# Global violence against humanitarian workers

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-violence-against-humanitarian-workers
> Updated: 2026-08-17T16:08:09.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 2.

Reports from the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicate that 350 humanitarian workers were killed worldwide in 2025. This figure represents the second-highest annual death toll since tracking began in 1997. The Gaza Strip was identified as the most dangerous location with 186 deaths, followed by Sudan with 71 deaths due to its ongoing civil war.

In 2025, a total of 907 personnel were killed, injured, or kidnapped. The violence has persisted into 2026, with preliminary data recording over 80 deaths and numerous injuries and kidnappings. UN humanitarian operations lead Tom Fletcher described the trend of over 1,000 humanitarian workers killed in three years as “totally unacceptable.”

OCHA has identified the proliferation of cheap, adaptable armed drones as a significant growing concern. In Sudan, these drones were reportedly responsible for 80% of civilian deaths during the first four months of 2026, specifically targeting health centers and markets.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-17: UN reports 350 humanitarian workers killed in 2025

The UN reports 350 humanitarian workers were killed in 2025, primarily in Gaza and Sudan, amid rising violence and the concerning proliferation of lethal armed drones.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/un-reports-350-humanitarian-workers-killed-in-2025

### 2026-08-09: 350 humanitarian workers killed worldwide in 2025

The Aid Worker Security Database reports that 350 humanitarian workers were killed in 2025, the second-highest number since 1997, with most fatalities occurring in the Gaza Strip and Sudan.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/350-humanitarian-aid-workers-killed-worldwide-in-2025

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Cite as: Global violence against humanitarian workers. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-violence-against-humanitarian-workers
