Call for Equal Outrage Over Killings of Local and International Aid Workers

The head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies urges equal outrage for killings of local and international aid workers. Recent spikes in deaths are largely due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with significant casualties among local humanitarian staff receiving less media attention.

The world must exhibit equal outrage for the killings of both local and international humanitarian workers in conflict zones, according to the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

This call comes as the death toll of aid workers has surged this year, particularly due to Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. Since October, almost 300 humanitarian workers, including a significant number of U.N. staff, have perished. IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain disclosed that 30 local Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers have been killed since January, with their insignia visible.

Chapagain, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, highlighted that most of these fatalities have occurred in Palestine and Sudan. He urged international bodies to enhance protective measures for these local workers. Despite sharing the same communities they serve, local aid workers often receive less media coverage, Chapagain noted, emphasizing the need for continuous global attention to change this dire situation.

(With inputs from agencies.)