World Humanitarian Day: One Aid Worker Killed, Injured, Kidnapped or Detained Daily, on Average, Since 2000 with 2025 Worst Year Yet

LONDON/GENEVA (Aug. 19, 2025)—An average of one humanitarian worker has been killed, injured, kidnapped or detained every day since 2000, with 2025 on track to be the deadliest on record for aid workers, Save the Children said on World Humanitarian Day.  

More than 8,500 major attacks on aid workers have been recorded since 2000, according to the latest data from the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD). The data shows that it is becoming increasingly dangerous to be an aid worker, with the risks rising year after year—despite international law prohibiting attacks against humanitarian workers. 

Last year was the deadliest on record for aid workers, with 383 people killed, including about 172 killed by this time last year. This prompted Australia—together with a handful of other countries—to draft the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, underscoring the international community’s commitment to reverse the deadly trend facing aid workers. 

However, despite the creation of the declaration, 2025 is on track to become the deadliest year on record, with 265 aid workers killed so far this year, up 54% from about this time last year, according to the provisional count from the AWSD. 

The rise in deaths over the past three years is mainly driven by the war in Gaza, during which Israeli forces have killed 173 aid workers so far this year, surpassing the total number of all aid workers killed globally in 2022.  
 
Inger Ashing, Chief Executive Officer at Save the Children said: 

"Every day, aid workers risk their lives to save lives. And every single day for more than 25 years, at least one aid worker, on average, has been killed, injured, kidnapped, or detained, while doing that work. That’s over 8,500 major attacks against aid workers. 

"The promise of protection for aid workers under international humanitarian law is broken. Our work is underfunded, overstretched, and under attack. We cannot accept a world where those who save lives are targeted for it. 

"One year ago, the world stood with us calling for the killing of humanitarian workers to end. World leaders listened—they signed the declaration—and then they looked away while the death toll continued to climb. 

"The laws are clear. Attacks on aid workers are war crimes—and war crimes must not go unpunished. We don’t need more declarations if they are not enforced or not every country signs on. We need action and accountability, to investigate, prosecute, and end the cycle of impunity."

Save the Children is calling on all governments to demand accountability for every violation of international humanitarian law against aid workers—and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.  

All governments must also endorse the upcoming Australia-led Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel to demonstrate a global commitment to protect aid workers and uphold the laws of war.

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The United Nations General Assembly set up World Humanitarian Day in 2008 and first commemorated it on August 19, 2009 to honor humanitarian workers and promote awareness of humanitarian efforts globally.

Notes to Editor:

• "Major incidents" are defined as killings, kidnappings, detentions, and attacks that result in serious injury. Kidnappings and detentions are only included as a 'major incident' if the aid worker was held for more than 24 hours, as defined by the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD). 
• Between January 2000 and August 2025, there were more than 8,500 major attacks against aid workers, according to data from the AWSD. That averages about 0.90 attacks against aid workers every day during this period.  
• As of August 18, 2025, 172 national aid workers and one international aid worker have been killed in the occupied Palestinian territory so far in 2025, according to AWSD.