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UN PhotoJoyce Msuya (OCHA) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict - Security Council, 9889th meeting
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Briefing by Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
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" Mr. President, Members of the Security Council, allow me to go straight to the point: Attacks onaid workers must end. Perpetrators must be held to account.Humanitarian workers are being killed in unprecedented numbers. According to available data,2024 was the worst year on record, with 377 aid workers killed across 20 countries. This wasalmost 100 more fatalities than in 2023, which already saw a 137 per cent increase from 2022.Many more were injured, kidnapped, attacked and arbitrarily detained.The last two years have been particularly brutal. In Sudan, at least 84 humanitarian workers – allSudanese nationals – have been killed since the current conflict began in April 2023.And just three days ago, on 30 March in Rafah, teams from OCHA and the Palestinian RedCrescent Society recovered from a mass grave the bodies of 15 emergency and aid workers –from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Civil Defense, and the United Nations – killedseveral days earlier by Israeli forces while trying to save lives.Their clearly marked vehicles were found destroyed and crushed. The OCHA team alsowitnessed civilians being shot while fleeing.This tragedy comes just 11 days after another deadly incident – on 19 March, when yet anotherUnited Nations colleague was killed, and six others were injured in Gaza. These deaths bring thenumber of aid workers killed in the Strip since 7 October 2023 to more than 408. Gaza is themost dangerous place for humanitarians ever.We extend our condolences to the families of the victims. We demand answers and call forjustice.And since we are here today to discuss the protection of aid workers, I must ask this Council:What are you going to do to help us find those answers and achieve justice? And avoid morekillings?Mr. President, let us be clear: There is no shortage of robust international legal frameworks toprotect humanitarian and UN workers. Human rights law and standards, Conventions relating tothe UN's activities and personnel, and international humanitarian law together provide clearobligations to safeguard humanitarian personnel, assets and operations.
What is lacking is the political will to comply.The vast majority of those killed – about 95 per cent – are local aid workers, the cornerstone ofrelief efforts. Any humanitarian response would collapse without them.Since coming into this role, I have met local colleagues whose worlds have been destroyed;whose families have been displaced multiple times; who lost loved ones; who are unable to feedtheir children properly; who have survived harrowing security incidents; but who nonethelessbravely go to work every day to assist their communities and in some cases implement themandate you – Member States – gave them.These colleagues deserve our highest respect. Yet, conduct harming our local staff rarely elicitreactions or make the news. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red CrescentSocieties (IFRC) found that the killing of a local aid worker receives 500 times less mediacoverage than that of an international staff member.We have become numb to this violence. Being shot at is not – I repeat, NOT – part of our job.Mr. President, as if death, injury and kidnapping were not enough, humanitarians also face thecriminalization of their work. More and more are detained, interrogated, and accused ofsupporting terrorism simply for delivering aid to people in need.There is more. Disinformation and misinformation campaigns targeting aid organizations havesurged, such as in Haiti, the Occupied Palestinian Territory or Yemen. In the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, disinformation campaigns have undermined the UN's credibility, fueledpublic unrest, and strained its relationship with local communities.In Sudan, since April 2023, false claims of partiality have led to aid workers being attacked atcheckpoints or prevented from carrying out their work. Recent reports show aid workers andvolunteers being targeted in Khartoum and beyond.In Haiti, armed gangs have publicly threatened humanitarian workers, and many organizationsare unable to reach their offices or are forced to suspend operations. Funding shortfalls riskmaking matters worse, forcing us to make impossible choices between our mandate to serve themost affected people, and the safety of our teams.Mr. President, Members of the Council, the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2730 wasan important step in the right direction, and the Secretary-General's recommendations show away forward. I come to you and the broader UN membership with three asks:First, act to ensure respect for international law and to protect humanitarian and UN workers.From Security Council visits to fact-finding missions, or withholding of arms transfers, to nameonly these, there are many tangible steps this Council and Member States can take to protecthumanitarian workers. We count on your leadership.
Second, speak out. We need the voice of the Council and the broader UN Membership to beloud, clear and consistent in condemning harm to UN and humanitarian personnel, includinglocal staff. Silence, inconsistency and selective outrage only embolden perpetrators. We alsoneed this Council and the broader UN membership to come in defense of UN and humanitarianorganizations when these come under attack or are targeted by smear campaigns.Third, request accountability. Perpetrators of violations must face consequences of their actions –without exception. Member States must strengthen domestic and international legal frameworksto investigate and prosecute international crimes. The Security Council should play a key role inpushing for accountability; for instance, by asking concerned governments to pursue justice andby following up with them. When national jurisdictions fail, the Council can use internationalmechanisms, including by referring situations to the International Criminal Court.But accountability is not only about prosecution. It must also centre on those who survive. I wantto reiterate the Secretary-General's recommendation to adopt a survivor-centred approach,ensuring that those affected have a voice in global discussions. Survivors and their familiesurgently need legal aid, reparations, and access to services such as mental health support andtrauma counselling.Mr. President, today, as we mourn the loss of our colleagues, we must demand that concreteaction be taken to ensure our teams can work safely. We owe it to the families of the victims andsurvivors, to the communities we serve, and to all humanitarian colleagues risking their livesevery day.Thank you".
View moreView lessWhat is lacking is the political will to comply.The vast majority of those killed – about 95 per cent – are local aid workers, the cornerstone ofrelief efforts. Any humanitarian response would collapse without them.Since coming into this role, I have met local colleagues whose worlds have been destroyed;whose families have been displaced multiple times; who lost loved ones; who are unable to feedtheir children properly; who have survived harrowing security incidents; but who nonethelessbravely go to work every day to assist their communities and in some cases implement themandate you – Member States – gave them.These colleagues deserve our highest respect. Yet, conduct harming our local staff rarely elicitreactions or make the news. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red CrescentSocieties (IFRC) found that the killing of a local aid worker receives 500 times less mediacoverage than that of an international staff member.We have become numb to this violence. Being shot at is not – I repeat, NOT – part of our job.Mr. President, as if death, injury and kidnapping were not enough, humanitarians also face thecriminalization of their work. More and more are detained, interrogated, and accused ofsupporting terrorism simply for delivering aid to people in need.There is more. Disinformation and misinformation campaigns targeting aid organizations havesurged, such as in Haiti, the Occupied Palestinian Territory or Yemen. In the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, disinformation campaigns have undermined the UN's credibility, fueledpublic unrest, and strained its relationship with local communities.In Sudan, since April 2023, false claims of partiality have led to aid workers being attacked atcheckpoints or prevented from carrying out their work. Recent reports show aid workers andvolunteers being targeted in Khartoum and beyond.In Haiti, armed gangs have publicly threatened humanitarian workers, and many organizationsare unable to reach their offices or are forced to suspend operations. Funding shortfalls riskmaking matters worse, forcing us to make impossible choices between our mandate to serve themost affected people, and the safety of our teams.Mr. President, Members of the Council, the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2730 wasan important step in the right direction, and the Secretary-General's recommendations show away forward. I come to you and the broader UN membership with three asks:First, act to ensure respect for international law and to protect humanitarian and UN workers.From Security Council visits to fact-finding missions, or withholding of arms transfers, to nameonly these, there are many tangible steps this Council and Member States can take to protecthumanitarian workers. We count on your leadership.
Second, speak out. We need the voice of the Council and the broader UN Membership to beloud, clear and consistent in condemning harm to UN and humanitarian personnel, includinglocal staff. Silence, inconsistency and selective outrage only embolden perpetrators. We alsoneed this Council and the broader UN membership to come in defense of UN and humanitarianorganizations when these come under attack or are targeted by smear campaigns.Third, request accountability. Perpetrators of violations must face consequences of their actions –without exception. Member States must strengthen domestic and international legal frameworksto investigate and prosecute international crimes. The Security Council should play a key role inpushing for accountability; for instance, by asking concerned governments to pursue justice andby following up with them. When national jurisdictions fail, the Council can use internationalmechanisms, including by referring situations to the International Criminal Court.But accountability is not only about prosecution. It must also centre on those who survive. I wantto reiterate the Secretary-General's recommendation to adopt a survivor-centred approach,ensuring that those affected have a voice in global discussions. Survivors and their familiesurgently need legal aid, reparations, and access to services such as mental health support andtrauma counselling.Mr. President, today, as we mourn the loss of our colleagues, we must demand that concreteaction be taken to ensure our teams can work safely. We owe it to the families of the victims andsurvivors, to the communities we serve, and to all humanitarian colleagues risking their livesevery day.Thank you".