The United Nations announced on Saturday that 2024 is set to become the “deadliest” year for humanitarian workers, with a record 281 deaths.
“This violence is unacceptable and devastating for humanitarian operations,” said Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, in a statement.
The majority of those killed were local staff working with non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
OCHA also reported that in 2023, more than 33,000 civilians lost their lives in 14 armed conflicts, a 72% increase from the previous year. In the same period, approximately 280 humanitarian workers died in 33 countries.
Despite these dangers, humanitarian organizations were able to provide life-saving assistance to nearly 144 million people in need across the globe in 2023.
In response to the rising violence, the UN Security Council passed a resolution in May calling for increased protection for humanitarian workers. The resolution urges the UN Secretary-General to propose measures aimed at preventing such incidents, improving accountability, and enhancing the protection of humanitarian personnel and property. These recommendations are expected to be presented at a Security Council meeting next Tuesday.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.