World Humanitarian Day: The Deadliest Year for Aid Workers in Gaza
On this World Humanitarian Day, the alarming escalation of violence against humanitarian workers demands urgent global attention, with Gaza now tragically recognized as the deadliest place on earth for those delivering aid.
REFORM: The Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development
Posted on 19 Aug 2024
With at least 287 aid workers killed and the systematic violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), the situation in Gaza underscores a devastating disregard for the principles meant to protect both civilians and those who serve them. Immediate global action is needed to protect these workers and ensure the safe delivery of aid, as the world cannot afford to ignore this humanitarian crisis.
On this World Humanitarian Day, August 19, we are called to reflect on the escalating dangers faced by humanitarian workers across the globe. This year’s theme, focusing on the erosion of respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL), starkly resonates with the tragic realities in Gaza, which has become the epicentre of a devastating humanitarian crisis.
Gaza now holds the grim distinction of being the most dangerous place on earth for aid workers, where the very act of delivering life-saving assistance has become a fatal endeavor.
This is unfortunately an underestimate, with no official data on aid workers from international and Palestinian civil society who have lost their lives simply trying to provide aid assistance. It remains unclear exactly how many aid workers have been killed by Israel’s `offensive while delivering humanitarian aid due to constant bombardment and ceaseless displacement from so-called “safe zones”.
The scale of these losses is unprecedented, making this year the deadliest on record for humanitarian workers in any single conflict zonesince 1997, surpassing Afghanistan’s record of 81 incidents in 2013. The numbers closely match the overall recorded aid worker deaths in Syria over a decade-long conflict from 2011 to 2021, standing at 320.
Yet, even these numbers, as staggering as they are, do not fully capture the scope of the tragedy. Compounding this challenge is the difficulty in accurately tracking the casualties among aid workers due to the chaotic conditions in Gaza.
More than 300 of Gaza’s health workers are in Israeli detention, according to Gaza’s health ministry, while others have been detained for a time and then released. Additionally, the World Health Organization reports that 500 health workers have been killed by Israeli attacks.
The consequences of these deaths are far-reaching. The loss of aid and health workers has crippled the ability of organisations to deliver essential services, exacerbating an already dire situation. The health system in Gaza, once a critical lifeline for the sick and injured, is now in ruins.
Out of 90 hospitals and primary health care centres, almost none are operational, leaving millions without access to essential care. The destruction of these facilities, often targeted by airstrikes, has left pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and the injured in a state of unimaginable peril.
The Shattered Illusion of Safe Passage
IHL is clear in its stipulations; humanitarian workers must be protected, and their ability to deliver aid must be safeguarded.
Yet, in Gaza, these protections have been systematically violated. Israeli has promoted "safe zones" and “evacuation corridors”, touted as measures to protect civilians and aid workers, but which have no basis in international law has proven to be a deadly farce. These zones, far from offering sanctuary, have instead become traps, frequently targeted by airstrikes and bombardments.
This failure to protect humanitarian workers and civilians alike must be recognised for what it is; a direct assault on the principles that underpin the protection of civilians in conflict zones. The normalisation of attacks on the civilian population, and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe, demands urgent and decisive action from the global community.
World Humanitarian Day is a moment for reflection, but it must also be a catalyst for action. The Danish Refugee Council joins the global call to #ActForHumanity, demanding that world leaders take concrete steps to end the violations of IHL that have made Gaza the most dangerous place on earth for aid workers. We call for immediate action to protect humanitarian workers and ensure the safe delivery of aid, not just in Gaza, but in all conflict zones where the principles of IHL are under threat.
The impunity with which these violations are carried out is perhaps the most alarming aspect of the crisis in Gaza. Despite 75 years of universally accepted international laws designed to regulate the conduct of armed conflict and limit its impact, these laws are being flouted with alarming regularity. Perpetrators of attacks on aid workers continue to evade justice, further emboldening those who would disregard IHL.
We must not allow the deaths of these individuals to be in vain. The international community has a moral obligation to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on aid workers and to ensure that IHL is respected and upheld. This means not only condemning the violations but also taking tangible steps to end impunity and enforce the protections enshrined in international law.
World Humanitarian Day is a moment for reflection, but it must also be a catalyst for action. The Danish Refugee Council joins the global call to #ActForHumanity, demanding that world leaders take concrete steps to end the violations of IHL that have made Gaza the most dangerous place on earth for aid workers. We call for immediate action to protect humanitarian workers and ensure the safe delivery of aid, not just in Gaza, but in all conflict zones where the principles of IHL are under threat.
The impunity with which these violations are carried out is perhaps the most alarming aspect of the crisis in Gaza. Despite 75 years of universally accepted international laws designed to regulate the conduct of armed conflict and limit its impact, these laws are being flouted with alarming regularity. Perpetrators of attacks on aid workers continue to evade justice, further emboldening those who would disregard IHL.
We must not allow the deaths of these individuals to be in vain. The international community has a moral obligation to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on aid workers and to ensure that IHL is respected and upheld. This means not only condemning the violations but also taking tangible steps to end impunity and enforce the protections enshrined in international law.
Protect the Living
As we mark World Humanitarian Day, we honour the memory of the aid workers who have lost their lives in Gaza and around the world.
Their sacrifice must not be forgotten, and their courage must inspire us to redouble our efforts to protect those who continue to work in the most dangerous conditions. The world cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the crisis in Gaza or to the broader erosion of respect for IHL that it represents.
The Danish Refugee Council reaffirms its commitment to the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
We stand in solidarity with all humanitarian workers and call on the global community to ensure that the protections they are entitled to under IHL are not just words on paper, but realities on the ground.
