UN reports record 907 humanitarian workers killed, injured or kidnapped in 2025
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
The UN humanitarian office reported that a record 907 humanitarian workers were killed, injured or kidnapped in 2025. Gaza remained the deadliest location for the third consecutive year, with 186 workers killed, while global fatalities fell slightly to 350. Armed drones drove a rising number of attacks, striking convoys and facilities in Ukraine, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Key Facts
- The UN humanitarian office recorded 907 humanitarian workers killed, injured or kidnapped in 2025, the highest annual total on record.
- Of that total, 350 humanitarian workers were killed in 2025, down slightly from a record 387 in 2024.
- Gaza remained the deadliest place for humanitarian workers for the third consecutive year, with 186 killed in 2025.
- Since the start of 2026, 82 humanitarian workers have been killed, 97 wounded and 39 kidnapped worldwide.
- In May, four humanitarian convoys were attacked in a single week in Ukraine, and armed drones hit markets and medical facilities in Sudan in the first four months of 2026, causing 80 percent of civilian deaths.
Record 2025 Toll
The UN humanitarian office published the report on 19 August, ahead of World Humanitarian Day. A record 907 humanitarian workers were killed, injured or kidnapped in 2025. The number killed fell slightly to 350 from a record 387 in 2024. However, the overall level of violence did not fall: 322 humanitarian workers were wounded and 235 were kidnapped.
Deadliest Locations and 2026
Gaza remained the deadliest place for humanitarian workers for the third consecutive year, with 186 killed in 2025. Sudan recorded the second-highest toll, with 71 humanitarian workers killed. Since the start of 2026, 82 humanitarian workers have been killed, 97 wounded and 39 kidnapped worldwide. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said more than 1,000 humanitarian workers have been killed in the past three years and called the level 'absolutely unacceptable'. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the violence 'appalling' and urged states to respect the rules of war and hold perpetrators accountable.
Armed Drone Attacks
The proliferation of cheap and adaptable armed drones has increased risks for humanitarian workers, the UN humanitarian office said. In March, drone attacks in Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo killed at least three people, including a French aid worker. A drone strike on a building in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in March killed one humanitarian worker, according to the UN report. In Ukraine, four humanitarian convoys were attacked in a single week in May. In Sudan, armed drones struck markets and medical facilities in the first four months of 2026, accounting for 80 percent of civilian deaths.
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UN reports record 907 humanitarian workers killed, injured or kidnapped in 2025
