Security Trends
In 2008, 260 humanitarian aid workers were killed, kidnapped or seriously injured in violent attacks. This toll is the highest on record. The overall number of attacks against aid workers has risen steeply over the past three years, with an annual average almost three times higher than the previous nine years. Relative rates of attacks per numbers of aid workers in the field have also increased — by 61%.
The 2008 fatality rate for international aid workers exceeds that of UN peacekeeping troops.
Victims
260 humanitarians were victims of security incidents in 2008 (185 NGO, 65 UN, four ICRC, one IFRC, and the rest were donor/others). Compared to 1998 when 69 humanitarians were involved in security incidents (14 NGO, 24 UN, 26 ICRC, and five IFRC staff).
185 the 260 victims in 2008 were working with NGOs (65 worked for the UN, five were working with the Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent or the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the remainder were donors or others).
23international staff out of every 10,000 humanitarian workers were victims of security incidents in 2008 (around nine national staff out of every 10,000). Compared to 1998 when around 14 international staff out of every 10,000 humanitarian workers were victims of security incidents (4 national staff every 10,000).
Killed
122 humanitarian workers were killed in 2008 (104 national staff and 18 international staff). Compared to 1998 when 36 humanitarians were killed (32 nationals and 4 internationals).
Kidnapped
62humanitarian workers were kidnapped in 2008 (44 national staff and 18 international staff). Compared to 1998 when only 18 humanitarians were kidnapped (six nationals and 12 internationals).