A total of 281 first responders and humanitarian workers have been killed so far in 2024 in contexts of war, a figure never before recorded, as reported this Friday by the UN.
“This figure exceeds all previous records,” said the spokesperson for the United Nations Humanitarian Aid Coordination Office (OCHA). Jens Laerke.
The war in Gaza has been one of the factors that has most influenced this tragedy and its extension to Lebanon raises fears of the worst in the coming weeks and months.
During 2023, a total of 280 humanitarian workers They lost their lives in the line of duty in 33 countries.
Since the start of the war in Loopon October 7 of last year, 333 humanitarian workers have died, a dozen of them so far this month alone.
The vast majority were employees of the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)but there are also dozens who belonged to other UN organizations, the Palestinian Red Crescent, including volunteers, and various NGOs.
According to a database that compiles this information since 1997, the most common causes of these deaths were aerial bombardments (from airplanes, helicopters or drones), ground artillery shots and other types of explosives, such as grenades.
“This violence is unconscionable and devastating for aid operations. States and parties to the conflict must protect humanitarian workers, respect the international lawprosecute those responsible and end this era of impunity,” OCHA urged.
“There are not all the prosecutions that should be seen, it is a question of justice. The high number of our colleagues murdered is unacceptable,” Laerke told the international press at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva.
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