National aid workers bear brunt of record violence, Save the Children says
Credit: ReliefWeb
National humanitarian workers have accounted for 96% of attacks against aid personnel over the past five years, as violence against humanitarian workers reaches unprecedented levels, Save the Children said Monday ahead of World Humanitarian Day.
An analysis by Save the Children of data from the Aid Worker Security Database found that about 3,496 national aid workers were victims of major attacks between Aug. 1, 2021, and the end of July 2026. The incidents included deaths, detentions, kidnappings and attacks resulting in serious injuries.
By comparison, 134 international aid workers were victims of such attacks during the same period.
Save the Children said the findings come after 2025 became the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, with more than 1,180 aid workers worldwide affected by major attacks. The war in the occupied Palestinian territories accounted for much of the violence, with 187 humanitarian workers killed, 80 injured, 23 detained and two kidnapped.
Although the number of attacks against humanitarian workers in 2026 has fallen to its lowest level in a decade, national staff account for 98% of victims — the highest proportion recorded since data collection began in 1997.
Most attacks recorded this year have occurred in Lebanon, South Sudan and Sudan, making the three countries among the most dangerous places for humanitarian workers, according to Save the Children.
The organization said attacks against national staff often receive less international attention, despite international humanitarian law prohibiting attacks on humanitarian personnel.
“National staff bear the brunt of attacks year on year. However, when a national aid worker gets killed, detained, injured or kidnapped, it rarely makes headlines,” Gabriella Waaijman, Save the Children’s chief operating officer, said.
Waaijman said national humanitarian workers are often directly affected by the crises they respond to, sometimes experiencing displacement, hunger and violence alongside the communities they serve.
“When aid workers cannot safely reach communities, children die,” she said, warning that insecurity can cut children off from food, health care, education, protection and other essential services.
Save the Children called on governments and parties to conflict to take urgent action to protect humanitarian personnel and civilians.
The organization urged parties to conflict to comply with international humanitarian law, facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access and protect humanitarian workers and civilian infrastructure.
It also called on states to use diplomatic and legal measures to prevent attacks, safeguard humanitarian access and ensure accountability for violations.
Save the Children said new technologies, including drones and artificial intelligence, should be accompanied by stronger measures to protect civilians and humanitarian workers.
World Humanitarian Day is observed annually on Aug. 19 to recognize humanitarian workers and promote the protection of people affected by crises and conflict.
