Record Number -280 Aid Workers Killed in 2023 and Likely More in 2024 - Principals, IASC

The world saw a record number of aid workers killed in 2023 - 280 aid workers from 33 countries. This was more than double the previous year’s figure of 118, according to OCHA on World Humanitarian Day.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted that honoring the humanitarians killed in the deadliest year on record is not enough.The Principals of the Inter-agency Standing Committee sent the following open letter to the member states on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day.

Open Letter to the Member States of the UN General Assembly, on behalf of the IASC PrincipalsSigned by 413 humanitarian organizations around the world who are calling for the protection of civilians, including their staff

Excellencies,

This World Humanitarian Day, our staff and volunteers around the world will stand in solidarity to spotlight the horrifying toll of armed conflicts on their colleagues and on all civilians, particularly children.

The brutal hostilities we are seeing in multiple conflicts around the world have exposed a terrible truth: We are living in an era of impunity. Attacks that kill or injure civilians, including humanitarian and health-care personnel, are devastatingly common. Yet despite widespread condemnation, serious violations of the rules of war too often go unpunished.

This status quo is shameful and cannot continue.

In 2023, tens of thousands of civilians were killed or injured in armed conflict, with fatalities among humanitarian workers doubling compared to the previous year.

The toll in 2024 – the number of deaths, injuries, detentions and kidnappings – is already staggering. The overwhelming majority of recorded attacks on aid workers are inflicted on national staff. Women-led organizations and female humanitarian staff face unique and often increased risks, just because they are women. The impact on the mental health of civilians and humanitarian workers has reached unprecedented levels.

And yet parties to conflict continue to flout laws meant to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, and civilian objects.

This year, on World Humanitarian Day, we appeal to all States, parties to armed conflict, and the wider international community to:End attacks on civilians and take active steps to protect them – and the critical civilian infrastructure they rely on.

Protect all aid workers, including local and national actors, and their premises and assets and facilitate their work, as called for in UN Security Council Resolution 2730 adopted this May.

Hold perpetrators to account. Those who commit violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) cannot go unpunished.

We should not have to wait for an annual moment such as World Humanitarian Day to remind all parties to armed conflict, and all States, of their obligations under IHL. Adherence to IHL must happen every day irrespective of occasion. It is non-negotiable and is not subject to exceptions.

It is vital that all parties to armed conflict and all States adhere to their obligations and leverage their influence to ensure respect for the rules of war and minimize human suffering.

Fulfilling these obligations requires more than mere declarations – it demands immediate and decisive actions.Turning a blind eye when humanitarian workers are targeted only emboldens those who seek to hinder their work. This only serves to increase food insecurity, childhood malnutrition, involuntary displacement and the spread of infectious diseases and other threats. The immediate effects of these will not only be limited to areas of conflict but often spread far beyond.

We will continue to stay and deliver in humanitarian crises around the world – but the situation requires us to take a united stand to call for the protection of our staff, volunteers and the civilians we serve.

Signed by:CARE International
A Chance Again Girl Education Foundation (ACAGEF)
ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality
Abak Peace Foundation
Abs Development Organisation for Woman and Child (ADO)
Access Development and Relief Organization-ADRO
Action Against Hunger
Action Contre la Faim
Action For Humanity
Action for Social and Economic Progress (ASEP)
Action for the needy in Ethiopia (ANE)
Action pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant (APDE)
ActionAid
ActionAid International
Active in Development Aid (ADA)
Adamawa Concern Disable Foundation
Adamawa Initiative for Underprivileged Empowerment (ADIFUE)
Adamawa Women Initiative for Leadership and Development (ADWILD)
ADRA Europe
ADRA Lebanon
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)
Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation
Africa Humanitarian Action (AHA)
African Relief and Development (ARD-African)
Against All Odds Foundation (AGAOF)
Agency for Minority Rights and Development (AMARD)
Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED)
AKKMA National Coalition Pilipinas
Al Mehran Research & Development Foundation (AMRDF)
Al Sham Humanitarian Foundation
Alaman Organization for Blind Women Care (AOBWC)
Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA)
Alimat Care Foundation
Alliance of International Doctors (AID)
Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration (DCR Ambassadors)
AMEL Association International
Americares
AMURT
Anera
Anglican Missions
Arewa Young Women Graduates Support Initiative (AYW-Grads)
Association Najdeh
Assured Better Life Initiative
ASWHAN Adamawa
Australian Council for International Development
Australian Lutheran World Service
AwazCDS-Pakistan
AWO International (Germany)
Baptist World Aid Australia
Bege House Foundation
Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief
BINAA Organization for Development
Bioforce Afrique
Blumont
Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Centre
Bonyan for Youth and Development
Bridge Builders Women and Girls Initiative
Budapest Centre for Dialogue and Mass Atrocities Prevention
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation
Building Foundation for Development (BFD)
CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
CARE
Caritas Africa
Caritas Australia
Cáritas Española
Caritas Internationalis
Catholic Relief Services Nigeria
CCDRN
CDA Collaborative Learning
CDAC Network
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
Center of Concern
Centre d'Appui aux Initiatives de Developpement Local (CAIDEL)
Centre for Community Resource, Health and Social Development (CCRHSD)
Centre for Sustainable Development
CESVI
CHAD INGO Forum
Cheerful Hands Initiative (CHI)
Child & Women International Development
Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative
ChildFund Alliance
ChildFund International
Childvoice
Christian Aid
Christian Blind Mission Ireland
Christian World Service New Zealand
CHS Alliance
Church World Service
Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS)
Civil Society Coalition for poverty Eradication (CISCOPE)
Community and Family Services International (CFSI)
Community Development and Media Centre
Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation for Women and Youth (CEPFoWY)
Community Empowerment and Social Development Organization (CESDO)
Community Reach out Initiative (CRI) Yola
Community World Service Asia
Concern Worldwide
Confluence Development inn (CODI)
Congo Explorer
Consortium of Youth Associations for the Defense of Victims of Violence (COJEDEV)
Coordination of National NGOs Chad (CONA-T)
Coordination SUD
Cordaid
Council for International Development Aotearoa New Zealand
Dadah Foundation for Educational Empowerment (DAFEE)
DanChurchAid
Danuwa Empowerment Foundation
Daryas Organization for Developing Woman and Society
Dawis Initiative for Sustainability, Community Development (DISCOD)
Debbie Kauna Foundation (Disability Rights)
DEEG-ROOR Medical Organization
Democracy School Yemen (DSYemen)
Development Initiatives
Development Institutions Network Pakistan (DIN)
Developmental Action Without Borders- Nabaa
Dharti Development Foundation
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
Dóchas
Dorcas Sisters Foundation
DRC Danish Refugee Council
Dream alive women and orphans support foundation (Dawos foundation)
Dünya Doktorları/Médecins du Monde
Education Cannot Wait
Empowerment for Development
Environmental Protection Society (EPS)
Episcopal Relief & Development
EU-CORD Network
Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF)
Every Casualty Counts
Farm Radio International
Femenni Development Initiative
Femmes et Développement FEDE
FHI 360
Field Ready-Middle East
Fiji Council of Social Services
Finnish Refugee Council (FRC)
First Step Action for Children Initiative (FSACI)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Food for the Hungry
Forum des ONGI en RDC
Freedom Jasmine
Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA
Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO)
Garib Unnayan Sangstha
GBIHLI Guardians Brotherhood International Humanitarian Leadership Inc.
Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Children Initiative
General Union of Voluntary Societies
German Doctors e.V.
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Global Communities
Global Education Emergencies Support Initiative (GEESI)
Global Educational, Economic and Social Empowerment
Global Giving International
Global Mission Partners
Global Support and Development (GSD)
Global Women’s Institute
Global Womens Health Rights and Empowerment Initiative
GOAL
GOAL Global
Grassroot Life Saving Outreach
Grow With Data Youth Foundation (GWD)
HD Foundation
Headwaters Relief Organization
Health And Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) Pakistan
Heifer International
Hellen Keller International
HelpAge Canada
HelpAge International
Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe
Helvetas
HIAS
Hidig Relief & Development Organization
Himaya Daeem Aataa
Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF)
Hope Revival Organization
Hope Rising for the Less Privileged and Vulnerable Foundation
Hopeful Women Initiative
Horan Foundation - HF
Horn of Africa Peace Network (HAPEN)
HUJRA Village Support Organization
Human Organization for Peaceful Environment (HOPE)
Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International
Humanity Forum Indonesia
Hwa Foundation Sindh Pakistan
iACT
IHE Delft
IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation
Ihsan Relief and Development
Iimaan Relief and Development Organization
Imam Sadr Foundation
Independent Public Health Consultant
Indus Environment Development Organization (IEDO)
Initiative Africaine pour le Développement Durable
Initiative For Women's Health Development and Rights Protection Nigeria
Innovative Humanitarian solution (IHS)
Institute for Promotion of Civil Society (IPCS)
Integrated Regional Support Program
Integrated Social Services Program (ISSP)
InterAction
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
International Medical Corps
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
International Rescue Committee
INTERSOS
IRADO
Islamic Relief
Islamic Relief Deutschland e.V.
Islamic Relief USA
Jabu Development Foundation JDF
Jaggarta Organization
Jami Al Hakeem Foundation (J-HF)
Jen initiative for Integrity and Development
Jesuit Refugee Service
JHPiego
Johanniter International Assistance
Jordan Health Aid Society International
Kanzul Masakin Islamic Foundation
LASOONA Relief & Development Organization
Lembaga Daya Dharma Keuskupan Agung Jakarta
LIFE
Life Helpers Initiative (LHI)
Life Makers Meeting Place Organization (LMMPO)
LM International/Läkarmissionen
Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization
LSPR Centre for Crisis and Resilience
Lutheran World Federation
Management Sciences for Health
Mandhere Relief and Development Organisation
Marginalized Communities Advocacy Network (MCAN)
Mariam Ladi Yunusa Foundation
Matasa 360 initiative for social justice and development
Medair
Médecins du Monde International Network
Medecins du Monde Network
Medecins sans Frontieres - Western and Central Africa (MSF - WaCA )
MedGlobal
MedGlobal-Yemen
Medical Teams International
Mercy Corps
MERCY Malaysia
Mercy-USA for Aid and Development
Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
Morning Star Foundation (MSF)
Muslim Hands
Muzaffarabad Poverty Alleviation Programme
Muzun for Humanitarian and Development
Nahda Makers Organization (NMO)
Nak Akphivath Sahakum
Nana Maren Association for Charity and Awareness
National Disaster Management Network of Nepal (DiMaNN)
National initiative for social advocacy (Nisafoundation)
NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response)
Never Again International - Canada
New Followership New Africa Initiative
New Ways Organisation
NGORC
Nigerian Aid Group of Islam NAG-JNI
Nkafamiya Rescue Mission
No Borders Humanity Organization (NBH)
Nonviolent Peaceforce
Northwest Syria NGO Forum
Norwegian Peoples Aid
Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
Now Bahar Rehabilitation Organization
Olive Branch Organisation
ONG-ASHAD
Oxfam
Oxfam America
Oxfam International
PACIDA
Pak Education Society/Pakistan Development Network
Pak Mission Society (PMS)
Pampam development initiative
Pattan Development Organisation
PAX
Peace Foundation Pakistan
People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE)
People in Need
Permanent Peace Movement
Petuniya children youth and women initiative
Physicians for Peace
Plan International
Plan International Ireland
Plan International Nigeria
Plant with Purpose
Population Communication
Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS)
Premiere Urgence Internationale
Project HOPE
Project HOPE: The People-to-People Health Foundation Inc.
Protect Humanitarians
Rahma Worldwide
Reformist's Social Welfare and Development Organization WORDS
Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK)
Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT)
Regional Advocacy for Women 's Sustainable Advancement
Regional Advocacy for Women's Sustainable Advancement Alliance for African and Arab States
Relief International
Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL)
Restoration of Hope Initiative (ROHI)
Road to Economic Development Organisation
Roshni Development Foundation
ROWYOD
Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA)
Rural Agricultural Transformation and Empowerment Initiative
Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization READO
Rural Education and Economic Development Society
Rural Outreach Africa
Ruwad alHoukouk FR (Frontiers Rights)
Sahara Economic Development Organization
Saibaan Pakistan
Salam Humanitarian Foundation (SHF)
Salient humanitarian organizations
Samir Aldarabi
Save the Children
Scalabrini International Migration Network - SIMN
Search for Common Ground
Secours Islamique
Sened organization
Service Chretien d'Haiti
SEWAR organization
SHAFAK
Shahbaz welfare association
SHIFA Welfare Association-SHIFA
SIF - Secours Islamique France
Siiqqee Women's Development Association
Syrian Local NGO Platform (NES)
Smart lives Initiative
Smiling Hearts Initiatives International (SHI)
Social Development International (SDI)
Society for Empowering Human Resource (SEHER)
Solidarités International
Solution for Humanity (SFH)
Somali NGO Consortium (SNC)
Somali Relief Centre
Sorasun Foundation
SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria
South Sudan NGO Forum
Space Of Peace
Sphere
Spring of Hope Global Initiative
SSEWA-Pak
Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR)
Step Organisation for Democracy and Election
Stichting Vluchteling
Sukh Development Foundation
Sustainable Development Foundation
Synergie des ONG Nationales pour les actions Humanitaires au Niger. (SONAH)
Syria Relief & Development (SRD)
Syrian American Medical Society
Syrian Expatriates Medical Association
Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)
Tabitha for Relief and Development
Takaful Al Sham Charity (TAS)
Tamkeen Foundation for Development
Tarjimly
Tearfund
Télécoms Sans Frontières
Terre des hommes (Tdh) Helping children worldwide
The Amazon Healing for Women and Children Empowerment Initiative
The Lebanon Humanitarian & Development NGOs Forum (LHDF)
The Nigeria INGO Forum
The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation
The White Helmets
The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations - Rasd Coalition
Today For Tomorrow Initiative (TFT)
Trócaire
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
United Nations Foundation
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons
United Nations Youth Office
UNOPS
VENRO - Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs
Violet for Aid and Development
VOICE
Voluntary Service Overseas
Volunteers for Emergency and Disaster Rescue Initiative VEDRI, Numan
Volunteers for Sustainable Development
Wahatana Empowerment Initiative
Wajir South Development Association (WASDA)
War Child Alliance
WATAN
Water for South Sudan
Watoto Walanga Project
Wecare Foundation Sujawal
Welthungerhilfe (WHH)
Welthungerhilfe Country Office Zimbabwe
Will Association
Women Economic Emancipation Initiative
Women for Women International
Women's Refugee Commission
World Bank
World Food Programme (WFP)
World Health Organization (WHO)
World Vision International
Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA)
Yetim Vakfı (Orphan Foundation)
Yola Renewal Foundation
Youth Front Pakistan
Zamzam Foundation
Zwala Foundation
File(s)

File
WHD Letter to Member States.pdf

File
WHD Letter to Member States (Arabic).pdf

File
WHD Letter to Member States (Chinese).pdf

File
WHD Letter to Member States (French).pdf

File
WHD Letter to Member States (Russian).pdf

File
WHD Letter to Member States (Spanish).pdf