Aid workers on the frontlines of humanity need protection

For many across the UK, August can be a month to take holiday and spend time with loved ones. For aid workers around the world, there is no rest or respite from the dangers they face.

On 19 August, Cafod – the Catholic aid agency for England and Wales – joins the United Nations and other aid agencies to mark “World Humanitarian Day” seeking to focus public, media and political attention on the spiralling violence against humanitarian aid workers and the communities they serve.

Anyone who switches on the news cannot escape the horrific ways in which conflict has escalated this Summer. Whether in those conflicts in the media spotlight, such as Gaza, or in other places torn apart by violence but not receiving the attention they deserve, such as Sudan, the levels of violence against both aid workers and civilians is shocking. On World Humanitarian Day, we and our local partners remember those who have lost their lives but also challenge the increasing normalisation of violence.

Recent years have seen a steady increase in the number of attacks on aid workers. Back in 2002, an organisation commissioned by the UN to track the data documented 71 attacks against international NGO staff. In 2023, their data reports 595 aid workers as victims of major attacks, with 280 killed, 224 wounded and 91 kidnapped. We also know that these figures are grossly under-reported as most local organisations and churches – the first responders in times of crisis – are often not connected into the UN-led coordination processes gathering this data.

The sad reality is that behind every statistic is a person: an aid worker who has chosen to be on the front lines of crises, providing food, shelter, or medical care to those in desperate need. Their presence is often the last lifeline for communities pushed to the brink by war, famine, or natural disasters.

I’ve seen their bravery firsthand. In Colombia’s Choco region, Cafod’s local partners work in dangerous conditions to support indigenous communities under siege from armed groups. These local groups, often the only ones able to access and assist, receive minimal international support. Their work, essential for survival, goes unnoticed by the global community. Yet they face threats.

Globally, aid workers are increasingly targeted. Armed groups oppose aid reaching enemy-controlled areas, governments accuse them of interference, and criminal gangs see them as easy prey. The result is the same: aid is delayed, diminished, or denied altogether. When aid workers are attacked, civilians suffer too, and with impunity, conflicts only deepen.

As UK politicians return to Parliament, they face a daunting list of priorities. Among them, Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s commitment to “progressive realism” offers hope. We urge him to make accountability for attacks on aid workers and civilians a priority.

This September, the UN General Assembly provides an opportunity for the UK to push for diplomatic action on this issue. Likewise, the Foreign Secretary can ensure that local first responders in crises receive the support they need through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development and Office.

There are no quick fixes for the violence in places like Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. But acknowledging the problem, holding people accountable, and standing in solidarity with those on the frontlines are actions the UK government can and must take.