CITY, Country — The year 2026 has seen a surge in risks faced by aid workers, with at least 158 incidents recorded between January 1 and June 19, according to Insecurity Insight. These incidents, spanning 23 countries, resulted in the death of 65 aid workers, injuries to 123, abductions of 46, and arrests of 83. South Sudan, the occupied Palestinian territory, and Sudan have been the most dangerous for aid workers, accounting for 56% of all aid worker killings.
In South Sudan, 15 aid workers were killed, predominantly in shootings; in the occupied Palestinian territory and Sudan, most killings resulted from drone and artillery strikes.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that over half of all reported injuries were concentrated in Lebanon, Ukraine, and Iran, with 22 injuries in each country. These figures underscore the complexities of delivering humanitarian assistance in regions affected by ongoing conflicts and insecurity.
In Burkina Faso, the UN Human Rights Office announced plans to close its office on November 30, 2026, due to the military junta’s suspension of its operations. This follows a pattern of shutting down media outlets, labor unions, and charities that have tried to investigate the junta.
In Malawi, a Red Cross volunteer was injured during a protest involving repatriated Malawians who had returned from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.
In South Sudan, a humanitarian convoy belonging to the John Dau Foundation was ambushed by armed Murle youth, resulting in the death of five JDF aid workers and nine others injured.
In Sudan, a humanitarian aid truck was almost completely destroyed by RSF forces, killing a driver and injuring an unspecified number of people. Another incident involved a UNHCR-contracted truck carrying humanitarian relief supplies that was hit by a suspected RSF drone strike, destroying approximately 50 metric tonnes of relief items.
The situation in Ukraine has also been perilous, with two employees of Norwegian People’s Aid killed and four others injured when a demining team was struck by a Russian Iskander-M missile.
The rising risks faced by aid workers highlight the need for enhanced protection measures and improved security risk management.
The international community must recognize the risks and take concerted action to protect aid workers and ensure the delivery of critical assistance to those in need.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: Insecurity Insight
