280 lives lost as 2023 recorded as the deadliest for humanitarians

The United States Agency for International Development USAID has said last year 2023 was the deadliest on record for aid workers, with 280 people losing their lives.

USAID Administrator, Samantha Power who disclosed this in commemoration of World Humanitarian Day, 19th August, added that majority of those killed were in Gaza, where Israeli Defense Forces operations taken a devastating toll on those responding to the humanitarian crisis.

In a statement released by the Agency titled: “World Humanitarian Day, a more dangerous world for Humanitarian”, Power noted that attacks on aid workers is a reminder of the growing dangers for those courageous individuals undertaking humanitarian work around the world.
According to her, “In early June, Houthi authorities in Yemen launched a series of roundups of UN, civil-society, humanitarian staff and detained dozens of employees from 29 organizations – roughly 130 of whom still remain in Houthi custody and have not been heard from since.

“Two weeks later, a medical volunteer with Médecins Sans Frontières was killed in Khartoum when the Rapid Support Forces launched an artillery attack on Al Nao Hospital – the only functioning medical facility in the area.

“Just days after that, two Congolese aid workers with Tearfund were killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo when a rogue armed group attacked and set ablaze their convoy”. 

Speaking how devastating the situation is, Power cited how the United Nations recently described Gaza as the “most dangerous place in the world for aid workers,”

And in her own engagements with the Agency’s partners working in Gaza, aid workers have consistently described the conditions and dangers they face as among the worst they have ever seen throughout decades of responding to crises. 

USAID Administrator emphasized the need for aid workers which she said it’s growing as global humanitarian crises continue to worsen. ” An estimated 300 million require humanitarian assistance, protection this year due to natural disasters, acute food insecurity, and conflict.
“Humanitarian workers are vital in responding to all of these crises – delivering meals, clean water, and emergency medical care to those affected.

“These aid workers know the dangers of their critical work. They prepare their loved ones for the what-ifs, then they go out and do the work anyway – because they want to support people in need who are counting on them”, Power added. 

She pointed out that aid workers around the world, including USAID’s own humanitarians owed an immense debt of gratitude for their courage and dedication. “But more than that, we owe them our best efforts to keep them safe – and to reduce the immense risks they face.

“At USAID, we will continue to strengthen protection and coordination mechanisms to better protect humanitarian aid workers globally. We work to increase coordination among governments, UN agencies, and NGOs that can more safely facilitate the movement of aid.

“And we are pressing leaders to do much more to protect humanitarian workers, and are working to secure specific agreements on how they will do so. USAID is grateful to all who play a role in responding to crises around the world for their courage and commitment to such critical work”.