Following Killing of 120, UN issues appeal to protect aid workers in Sudan

The UN’s acting humanitarian coordinator, Luca Renda, called on Tuesday for funding the response in Sudan and the protection of aid workers after 120 aid workers were killed.

August 19th marks World Humanitarian Day, a day designated by the United Nations to recognize the sacrifices of aid workers and commemorate those lost while delivering aid.

Luca Renda said in a statement that he is launching “an appeal to protect humanitarian workers and fund the response, as this year’s World Humanitarian Day comes at a time of profound crisis in Sudan.”

He explained that the war in Sudan has become one of the deadliest conflicts for aid workers, with more than 120 workers, most of them Sudanese, killed since the conflict erupted on April 15, 2023. He added, “These are not just numbers. They were doctors, drivers, volunteers, and other staff members who showed up every day to serve their communities with courage and compassion. Their deaths are a reminder of the increasing jeopardies faced by those providing life-saving assistance.”

Luca Renda noted that those providing aid on the front lines are being attacked, arrested, harassed, and killed, even as humanitarian needs have reached unprecedented levels.

He continued, “Violations of international humanitarian law have become alarmingly common, with every transgression met with impunity, indifference, and failure to act. This must urgently stop.”