Attacks on aid workers hit record high in 2025, U.N. says
A record number of humanitarian workers were attacked last year, driven partly by increased use of armed drones, the United Nations said on Wednesday, calling the trend 'appalling'.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
The United Nations reported a record number of attacks on aid workers in 2025, with 907 workers killed, injured, or kidnapped. The trend is attributed to the increased use of armed drones in conflicts.
Imagine you're helping people in a war zone, but the people fighting are using special machines called drones that can hurt you. This is happening more and more, and it's making it harder for people to help those in need. It's like trying to help someone in a very dangerous place, and the danger is getting worse.
Analysis
Record Number of Attacks on Aid Workers
The United Nations reported a record number of attacks on aid workers in 2025, with 907 workers killed, injured, or kidnapped. This trend is attributed to the increased use of armed drones in conflicts.
Proliferation of Armed Drones
The proliferation of cheap and adaptable armed drones in conflicts has increased the risks for aid workers. In March, drone strikes hit Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least three people, including a French aid worker. Aid convoys in Sudan and Ukraine have also been repeatedly hit.
Gaza: The Most Deadly Place for Aid Workers
Gaza was by far the most deadly place for aid workers in 2025, with 186 humanitarians killed there last year. The U.N. Palestinian refugee agency has reported at least 393 staff killed there since the Israel-Gaza war began on October 7, 2023. Israel has said it goes to great lengths to avoid all civilian casualties.
Call for Greater Protections
Bushra Khalidi, global humanitarian policy lead at Oxfam, called for greater protections for aid workers, saying: 'We're witnessing an assault on humanitarian action itself.'
Key points
- A record number of humanitarian workers were attacked in 2025, with 907 workers killed, injured, or kidnapped.
- The trend is attributed to the increased use of armed drones in conflicts.
- Gaza was the most deadly place for aid workers in 2025, with 186 humanitarians killed there last year.
- The U.N. Palestinian refugee agency has reported at least 393 staff killed in Gaza since the Israel-Gaza war began on October 7, 2023.
If the international community can come together to address the issue of armed drones and provide greater protections for aid workers, it could lead to a decrease in the number of attacks and a safer environment for humanitarian efforts.
The increasing use of armed drones and the lack of accountability for perpetrators could lead to a further escalation of violence against aid workers, making it even more difficult for them to carry out their work.
