2023 Deadliest Year for Aid Workers– & 2024 Could Be Worse, UN Predicts – Global Issues
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UNITED NATIONS, Aug 19 (IPS) – Back in August 2003, the United Nations faced one of its most violent tragedies when a terrorist attack on the UN headquarters in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, claimed the lives of 22 people.
Among those killed was Sergio Vieira de Mello from Brazil, the UN envoy to Iraq and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, a long-serving and prominent UN official spanning more than 30 years.
As the UN celebrates World Humanitarian Day on August 19, it continues to face the rising death toll among its humanitarian workers and peacekeepers around the world.
This day of remembrance was established by the General Assembly in 2008 after the 2003 bombing in Baghdad.
Finally, at least 254 aid workers have been killed since the current 10-month war began in Gaza on October 7 last year, and about 188 worked for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
According to the UN, “2023 was the deadliest year in history for aid workers and 2024 is likely to be worse”.
In a statement ahead of the World Humanitarian Day, Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly with 193 members said that aid organizations – from all over the world – are united to ask for the protection of civilians and aid workers, as well as to ensure their safety and unhindered access, including on all conflict lines.
Attacks on humanitarian workers and humanitarian supplies must stop, along with civilians and civilian infrastructure, he said.
Besides the UN and its agencies, some of the humanitarian organizations around the world in war zones include Doctors Without Borders, CARE International, Save the Children and the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
Last April, seven members of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza. The WCK said its team was traveling in a de-escalated area with two WCK-branded armored vehicles and a soft-skinned vehicle.
Despite coordinating the movement with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the convoy was hit when it left the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team unloaded more than 100 tons of food aid brought to Gaza by sea.
“This is not just an attack on the WCK, this is an attack on the aid organizations that show up in the worst situations where food is used as a weapon of war. This is inexcusable,” said WCK CEO Erin Gore.
The seven killed were from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, American and Canadian citizens, and Palestine.
“I am saddened and shocked that we-World Central Kitchen and the world-lost good lives due to the attacks targeted by the IDF. The love they had for feeding people, the determination they had to show that humanity rises above all, The impact they made on countless lives will be remembered and glorified forever, ” said Gore.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than half of the 2023 deaths were recorded in the first three months – from October to December – of the conflict in Gaza, mainly due to airstrikes.
The extreme level of violence in Sudan and South Sudan also contributed to the tragic death toll in 2023 and 2024. In all these conflicts, most of the dead are among the country’s workers. Many aid workers continue to be detained in Yemen.
“The condonation of violence against aid workers and the lack of accountability is unacceptable, unconscionable and a serious threat to aid operations everywhere,” said Joyce Msuya, acting under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency coordinator.
“Today, we reiterate our demand that the people in power take action to end the violation of laws against civilians and the impunity with which this heinous attack is carried out.” On this World Humanitarian Day, aid workers and those who support their efforts around the world have organized events to stand in solidarity and recognize the horrific number of armed conflicts, including aid workers, he said.
In addition, a joint letter by humanitarian leaders will be sent to Member States at the UN General Assembly calling on the international community to end attacks on civilians, protect all aid workers, and hold perpetrators accountable. Everyone can add their voice by joining and growing the digital campaign using the hashtag #ActforHumanity.
Meanwhile, UN peacekeeping is considered to be very effective–but from a military angle– in conflict-ridden countries and war zones where they are also vulnerable to attack.
At least 11 United Nations personnel – seven soldiers and four civilians – were killed in deliberate attacks in 2023, the United Nations Standing Committee on Security and Independence of the International Civil Service said.
And 32 UN peacekeepers – 28 soldiers and four police officers, including one policewoman – were killed in deliberate attacks in 2022, the United Nations Staff Union said.
For the ninth consecutive year, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) had the highest number of peacekeepers with the death of 14 people, followed by 13 people who died in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). , four deaths in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and one death in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The figures for previous years are as follows: 2021 (25 killed); 2020 (15 killed); 2019 (28 killed); 2018 (34 killed); 2017 (71 killed); 2016 (32 killed); 2015 (51 killed); 2014 (61 killed); 2013 (58 killed); 2012 (37 killed); 2011 (35 killed); and 2010 (15 killed).
Roderic Grigson, who was with the UN Emergency Force (UNEF II) on the Egyptian-Israeli border, told IPS that peacekeeping operations are extremely dangerous. “Our job as peacekeepers was to put ourselves between the two warring forces and separate them while the peace talks were conducted at the UN HQ in New York or elsewhere.”
Sometimes, he said, those negotiations take years to happen. “The area where we worked was often a recent war zone, strewn with shells and unexploded mines and the detritus of war.” “The opposition forces always viewed the UN peacekeepers as suspicious, and we had to work hard to earn their trust. When you walked the front lines into a safe place, you had to keep your wits about you”.
“We were never alone and kept in touch with UHF radio headquarters in clearly marked UN vehicles,” said Grigson, now a Melbourne-based book coach who teaches, mentors and supports writers. while running a publishing house for writers who wish to publish their stories.
From his personal experience, he said, “I can say that I have been shot several times, I had to wear a helmet and body armor while working, and I have faced being shot by two opposing opponents who wished to make a point during a meeting. ongoing negotiations.”
One of our colleagues was killed while driving the daily mail truck during a road excavation at night, Grigson said.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
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