World Humanitarian Day 2024: As attacks against aid workers continue in West and Central Africa, OCHA warns against the cost of inaction to protect civilians and humanitarian delivery

Dakar, 19 August 2024: The cost of failing to protect civilians, including humanitarian aid workers, is in the spotlight this year’s World Humanitarian Day, as the latest figures show that 14 humanitarians have been killed across West and Central Africa so far in 2024. An additional 13 have been wounded and 23 kidnapped. This highlights the growing insecurity across the region, where civilians also face regular attacks and are forced to abandon their homes and livelihoods. So far in 2024, 5,562 civilians have been killed across West and Central Africa.

Globally, 2023 marked the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers and 2024 may be even worse. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is calling on all parties to end attacks on aid workers, and the impunity that allows them.

“We are headed in a very worrying direction. On this World Humanitarian Day and every day, I call on decision makers to course-correct the sombre milestone we hit last year, as more and more innocent lives are lost, and to give the humanitarian crises in West and Central Africa the immediate attention and action they deserve,” said Charles Bernimolin, Head of the UN Humanitarian Coordination office for West and Central Africa.

“We have an opportunity to step back and reflect on the work of humanitarian workers who make saving lives possible, amid increasingly dangerous settings. Tragically, some colleagues, who have dedicated their lives to helping others, have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

In West and Central Africa, access to humanitarian aid is increasingly challenging due to growing insecurity and the effects of the climate crisis. The situation is exacerbated by the funding shortfall, access constraints, and the need for greater acceptance. Humanitarians are looking at creative ways to work more closely with affected communities and empower them to shape the humanitarian response, including anticipatory action to mitigate crises before they have hit.

“Despite the many challenges and risks that are faced, humanitarians will continue to work tirelessly to support those in need, and develop new and innovative ways to save lives and give people dignity and hope. But no more civilian blood should be spilled. Civilians, including humanitarian workers, are not and should never be allowed to be a target,” added Charles Bernimolin.

Notes to Editors:

World Humanitarian Day takes place each year on 19 August, in commemoration of the bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, on 19 August 2003 which killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Across West and Central Africa, more than 63 million people need humanitarian assistance and protection. Humanitarians have drawn up plans to support almost 33 million vulnerable people at a cost of US$7.7 billion. As of 12 August, just 29 per cent of the funds required to fully implement these plans had been received.

Data regarding attacks on aid workers is from the Aid Worker Security Database. Data regarding attacks on civilians is from ACLED.

For more information see the 2024 Sahel Humanitarian Needs and Requirements Overview.

For further information, please contact:

Yasmina Guerda, OCHA Regional Office for West and Central Africa, Dakar, yasmina.guerda@un.org