A record 907 humanitarian workers were killed, wounded or kidnapped in 2025, the United Nations said, marking the highest annual tally of attacks on aid personnel. The 350 fatalities were slightly fewer than the 377 killed in 2024, but overall violence against relief staff reached unprecedented levels.
Gaza remained the deadliest location for a third consecutive year with 186 deaths, followed by Sudan at 71. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said more than 1,000 aid workers have been killed in just three years, calling the toll "totally unacceptable." Secretary-General António Guterres urged states to enforce the laws of war and hold perpetrators accountable.
Violence has continued into 2026, with 82 aid workers killed, 97 wounded and 39 abducted since January. The UN warned that the proliferation of cheap, adaptable armed drones poses a growing threat to civilians and relief operations alike.