Ottawa, ON – April 9, 2026 – Human Concern International (HCI) is deeply alarmed by new data indicating that more than 1,000 humanitarian workers have been killed globally over the past three years. In 2025 alone, at least 326 humanitarians were killed across 21 countries, marking a devastating and unprecedented escalation in violence against personnel dedicated solely to delivering life-saving aid.
According to new United Nations data, more than 560 of these deaths occurred in Gaza and the West Bank, with additional losses in Sudan, South Sudan, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These figures point to a growing disregard for international humanitarian law and the protections it provides to aid workers.
“As humanitarian workers are killed at unprecedented levels, we are witnessing a failure to uphold international humanitarian law and to protect those who risk their lives to serve others. Tragically, staff from partner organizations working alongside Human Concern International have also been killed over the past year while delivering life-saving assistance,” said Mahmuda Khan, CEO of Human Concern International.
As stated by the UN’s top aid coordination official, this trend represents the “collapse of protection” for humanitarian workers, who are being killed while delivering essential aid including food, water, shelter, and medical care – often in clearly marked vehicles and coordinated operations.
Humanitarian workers are being killed while delivering food, water, shelter, and medical care to civilians in crisis. Many operate in clearly marked vehicles and coordinated missions intended to ensure their safety. Yet attacks continue, alongside increasing restrictions on humanitarian access, intimidation of aid organizations, detention of staff, and disinformation campaigns that undermine humanitarian work.
Human Concern International calls on all parties to:
- Respect and uphold international humanitarian law, including the protection of humanitarian personnel
- Ensure safe, sustained, and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance
- End impunity and ensure accountability for violations against aid workers and humanitarian operations
About Human Concern International (HCI):
Human Concern International (HCI) is Canada’s first and oldest Muslim charity. Entrenched in all our work is our vision for a world without poverty and injustice. Since its inception, HCI has provided humanitarian aid and development support to tens of millions of individuals and families around the world as per our mission to save lives and move people from crises to sustainability through emergency response, education, healthcare, livelihoods, water and sanitation, and child sponsorship programs. For HCI, charity starts at home, and we uplift our community in both times of need and celebration.