Aid worker deaths reach 383 as reported by the United Nations in 2024
Record Number of Aid Workers Killed in 2024
A troubling trend has emerged in the humanitarian sector, with reports indicating a significant increase in the number of aid workers killed worldwide in 2024. According to various sources, at least 377 aid workers have lost their lives, surpassing the 2023 toll by nearly 100 deaths.
This upward trend is concerning, with a 31-37% rise over the previous year in both killings and major violent incidents against aid workers. The escalating conflicts and targeting of aid workers are driving this disturbing trend.
Key Causes and Trends
The most deadly regions for aid workers in 2024 were Gaza and Sudan, with Gaza alone seeing 181 aid worker deaths and Sudan about 60. The Israeli military's actions in Gaza and conflicts in these regions are believed to be the primary causes of these fatalities.
Aid workers are increasingly being targeted by both state and non-state actors. In 2024, around 95-97% of aid worker fatalities were local staff, who are more exposed due to greater access to dangerous areas and less visibility and protection than international staff.
The violence occurred in 40 countries in 2024, up from 33 in 2023, indicating a wider global insecurity and political obstructions, such as arrests and detentions of aid workers. Additionally, there is an increasing concern about the growing impunity for these attacks, with perpetrators rarely facing consequences due to a lack of political will and weak enforcement of international humanitarian law.
Responses and Challenges
Humanitarian organizations are calling for a permanent ceasefire and political solutions, especially in Gaza, to reduce risks and allow aid to reach those in need. Aid workers continue to operate despite exhaustion and danger, highlighting the urgent need for better protections and accountability measures.
There is an emerging recognition that protecting local staff, who constitute the majority of victims, must be a higher priority for international actors.
Summary of Key Data for 2024 Aid Worker Deaths
| Metric | 2024 Data | Change from 2023 | |----------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------| | Aid workers killed | 377–383 (UN and AWSD figures) | +31-37% increase | | Major violent incidents | 568 | +36% | | Countries affected | 40 (up from 33 in 2023) | +7 | | Deaths in Gaza | 181 | Sharp rise | | Deaths in Sudan | 60 | Increased | | % of victims local staff | 95-97% | Steady trend |
These figures reveal widening geographic risks and escalating intensity of violence impacting humanitarian efforts globally. The World Health Organization has stated that each attack inflicts lasting harm, deprives entire communities of life-saving care, endangers health care providers, and weakens already strained health systems.
As of August 14, provisional figures from the Aid Worker Security Database show that 265 aid workers have been killed this year. The trend shows no signs of abating in 2025, emphasizing the urgent global challenge of ensuring the security of aid workers amidst increasing targeted violence and politically driven conflict environments.
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