GENEVA — The year 2024 has already become the deadliest on record for humanitarian aid workers, with 281 killed globally so far, surpassing last year's toll of 280, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday.

"We have passed last year's record by one person already, and we're not even out of 2024," OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told a briefing in Geneva, calling the milestone "grim."

Of those killed, 13 were international staff, while 268 were national staff, Laerke said. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has significantly contributed to this tragic figure, with over 320 humanitarian workers killed since October 7, 2023.

Many of the victims were providing aid on the ground and were affiliated with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), according to OCHA.

Laerke cited Tom Fletcher, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, who urged global action: "States and parties to conflict must protect humanitarians, uphold international law, prosecute those responsible, and call time on this era of impunity."

The lack of accountability for attacks on aid workers is a pressing concern, Laerke added. "We don't see a lot of prosecution of these incidents, and we should see that," he said, describing the situation as "unacceptable."

The risks to aid workers extend beyond Gaza. In 2023, record fatalities were recorded across 33 countries, and OCHA highlighted continued threats in regions such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen. Aid workers in these areas face high levels of violence, kidnappings, injuries, harassment, and arbitrary detention, further compounding the challenges of delivering humanitarian assistance. — Agencies