Bangkok, 19 august 2025 - On World Humanitarian Day, Save the Children highlighted new data from the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD), showing that since 2000, humanitarian workers have been killed, injured, kid napped or detained at an average rate of one per day and 2025 is on track to be the deadliest year on record.

In 2024, a record 383 aid workers were killed —the highest number ever recorded. Despite the drafting of the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, led by the Government of Australia, attacks have continued unabated. However, even with the creation of this declaration, 2025 is on course to become the most dangerous year yet, with 265 aid workers killed so far—an increase of 54% compared to the same period last year, according to AWSD’s provisional count. The sharp rise in deaths over the past three years has been driven largely by the war in Gaza, where Israeli forces have killed 173 aid workers this year alone—surpassing the total number of aid workers killed worldwide in all of 2022. 

Guillaume Rachou, Executive Director of Save the Children Thailand, said: 

“Thailand is among the few countries that has not experienced major violent attacks on aid workers—reflecting a strong level of safety and collaboration between communities, government, and civil society. However, humanitarian staff still face heavy pressures and risks to their physical and mental well-being. We need to invest more in comprehensive care for them. Protecting humanitarian workers is not only about safety—it is about protecting the hope of children and families they serve.” 

Save the Children is calling on all governments to take decisive action to investigate and bring perpetrators of violence against humanitarian workers to justice, and to support and advance the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September. In addition, greater investment is needed to strengthen protection systems and support the well-being of frontline staff, particularly those from vulnerable communities who are at the heart of humanitarian work. 

For more information about our work to protect children and support frontline staff, please visit www.savethechildren.or.th. 

World Humanitarian Day was established by the United Nations in 2009 to commemorate the victims of the 2003 UN bombing in Baghdad and to honor the importance and sacrifice of humanitarian work worldwide.