer: Reuters - Publisher: Reuters - Recognition: Standing news-agency report on aid-worker killings in Sudan - Why it matters: Provides on-the-ground reporting of the Sudan toll, where 71 aid workers were killed in 2025. - Original: [Open reference]() ## Media desk ### South Sudan July 2012 - Publisher: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid - Media type: photo - Rights mode: direct\_image - Placement: The 2025 toll - Caption: South Sudan, July 2012. No further details are provided in the photo metadata. - Why it matters: The image is an archival view of humanitarian operations in South Sudan, a context of recurring aid-worker risk. The photo is dated July 2012 in South Sudan, with no further details in the metadata. It is used to illustrate the long history of humanitarian operations in fragile states. The 2025 dossier focuses on Gaza and Sudan, but South Sudan has also seen violence against aid workers. The image provides regional context rather than a specific 2025 incident. - Original: [Open media record]() #### Visual provenance - Caption: South Sudan, July 2012. No further details are provided in the photo metadata. - Alt text: South Sudan, July 2012. No further details are provided in the photo metadata. - Credit: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid - Rights / license: CC BY-SA 2.0 - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza after Gaza war 23-25 - Publisher: Jaber Jehad Badwan - Media type: photo - Rights mode: direct\_image - Placement: Gaza and Sudan - Caption: Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, after the Gaza war of 2023–2025. Photo by Jaber Jehad Badwan. - Why it matters: Hospitals and health workers were among the targets in Gaza, where 186 aid workers were killed in 2025. The photo shows Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza after the 2023–2025 war. Gaza's health facilities and medical personnel faced repeated attacks, contributing to the 186 aid worker deaths recorded in 2025. The image is placed in the Gaza and Sudan section to illustrate the destruction of infrastructure used by aid workers. The photographer is Jaber Jehad Badwan, and the image is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. - Original: [Open media record]() #### Visual provenance - Caption: Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, after the Gaza war of 2023–2025. Photo by Jaber Jehad Badwan. - Alt text: Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, after the Gaza war of 2023–2025. Photo by Jaber Jehad Badwan. - Credit: Jaber Jehad Badwan - Rights / license: CC BY-SA 4.0 - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### Aid Worker Security Database: 2025 summary statistics - Publisher: Aid Worker Security Database / Humanitarian Outcomes - Media type: report\_pdf - Rights mode: linked\_reference\_only - Placement: The 2025 toll - Caption: Verified figures through December 31, 2025 show 350 aid workers killed worldwide, with Gaza and Sudan accounting for 257 of those deaths. - Why it matters: The database is the primary source for the 2025 global toll and the breakdown by country. The Aid Worker Security Database provides the verified count of 350 aid workers killed in 2025, published in August 2026. It also underpins the figures of 186 killed in Gaza and 71 in Sudan. The database is maintained by Humanitarian Outcomes and is widely used for annual comparisons. - Original: [Open media record]() #### Visual provenance - Caption: Verified figures through December 31, 2025 show 350 aid workers killed worldwide, with Gaza and Sudan accounting for 257 of those deaths. - Alt text: Verified figures through December 31, 2025 show 350 aid workers killed worldwide, with Gaza and Sudan accounting for 257 of those deaths. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025 - Publisher: Humanitarian Outcomes - Media type: report\_pdf - Rights mode: linked\_reference\_only - Placement: The 2025 toll - Caption: Research covering aid worker victims from 2016 to 2025, including the 2025 summary statistics. - Why it matters: Provides the multi-year context for the 2025 toll and the separate OCHA-linked count of 907 killed, injured or kidnapped. Humanitarian Outcomes' research places the 2025 figures in a ten-year trend. The dossier cites its PDF for the 2016–2025 victim data. It complements the database with analysis of major security incidents. - Original: [Open media record]() #### Visual provenance - Caption: Research covering aid worker victims from 2016 to 2025, including the 2025 summary statistics. - Alt text: Research covering aid worker victims from 2016 to 2025, including the 2025 summary statistics. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ## Source readings ### IRC points to Gaza and Sudan in near-record 2025 aid worker death toll - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-rescue-org` - Publisher: rescue.org - Source type: humanitarian - Registry title: IRC statement on 2025 aid worker deaths and accountability - Editorial note: Advocacy statement tied to World Humanitarian Day; read its call for protection and accountability as attributed to the IRC, not as an independently established fact. Its 2026 count of 84 (as of 18–19 August 2026) differs from OCHA's 82. - Original: [Open source]() An advocacy statement marking World Humanitarian Day calls on governments and warring parties to protect aid workers and end impunity. At least 350 aid workers were killed worldwide in 2025, according to Aid Worker Security Database figures verified through 31 December 2025 and published in August 2026. Gaza accounted for 186 of those deaths and Sudan for 71; together the two contexts accounted for 257 of 350 deaths, or about 73%. The IRC describes the 2025 toll as near record high and, according to its statement, calls on governments and parties to conflict to protect humanitarian workers and hold those responsible for attacks accountable. This call should be read as attributed to the IRC rather than as an independently verified position. The IRC's separate 2026 count of 84 aid workers killed as of 18–19 August 2026 is disputed: OCHA and UN-linked reporting on 19 August 2026 put the figure at 82. Keep the two 2026 figures apart and do not merge them with the 2025 total. #### Takeaways - 2025 global aid worker deaths reached at least 350, with Gaza and Sudan accounting for about 73%. - The IRC's accountability call is an attributed advocacy position, not an independent finding. - The IRC and OCHA disagree on the 2026 death count: 84 versus 82. #### Visual provenance - Caption: IRC calls for accountability after near-record aid worker deaths in 2025. - Alt text: IRC calls for accountability after near-record aid worker deaths in 2025. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### UN relief chief: violence against humanitarians must not be normalized - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-unocha-org` - Publisher: unocha.org - Source type: official\_position - Registry title: UN relief chief's World Humanitarian Day remarks on violence against aid workers - Editorial note: Official UN position delivered by Tom Fletcher on 19 August 2026. Read as a policy statement, not a statistical dataset; its 2026 figure of 82 is one side of a disputed count against the IRC's 84. - Original: [Open source]() Tom Fletcher's 19 August 2026 briefing remarks mark World Humanitarian Day and call for solidarity with humanitarians. OCHA and UN-linked reporting on 19 August 2026 put the number of aid workers killed so far in 2026 at 82, while the IRC reported 84 on 18–19 August 2026. The discrepancy is presented as disputed rather than resolved. The 2025 global toll was at least 350 aid workers killed, with Gaza accounting for 186 and Sudan for 71; together those two contexts accounted for 257 of 350 deaths, or about 73%. A total of 907 aid workers were killed, injured, or kidnapped in major security incidents during 2025, including 322 injured and 235 kidnapped, according to Humanitarian Outcomes and OCHA-linked reporting published in August 2026. Fletcher's remarks, delivered from Kyiv, frame the issue as one of solidarity and non-normalization. The source is an official position, so its language should be read as advocacy and policy framing rather than as new incident data. #### Takeaways - OCHA's 2026 death count is 82, disputed against the IRC's 84. - 2025 saw 350 aid workers killed and 907 killed, injured, or kidnapped in major security incidents. - The UN relief chief's statement is an official call for solidarity, not a statistical release. #### Visual provenance - Caption: UN relief chief says violence against humanitarians must not be normalized. - Alt text: UN relief chief says violence against humanitarians must not be normalized. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### AWSD records 350 aid workers killed in 2025 - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-aidworkersecurity-org` - Publisher: aidworkersecurity.org - Source type: primary\_document - Registry title: Aid Worker Security Database: 2025 summary statistics - Editorial note: Primary dataset maintained by Humanitarian Outcomes. Read as the underlying incident registry, not narrative or advocacy; data are verified only through 31 December 2025 and published in August 2026, so 2026 counts are outside this source. - Original: [Open source]() The primary database behind the 2025 figures, with data verified through 31 December 2025. At least 350 aid workers were killed worldwide in 2025, according to Aid Worker Security Database figures verified through 31 December 2025 and published in August 2026. Gaza accounted for 186 deaths and Sudan for 71; together they accounted for 257 of 350 deaths, or about 73%. The database also records 907 aid workers killed, injured, or kidnapped in major security incidents during 2025, including 322 injured and 235 kidnapped, according to Humanitarian Outcomes and OCHA-linked reporting published in August 2026. Its summary table covers annual figures from 2009 through 2025. This source is a primary document: it provides the incident-level basis for the global totals but does not itself make policy calls or assign responsibility. Use it to verify the 2025 figures, not to source 2026 developments. #### Takeaways - 2025 global aid worker deaths: at least 350, with Gaza and Sudan at about 73%. - Major security incidents in 2025 affected 907 aid workers: 350 killed, 322 injured, 235 kidnapped. - The AWSD is a primary dataset verified only through 31 December 2025. #### Visual provenance - Caption: Verified database counts 350 aid workers killed in 2025. - Alt text: Verified database counts 350 aid workers killed in 2025. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### DRC leads incidents and fatalities; kidnappings nearly double to 235 - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org` - Publisher: humanitarianoutcomes.org - Source type: research - Registry title: Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025 - Editorial note: Research analysis from the AWSD team. Read for incident composition and actor categories; keep the 280 detentions/arrests separate from the 907 killed/injured/kidnapped total, and do not treat the DRC or kidnapping trends as global totals. - Original: [Open source]() Humanitarian Outcomes' 2016–2025 analysis details how violence against aid workers is distributed and changing. In 2025, the AWSD recorded 350 aid workers killed, 322 wounded, and 235 kidnapped in major security incidents, for a total of 907 killed, injured, or kidnapped, according to Humanitarian Outcomes and OCHA-linked reporting published in August 2026. The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounted for the majority of incidents and fatalities. Kidnappings by non-state actors and criminal groups nearly doubled from the previous year to 235, with serious injuries also increasing. The AWSD additionally recorded 280 detentions and arrests of aid workers by state actors in 2025; this figure is separate from the 907 killed, injured, or kidnapped total and should not be added to it. Gaza and Sudan together accounted for 257 of the 350 aid worker deaths in 2025, or about 73%, with Gaza at 186 and Sudan at 71. This research source provides the analytical breakdown behind those global figures, but its DRC and kidnapping findings are context-specific, not global claims. #### Takeaways - 2025 major security incidents: 350 killed, 322 wounded, 235 kidnapped, totaling 907. - DRC accounted for the majority of incidents and fatalities; kidnappings nearly doubled to 235. - 280 detentions/arrests by state actors are separate from the 907 killed/injured/kidnapped total. #### Visual provenance - Caption: Research tracks aid worker victims from 2016 to 2025. - Alt text: Research tracks aid worker victims from 2016 to 2025. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### A research group documents record aid-worker violence as funding collapses - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org-2` - Publisher: humanitarianoutcomes.org - Source type: research - Registry title: Defenceless: Aid Worker Security Amid the Humanitarian Funding Collapse - Editorial note: Research report from Humanitarian Outcomes; read its 2024 baseline and first-half 2025 trend as the report's own findings, and keep its incident categories separate from the 2025 aggregate of 907 killed, injured, or kidnapped in major security incidents. - Original: [Open source]() Humanitarian Outcomes' report frames 2024 as another record year and says the first half of 2025 continued the surge, while linking security to the funding collapse. The report's summary of key findings states that 2024 was another record-setting year for aid worker fatalities, with 383 humanitarians killed in violent incidents, 308 seriously injured, 125 kidnapped, and at least 45 arrested or detained. It adds that the first half of 2025 saw the surge in violence continue unabated, with the number of incidents and fatalities already rising, though the excerpt does not give a full 2025 total. This source is a research product, not a news dispatch; its 2024 figures are its own compilation and should not be merged with the 2025 global total of at least 350 killed reported by the Aid Worker Security Database through December 31, 2025 and published in August 2026. For 2025, the verified aggregate is 907 aid workers killed, injured, or kidnapped in major security incidents, including 322 injured and 235 kidnapped, according to Humanitarian Outcomes and OCHA-linked reporting published in August 2026. #### Takeaways - The report treats 2024 as a record year and signals that early 2025 continued the trend. - Its 2024 categories include arrests and detentions, which are not part of the 2025 907 figure's stated categories. - Keep the report's 2024 baseline separate from the 2025 global counts. #### Visual provenance - Caption: Report examines aid worker security amid humanitarian funding collapse. - Alt text: Report examines aid worker security amid humanitarian funding collapse. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### UN reporting puts Gaza and Sudan at the center of 2025 aid-worker deaths - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-news-un-org` - Publisher: news.un.org - Source type: news - Registry title: Aid Workers Under Fire as Drones Reshape Warfare - Editorial note: UN News is UN-linked reporting; treat its 2025 context figures as consistent with OCHA-linked data, and keep its 2026 count of 82 separate from the IRC's 84. - Original: [Open source]() UN News reports Gaza remained the deadliest context in 2025 with 186 aid workers killed, while Sudan recorded 71, together about 73 percent of the global total. The article reports that despite a ceasefire declared in October, Gaza remained the deadliest context for aid workers in 2025, with 186 killed, and that Sudan's continued conflict drove fatalities to a record 71. Those two contexts together account for 257 of the 350 aid workers killed worldwide in 2025, or about 73 percent, according to the Aid Worker Security Database figures verified through December 31, 2025 and published in August 2026. As UN-linked reporting, this source is part of the OCHA-aligned count that put 2026 aid-worker deaths at 82 as of August 19, 2026, while the IRC said 84 on August 18-19, 2026; the two figures should not be conflated. The headline's reference to drones is not developed in the excerpt; read the piece for its context-level fatality figures rather than as a technical analysis of drone warfare. #### Takeaways - Gaza and Sudan dominated 2025 aid-worker fatalities, with 186 and 71 deaths respectively. - UN-linked reporting and the IRC differ on the 2026 count: 82 versus 84. - The source is a news account, not a primary incident database. #### Visual provenance - Caption: UN reports aid workers under fire as drones reshape warfare. - Alt text: UN reports aid workers under fire as drones reshape warfare. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### A detailed reconstruction of the March 23, 2025 Tal as-Sultan killings - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-aljazeera-com` - Publisher: aljazeera.com - Source type: news - Registry title: Reconstruction of the Tal as-Sultan Attack That Killed 15 Aid Workers - Editorial note: Al Jazeera reports on a single incident reconstruction; read it as a case study, not an aggregate count, and keep its details separate from global 2025 totals. - Original: [Open source]() The report describes the killing of 15 aid workers in Rafah, including PRCS paramedics, PCD firefighters, and a UNRWA staff member. The article offers what it calls the most detailed reconstruction to date of the incident in Tal as-Sultan, west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on March 23, 2025. Fifteen aid workers were killed in the attack, including paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, firefighters from the Palestinian Civil Defence, and a staff member of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. This incident is one of the events behind Gaza's 186 aid-worker deaths in 2025, a figure reported by UN-linked sources and part of the global total of at least 350 killed that year. As a news report focused on one event, it does not by itself establish aggregate trends; use it for incident-level detail and keep it separate from the 907 killed, injured, or kidnapped in major security incidents during 2025. #### Takeaways - The Tal as-Sultan attack killed 15 aid workers on March 23, 2025. - The dead included PRCS paramedics, PCD firefighters, and a UNRWA staff member. - This is a case study within Gaza's 186 aid-worker deaths in 2025. #### Visual provenance - Caption: Reconstruction of Tal as-Sultan attack that killed aid workers in Gaza. - Alt text: Reconstruction of Tal as-Sultan attack that killed aid workers in Gaza. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### Humanitarian agencies push back on IDF explanation for Gaza medic deaths - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-theguardian-com` - Publisher: theguardian.com - Source type: news - Registry title: Agencies Reject IDF Claim on Gaza Medic Killings - Editorial note: The Guardian reports a contested account; treat the IDF's 'professional failures' claim and humanitarian agencies' rejection as disputed, not as established fact. - Original: [Open source]() The article covers a dispute over the cause of aid-worker killings in Gaza, with agencies rejecting the IDF's claim of professional failures. The Guardian reports that humanitarian agencies rejected an Israeli military claim that the killings of Gaza medics were caused by 'professional failures'. The piece includes a screenshot from a Palestine Red Crescent Society video described as showing the last moments during the incident in which aid workers were killed. This is a dispute over one incident, not an aggregate statistic; it should be read alongside the verified 2025 figure of 186 aid-worker deaths in Gaza, but it does not independently confirm the cause of those deaths. International humanitarian law protects humanitarian personnel as civilians when they are entitled to civilian protection, and intentionally attacking them can constitute a war crime; this source does not adjudicate that legal question for the incident. #### Takeaways - The IDF claim and the agencies' rejection are presented as contested, not resolved. - The source is a news report on a specific dispute, not a data release. - Legal protection for aid workers is conditional on entitlement to civilian protection. #### Visual provenance - Caption: Agencies reject IDF claim on Gaza medic killings. - Alt text: Agencies reject IDF claim on Gaza medic killings. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### Five Sudanese volunteers killed during food distribution, IFRC says - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-reuters-com` - Publisher: reuters.com - Source type: news - Registry title: IFRC Reports Five Volunteers Killed Distributing Food in Sudan - Editorial note: News report from Reuters; read as a single incident account attributed to IFRC, not as a global tally. - Original: [Open source]() A Reuters news item reports an IFRC statement on a lethal attack against volunteers in Sudan. This Reuters report covers a specific incident in Sudan: five volunteers were killed while distributing food, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The report does not provide a date for the attack or a total casualty figure beyond the five deaths. The item is a single-source news account based on IFRC statements. It should be read alongside aggregate data, such as the Aid Worker Security Database figure of at least 350 aid workers killed worldwide in 2025, verified through December 31, 2025 and published in August 2026, and the 2025 Sudan total of 71 aid-worker deaths reported by UN-linked sources. Because the excerpt is limited to the headline and page furniture, the full article's sourcing and corroboration are not visible here. Treat the five deaths as reported by IFRC via Reuters, not as independently confirmed in this batch. #### Takeaways - Reuters relays an IFRC account of five volunteers killed while distributing food in Sudan. - The report is incident-specific and does not itself establish a broader trend. - Use aggregate verified figures for context: 71 aid-worker deaths in Sudan in 2025, per UN-linked reporting. #### Visual provenance - Caption: IFRC reports five volunteers killed distributing food in Sudan. - Alt text: IFRC reports five volunteers killed distributing food in Sudan. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### Video showed Red Crescent volunteers beaten; some later killed, Red Crescent says - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-reuters-com-2` - Publisher: reuters.com - Source type: news - Registry title: Red Crescent Says Beaten Volunteers in Video Were Later Killed - Editorial note: Reuters follow-up; read as a developing account with video evidence and survivor accounts, not a final determination. - Original: [Open source]() A Reuters report links a video of beatings to later killings of Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers. This Reuters item reports that a video showed Red Crescent volunteers being beaten and interrogated, and that some of those volunteers were among those later killed, according to the Sudanese Red Crescent. The excerpt also notes that others escaped from a moving vehicle. The account is attributed to the Red Crescent and relies on video and survivor statements. It does not provide a total number killed in this incident or a date, and it should not be read as an independent confirmation by Reuters. The report contributes a specific, visual element to documentation of violence against aid workers in Sudan, but it is one incident among the 71 aid-worker deaths in Sudan in 2025 reported by UN-linked sources. #### Takeaways - The Red Crescent says volunteers shown being beaten in a video were later killed. - The report includes survivor accounts of escape from a moving vehicle. - Treat the link between the video and the killings as asserted by the Red Crescent, not independently verified here. #### Visual provenance - Caption: Red Crescent says beaten volunteers in video were later killed. - Alt text: Red Crescent says beaten volunteers in video were later killed. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### Brookings piece alleges RSF killed or abducted 460 people at el-Fasher hospital - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-brookings-edu` - Publisher: brookings.edu - Source type: research - Registry title: Brookings Analysis: RSF and SAF Violence Against Civilians and Aid Workers in Sudan - Editorial note: Research/analysis piece; read as an institutional argument with specific allegations, not a neutral incident log. - Original: [Open source]() A Brookings analysis describes abuses by the RSF and SAF, including attacks on health workers and aid supplies. This Brookings research piece states that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) looted humanitarian supplies and murdered local aid workers. It further alleges that immediately after the fall of el-Fasher, RSF fighters killed or abducted 460 health workers, patients, and others in the city's last functioning hospital. The piece also claims that even after winning control of el-Fasher, the RSF continues to block all humanitarian assistance to remaining residents. These are specific allegations presented by the author; the excerpt does not show independent verification or a date for the hospital incident. Read this as an analytical account with a clear institutional perspective. It should be weighed against aggregate verified data, such as the 71 aid-worker deaths in Sudan in 2025 reported by UN-linked sources, rather than treated as a standalone casualty count. #### Takeaways - Brookings alleges RSF looting of aid supplies and murder of local aid workers. - The piece claims 460 health workers, patients, and others were killed or abducted at el-Fasher's last functioning hospital. - The analysis asserts ongoing RSF blocking of humanitarian assistance to el-Fasher residents. - Treat the 460 figure as an allegation from the Brookings piece, not a verified total. #### Visual provenance - Caption: Analysis of RSF and SAF violence against civilians and aid workers in Sudan. - Alt text: Analysis of RSF and SAF violence against civilians and aid workers in Sudan. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### Security Council resolution decries attacks on UN and aid workers - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-apnews-com` - Publisher: apnews.com - Source type: news - Registry title: Security Council Approves Resolution Demanding Protection for UN and Aid Workers - Editorial note: AP news report on a UN Security Council resolution; read as an institutional action account, not a legal analysis. - Original: [Open source]() AP reports the Security Council approved a resolution demanding protection for humanitarian and UN personnel. This AP News report covers the Security Council's approval of a resolution decrying attacks on UN and aid workers and demanding their protection. The excerpt includes a file photo caption referencing Palestinians inspecting a vehicle with the World Central Kitchen logo, but the text of the resolution is not included in the excerpt. The report should be read in the context of international humanitarian law: humanitarian personnel are protected as civilians when they are entitled to civilian protection, and intentionally attacking them can constitute a war crime under international law, according to verified legal claims. The resolution is an institutional response to documented violence. It does not itself provide casualty figures; for those, use the Aid Worker Security Database figure of at least 350 aid workers killed worldwide in 2025, verified through December 31, 2025 and published in August 2026. #### Takeaways - The Security Council approved a resolution decrying attacks on UN and aid workers. - The resolution demands protection for humanitarian and UN personnel. - The AP report does not include the resolution's full text or casualty data. - Pair with verified legal framing: intentional attacks on protected humanitarian personnel can constitute a war crime. #### Visual provenance - Caption: Security Council approves resolution demanding protection for aid workers. - Alt text: Security Council approves resolution demanding protection for aid workers. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### WHO marks World Humanitarian Day 2026 by honouring health workers killed in service and calling for greater protection of health care. - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-who-int` - Publisher: who.int - Source type: official\_position - Registry title: WHO World Humanitarian Day 2026: Honouring Fallen Health Workers and Calling for Protection of Health Care - Editorial note: Read as an official WHO commemoration, not as an incident database or statistical source; it centres personal narratives and institutional calls for protection. - Original: [Open source]() An official WHO page frames the day around personal stories of fallen aid workers and the health workers still providing care in dangerous settings. WHO uses World Humanitarian Day 2026 to honour the memory of colleagues and health workers who lost their lives in the line of duty, while recognizing the dedication of health workers who continue to provide care in some of the world's most challenging and dangerous environments. The page presents personal stories of aid workers through the voices of families, loved ones, and the communities they left behind. It is an institutional commemoration rather than a statistical account of aid-worker casualties. #### Takeaways - WHO's focus is on health-care protection and commemoration, not on aggregate casualty figures. - The source relies on personal narratives from families and communities, not on incident-level verification. - Read it alongside statistical sources for numbers, but not as a source of those numbers. #### Visual provenance - Caption: WHO honours fallen health workers and calls for protection of health care. - Alt text: WHO honours fallen health workers and calls for protection of health care. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### ICRC memorial lists staff members who died or went missing while carrying out humanitarian missions. - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-memorial-icrc-org` - Publisher: memorial.icrc.org - Source type: media\_archive - Registry title: ICRC Remembrance Wall: Staff Lost in Security Incidents, Accidents, or Missing on Mission - Editorial note: Read as a memorial archive of individual ICRC staff losses, not as an aggregate incident report; entries include date, country, and name. - Original: [Open source]() A remembrance wall records individual ICRC staff losses, including three entries dated 12 September 2024 in Ukraine. The Remembrance Wall presents the stories of ICRC staff members who died in a security incident or an accident, or who went missing, while carrying out their humanitarian mission. The excerpt lists three staff members dated 12 September 2024 in Ukraine: Denys Gorodetskiy, Sergiy Lubinets, and Volodymyr Shamskyi. It also begins an entry dated 28 August, though the full details are cut off in the available excerpt. #### Takeaways - This is a memorial, not a statistical dataset; it records individual cases rather than annual totals. - It includes deaths from accidents and missing persons, not only deaths from attacks. - Dates and locations are specific to each entry and should not be aggregated without further verification. #### Visual provenance - Caption: ICRC remembrance wall lists staff lost in security incidents or missing. - Alt text: ICRC remembrance wall lists staff lost in security incidents or missing. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### UN calls for justice and answers after humanitarian workers killed in Gaza; IDF acknowledges ambulances and fire trucks were struck. - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-jurist-org` - Publisher: jurist.org - Source type: news - Registry title: UN Demands Justice and Answers from Israel over Killings of Humanitarian Workers in Gaza - Editorial note: Read as a contemporaneous news account of a specific Gaza incident with competing claims; keep apart from aggregate annual aid-worker casualty data. - Original: [Open source]() A JURIST news report covers a Gaza incident in which the IDF initially said a Hamas operative and eight other terrorists were among those killed, then acknowledged ambulances and fire trucks were among the vehicles struck. The report describes vehicles moving without headlights or emergency signals. The IDF said a Hamas operative and “eight other terrorists” were among those killed, but later acknowledged that ambulances and fire trucks were among the vehicles struck. The military has not commented on the whereabouts of a missing PRCS medic. The attack followed the collapse of a ceasefire on March 18, after which Israel launched a major offensive, according to the report. #### Takeaways - The source presents competing accounts: the IDF's initial claim and its later acknowledgment about ambulances and fire trucks. - It covers a specific incident, not a statistical summary of aid-worker deaths. - The missing PRCS medic's status was unresolved in the available excerpt. #### Visual provenance - Caption: UN demands justice and answers from Israel over Gaza aid worker killings. - Alt text: UN demands justice and answers from Israel over Gaza aid worker killings. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ### April 2025 Security Council forecast cites 379 aid workers killed in 2024, the deadliest year on record. - Registry ID: `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-securitycouncilreport-org` - Publisher: securitycouncilreport.org - Source type: research - Registry title: Security Council Report April 2025 Forecast: Protection of Humanitarian and UN Personnel - Editorial note: Read as a pre-2025 research forecast using Aid Worker Security Database figures through 2024; keep apart from 2025 and 2026 casualty counts. - Original: [Open source]() A Security Council Report monthly forecast reviews threats to humanitarian personnel, citing Aid Worker Security Database figures for 2024 and 2023. According to the Aid Worker Security Database, 379 aid workers were killed in 2024, making it the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel. This continued a trend from 2023, during which 280 aid workers were killed, representing a 137 percent increase from the year before. The available excerpt ends mid-sentence on the war in Gaza, so the full assessment is not shown. #### Takeaways - The source provides a 2024 baseline of 379 aid-worker killings, not 2025 or 2026 figures. - It relies on Aid Worker Security Database data and frames 2024 as the deadliest year on record. - The 2023 figure of 280 killed and the 137 percent increase are specific to that database's reporting. #### Visual provenance - Caption: Security Council forecast on protection of humanitarian and UN personnel. - Alt text: Security Council forecast on protection of humanitarian and UN personnel. - Credit: Totally Fine Foundation - Rights / license: Project editorial graphic; original source(s) linked - Asset: [View image]() - Original / provenance: [Open source]() ## Analysis shelf ### Major attacks on aid workers: Summary statistics - Publisher: aidworkersecurity.org - Type: dataset - Why it matters: Provides the verified 2025 casualty figures used in the dossier. - Position note: Aid Worker Security Database perspective; data verified through December 31, 2025 and covers major attacks, not all incidents. - Original: [Open source]() ### Aid worker victims of violence, 2016–2025 - Publisher: humanitarianoutcomes.org - Type: report - Why it matters: Research basis for the 350 killed, 322 wounded, and 235 kidnapped figures. - Position note: Humanitarian Outcomes research perspective; scope is major security incidents and the stated categories, not detentions or arrests. - Original: [Open source]() ### Protection of Humanitarian and UN Personnel, April 2025 Monthly Forecast - Publisher: securitycouncilreport.org - Type: report - Why it matters: Provides Security Council context on protection of humanitarian personnel. - Position note: Security Council Report research perspective; covers 2024 data and challenges, not the 2025 verified totals. - Original: [Open source]() ## Media shelf ### Aid workers under fire as drones reshape warfare - Publisher: news.un.org - Type: media - Why it matters: UN News reporting on Gaza and Sudan aid-worker deaths in 2025. - Position note: Linked reference, not hosted material; UN News perspective. - Original: [Open source]() ### Five volunteers killed in Sudan while distributing food, IFRC says - Publisher: reuters.com - Type: media - Why it matters: Documents killings of volunteers in Sudan. - Position note: Linked reference, not hosted material; Reuters reporting. - Original: [Open source]() ### Security Council approves resolution decrying attacks on UN and aid workers and demanding protection - Publisher: apnews.com - Type: media - Why it matters: Reports Security Council action on protection of aid workers. - Position note: Linked reference, not hosted material; AP reporting. - Original: [Open source]() ## Open questions - Reconcile the 2026 year-to-date killed figure: IRC 84 vs OCHA/UN-linked 82 as of Aug 19, 2026; determine which incidents are included or excluded. - Clarify whether the 907 figure includes the 350 killed or is a separate incident-based count; do not sum. - Confirm the exact scope of 'major security incidents' in the 907 figure. - Monitor whether the IRC's call for accountability (likely claim) is matched by any named government or party response; treat the IRC call as likely/reported. - Track whether Gaza and Sudan sub-totals are updated in the next Aid Worker Security Database refresh. - Ensure source reading texts characterize each source's type, perspective, contribution, and limitations rather than restating the article; remove causal wording, unsupported comparisons, unsupported percentages, and any source-specific claim not covered by verified claims. Remove speculative supporter/opponent/independent assertions and inferred obligations from metrics, actors, and claims blocks; preserve all verified claim statuses and limit the 907 caveat to major security incidents and stated categories. Remove any quotes block entry not backed by verbatim English evidence; strip unsupported 'third consecutive year' and 68% material. ## Source registry - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-rescue-org` — [rescue.org — IRC statement on 2025 aid worker deaths and accountability](); humanitarian; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-unocha-org` — [unocha.org — UN relief chief's World Humanitarian Day remarks on violence against aid workers](); official\_position; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-aidworkersecurity-org` — [aidworkersecurity.org — Aid Worker Security Database: 2025 summary statistics](); primary\_document; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org` — [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Humanitarian Outcomes research on aid worker victims, 2016–2025](); research; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-humanitarianoutcomes-org-2` — [humanitarianoutcomes.org — Defenceless: Aid Worker Security Amid the Humanitarian Funding Collapse](); research; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-news-un-org` — [news.un.org — Aid Workers Under Fire as Drones Reshape Warfare](); news; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-aljazeera-com` — [aljazeera.com — Reconstruction of the Tal as-Sultan Attack That Killed 15 Aid Workers](); news; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-theguardian-com` — [theguardian.com — Agencies Reject IDF Claim on Gaza Medic Killings](); news; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-reuters-com` — [reuters.com — IFRC Reports Five Volunteers Killed Distributing Food in Sudan](); news; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-reuters-com-2` — [reuters.com — Red Crescent Says Beaten Volunteers in Video Were Later Killed](); news; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-brookings-edu` — [brookings.edu — Brookings Analysis: RSF and SAF Violence Against Civilians and Aid Workers in Sudan](); research; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-apnews-com` — [apnews.com — Security Council Approves Resolution Demanding Protection for UN and Aid Workers](); news; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-who-int` — [who.int — WHO World Humanitarian Day 2026: Honouring Fallen Health Workers and Calling for Protection of Health Care](); official\_position; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-memorial-icrc-org` — [memorial.icrc.org — ICRC Remembrance Wall: Staff Lost in Security Incidents, Accidents, or Missing on Mission](); media\_archive; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-jurist-org` — [jurist.org — UN Demands Justice and Answers from Israel over Killings of Humanitarian Workers in Gaza](); news; date not supplied - `src-aid-worker-violence-2025-securitycouncilreport-org` — [securitycouncilreport.org — Security Council Report April 2025 Forecast: Protection of Humanitarian and UN Personnel](); research; date not supplied