WHO reports record attacks on humanitarian workers in 2019

In a statement marking World Humanitarian Day on 19 August 2020, WHO highlighted the work and safety of humanitarian responders, including local health workers, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The statement described movement restrictions, limited resources and rising humanitarian needs as challenges for aid delivery. It also drew attention to attacks on health workers since the pandemic began.

Citing the Aid Worker Security Database maintained by Humanitarian Outcomes, WHO reported 483 relief workers attacked in 277 major incidents in 2019: 125 were killed, 234 wounded and 124 kidnapped. The number of victims was 18% higher than in 2018. Most attacks occurred in Syria, followed by South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan and the Central African Republic. Mali and Yemen each recorded twice as many major attacks as the previous year.

The statement noted that attacks on humanitarians increased by 117% in 2010–2019 compared with 2000–2009, and called for accountability and protection of aid workers. These figures describe humanitarian-worker security, not clinical outcomes; the statement does not provide methods for independently assessing the database figures. It also presented personal stories from responders, including refugees working in health care and Ebola workers assisting with the COVID-19 response.