350 humanitarian workers killed worldwide in 2025
According to the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD), 350 humanitarian workers were killed worldwide in 2025, marking the second-highest annual death toll since the database began tracking data in 1997. The highest recorded fatalities occurred in 2024, with 387 deaths.
The Gaza Strip was identified as the most dangerous location, where 186 aid workers lost their lives following the October 2023 Hamas attacks and subsequent Israeli military operations. Sudan also saw significant casualties, with 71 workers killed amidst the ongoing civil war.
Data indicates that more than 99 percent of the fatalities are local workers from the affected regions. Additionally, the AWSD reported that 1,187 workers were injured, detained, or kidnapped in 2025, the highest number in the database's history. Preliminary data for 2026 shows 83 deaths have already been recorded.
Entities: Aid Worker Security Database · Boris Breyer · Gaza Strip · Humanitarian Outcomes · SOS Children's Villages
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 9 SOURCES] 186 humanitarian workers died in the Gaza Strip in 2025. (Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD))
- [● 9 SOURCES] More than 99 percent of the fatalities were local workers. (Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD))
- [● 9 SOURCES] 71 humanitarian workers died in Sudan in 2025. (Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD))
- [● 9 SOURCES] 350 humanitarian workers were killed worldwide in 2025. (Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD))
- [● 8 SOURCES] In 2026, 83 humanitarian workers had died as of the reported period. (Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD))
- [● 7 SOURCES] Humanitarian workers are facing increased risks and need greater protection despite legal protections. (Boris Breyer (SOS Children's Villages))
- [● 9 SOURCES] The 2025 death toll is the second highest since data collection began in 1997. (Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD))