UN Reports 350 Aid Workers Killed in 2025 Amid Rising Drone Attacks
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The Story
A total of 350 aid workers were killed worldwide in 2025, the United Nations reported, with Gaza and Sudan identified as the deadliest locations. This figure represents a slight decrease from 377 aid workers killed in 2024, but the UN described the overall toll as unacceptable. Since the start of 2026, 82 aid workers have been killed, 97 injured, and 39 abducted globally. Tom Fletcher, under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, stated that states must uphold international humanitarian law and ensure consequences for those who violate it. OCHA expressed concern over the proliferation of armed drones, which are increasing lethal power and the use of explosive weapons in urban areas. In Sudan, armed drones accounted for 80 percent of civilian deaths in the first four months of 2026. Gaza was the deadliest place for aid workers for the third consecutive year, with 186 killed in 2025, largely due to aerial bombardment. Sudan followed with 71 fatalities, a record high for the country. Other high-insecurity contexts in 2025 included Ukraine, Ethiopia, Syria, Haiti, Chad, and Cameroon, where kidnappings and aerial bombardments were common.
The Spread
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What they agree on
- 350 aid workers were killed in 2025.
- Gaza was the deadliest location for aid workers in 2025, with 186 killed.
- Sudan was the second deadliest location for aid workers in 2025, with 71 killed.
- The United Nations reported these figures on World Humanitarian Day.
- The use of armed drones is a growing concern contributing to aid worker deaths.
Where they split
- Al-Monitor and The Straits Times report 907 aid workers were attacked (killed, injured, or kidnapped) in 2025, while Reuters and AllAfrica focus on the number killed.
- Al-Monitor and The Straits Times state the 2025 death toll was down slightly from a record 387 in 2024, while AllAfrica states fatalities fell but remained historically high.
- Al-Monitor and The Straits Times mention drone strikes in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, in March 2026, while AllAfrica focuses on drone use in Sudan in early 2026.
Source Perspectives
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