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Title: UN Officials Urge Immediate Action to Protect Aid Workers Amid Rising Attacks
During a United Nations Security Council session dedicated to the protection of civilians in conflict zones, senior UN officials issued a stark warning about the escalating violence against humanitarian personnel around the world.
Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and Gilles Michaud, head of the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), addressed the Council, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize both the safety and accountability for attacks against aid workers.
Focus of the Debate: Resolution 2730 (2024)
The meeting centered around Security Council Resolution 2730 (2024), which calls on member states to enhance safeguards for UN and humanitarian personnel operating in conflict zones.
“Let me be blunt,” Msuya said. “Attacks on aid workers must stop—those responsible must be held accountable.”
A Record Year of Violence
Msuya reported that 2024 has become the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, with 377 killed across 20 countries. That number represents a jump of nearly 100 deaths over the previous year, which had already seen a 137% increase in fatalities over 2022. In addition, aid workers faced numerous other violations, including injuries, kidnappings, attacks, and arbitrary detention.
Sudan has been particularly deadly, with at least 85 aid workers—all Sudanese nationals—killed since conflict erupted in April 2023.
Grave Incidents in Gaza
In Gaza, the situation remains dire. Just three days prior to the Council briefing, OCHA and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society recovered the bodies of 15 aid workers buried in a mass grave. These individuals had been killed by Israeli forces while carrying out rescue missions.
“This tragedy follows another deadly incident just 11 days earlier, on March 19, when another UN staff member was killed and six others wounded,” Msuya added.
Since October 7, 2023, more than 408 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza, making it the most dangerous location for aid personnel globally.
A Call for Political Will and Action
Msuya challenged Council members to go beyond words and take action. “We’re here to discuss protection. So, I ask: what will this Council do to help us find answers, deliver justice, and prevent future killings?”
While legal frameworks already exist to protect aid workers, she pointed out that what’s lacking is the political will to enforce these laws.
Local Humanitarians Hit Hardest
About 95% of those killed are local aid workers, who form the backbone of emergency and relief operations. Despite their crucial role, violence against them often receives little public or media attention.
“These colleagues deserve our utmost respect,” Msuya said. “Yet, the harm they endure is frequently met with silence.”
Criminalization and Disinformation
Aid workers are increasingly facing accusations of terrorism simply for delivering aid. Many are detained and interrogated unjustly. Furthermore, misinformation campaigns targeting humanitarian organizations are spreading in regions like Haiti, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and Yemen.
Adding to the crisis, growing funding gaps are forcing agencies to make tough decisions, cutting assistance just when it’s most needed.
Three Appeals to the Council
Msuya outlined three main requests to Council members:
1. Ensure respect for international law and the safety of humanitarian and UN personnel by taking measures such as Security Council visits, conducting fact-finding missions, or imposing arms embargoes.
2. Publicly condemn attacks on aid workers, including national staff. “Silence, double standards, and selective outrage only embolden those who commit these crimes,” she warned.
3. Pursue justice by strengthening both national and international efforts to prosecute attacks on aid workers. She urged the Council to refer cases to the International Criminal Court when national systems fail.
Accountability Must Include Survivors
Msuya stressed that accountability should go beyond punishment. Survivors of attacks must be involved in decision-making and discussions. She endorsed the Secretary-General’s call for a survivor-centered approach that gives a voice to impacted humanitarian workers.
UNDSS Chief: Impunity Becoming the Norm
Gilles Michaud echoed Msuya’s concerns, stating that impunity for attacks on aid workers has become a “pervasive normal.”
“This trend is not only driven by non-State actors but also by governments and their affiliates,” he said. Michaud warned that widespread disregard for international law, combined with budget cuts by some Member States, is forcing the UN and its agencies to scale back aid operations significantly—at the cost of both lives and stability.
He emphasized that reduced capacity leads to increased risks. “If we deliver less aid, humanitarian staff may become the first targets of public anger.”
Adjusting to Constraints, Upholding Commitments
While the UN
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