Overview
- The UN reports 907 humanitarian workers were attacked in 2025, including 350 killed, 322 wounded, and 235 abducted, with the Gaza Strip the deadliest deployment.
- UNRWA says at least 393 of its staff have been killed since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, underscoring severe agency losses in that theatre.
- The UN humanitarian coordinator attributes part of the increase to the wider use of inexpensive armed drones, which can strike convoys and field teams with little warning.
- UN Secretary‑General António Guterres called the scale of violence shocking and senior figures including former UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini have demanded high‑level inquiries and prosecutions.
- Year‑to‑date 2026 UN figures show the threat persists with 82 aid workers killed, 97 injured, and 39 abducted, a trend that could force agencies to limit movements and reshape operations to protect staff.