Aid workers faced record number of attacks in 2025, UN says

A record number of aid workers faced violent attacks last year, partly driven by the increased use of armed drones, the United Nations humanitarian office has said. According to an Aid Worker Security Database, a platform that compiles major incidents affecting humanitarian workers, 907 aid workers were killed, injured or kidnapped in 2025 alone. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the level of violence "appalling" and urged states to respect the rules of war and hold perpetrators accountable. "Serving others has become more dangerous than ever," he said in a statement on Wednesday. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said the proliferation of cheap and adaptable armed drones in conflicts has increased the risks.