The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday reported that more aid workers, healthcare staffers, delivery personnel and other humanitarians have been killed in 2024 than in any other year, with a recorded death toll of 281 aid workers globally.
Many of the workers were killed while providing humanitarian assistance on front lines, including local staff working with non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. While most of the fatalities were recorded in Gaza, workers in Afghanistan, South Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen also face high levels of violence, kidnappings, and arbitrary detention. UN humanitarian official Tom Fletcher said, "This violence is unconscionable and devastating to aid operations. State parties to conflict must protect humanitarians, uphold international law, prosecute those responsible, and call time on this era of impunity."
The principle of distinction under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) "requires that Parties to an armed conflict distinguish at all times between combatants and military objectives on the one hand, and civilian persons and objects on the other, and accordingly attack only legitimate targets." Rule 31 of IHL states that civilian humanitarian relief personnel are protected against attacks according to the principle of distinction. Moreover, UN Resolution 1296, adopted by the UN Security Council in 2000, further called on all warring states to an armed conflict, including non-State parties, "to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement" of humanitarian relief personnel. In that regard, all parties engaged in warfare must prioritize civilian protection and enable neutral and impartial humanitarian access.
In response to attacks on humanitarian workers, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2730 in May 2024. The resolution calls upon all states to become parties to the Convention on the Safety of the United Nations and Associated Personnel and its Optional Protocol and to take steps to enable its effective implementation. The recommendations will be presented at the UN Security Council meeting on November 26, 2024.
Earlier this week, the US vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that would have demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages in Gaza. The International Criminal Court (ICC) also issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.