South Sudan continues to be one of the deadliest places to be an aid worker, according to
analysis done by CARE International on data from the Humanitarian Outcomes Aid Worker
Security Database. Forty-four aid workers have lost their lives globally since the beginning of
this year, including 11 in South Sudan, 8 in Afghanistan and 7 in Myanmar. Not only are
these three countries among the most dangerous places for aid workers, they are also
incredibly challenging places for citizens, with nearly 40 million people facing hunger across
these countries.

Abel Whande, CARE South Sudan Country Director, said, “South Sudan is facing its worst
hunger crisis since it gained independence 11 years ago. That the very people committed to
easing suffering and supporting the most vulnerable continue to be killed, is horrifying.
Failing to ensure the safety of humanitarians means disruptions to vital aid operations, and
with 7.74 million people in South Sudan facing acute hunger, these disruptions could mean
the difference between life and death for some. And this year, the knock-on effects of the
Ukraine crisis are exacerbating the situation, with sharp increases in the cost of food and
fuel causing more pain and suffering.”

The single deadliest day for aid workers in 2022 so far occurred in Afghanistan, when eight
polio vaccinators were killed while conducting home visits on 24 February. Polio vaccinators
have frequently been targeted in Afghanistan, one of only two countries where wild
poliovirus is endemic – the other country being Pakistan.

CARE Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Advocacy Advisor, Mélissa Cornet, said, “It’s devastating
that eight aid workers have died in Afghanistan this year. They were doing incredibly
important work in a country that is in the midst of a complex humanitarian crisis – nearly 19
million people face acute hunger, the economy has all but collapsed, affected communities
are still reeling from last month’s deadly earthquake and the price of food and everyday
essentials has skyrocketed over the past year. Women and girls are often disproportionately
affected in times of crisis and this crisis is no exception. We continue to hear reports of girls
being married at a young age just to help the family survive. It’s essential that aid workers –
including women humanitarian workers who are so critical to reaching women and girls –
are protected, so they can continue carrying out lifesaving work.”

So far in Myanmar in 2022, seven humanitarian workers have died. “One million people are
now displaced in Myanmar and over 13 million people in the country face hunger. It is
crucial that aid workers are protected, and humanitarian organisations have unimpeded
access to affected communities to carry out vital work,” said Nate Rabe, Country Director
for CARE International in Myanmar.

Three aid workers have died in attacks in Ukraine this year – the first aid worker deaths in
the country since 2014. “The security situation for aid workers has deteriorated sharply
since the escalation in conflict in February this year. With a third of Ukrainians displaced
from their homes and millions still inside the country, it’s more important than ever that the
safety of humanitarian workers is preserved so they can carry out critical work,” said
Richard Simpson, CARE Country Representative Ukraine.

“While the situation is incredibly difficult and precarious for so many in Ukraine, tragically,
we are witnessing several donor governments re-directing overseas development
assistance, especially to respond to the crisis in their own countries, which indirectly
impacts funding for other humanitarian crises. As a result, humanitarian appeals of
countries experiencing the worst hunger and famine-conditions, including Somalia, Mali,
Niger, Afghanistan and South Sudan, are drastically under-funded,” said Delphine Pinault,
Humanitarian Policy Advocacy Coordinator & UN Representative for CARE International.
This year’s World Humanitarian Day theme #ItTakesAVillage is inspired by the saying ‘It
takes a village to raise a child.’ Similarly, it takes a village to support a person in a
humanitarian crisis – aid agencies, local volunteers and emergency services come together
to provide urgent health care, shelter, food, protection, water, livelihoods and much more.
Ms Pinault said, “And with the world facing an unprecedented hunger crisis, the
international donor community plays a crucial role in ensuring funding decisions are strictly
needs-based and not politically driven.”

Notes to the editor
Analysis is based on the Humanitarian Outcomes’ Aid Worker Security database
where incidents are defined as deliberate acts of violence affecting aid workers, such
as killings, kidnappings, and attacks that result in serious
injury: https://aidworkersecurity.org/incidents/. Numbers in the database for 2022
are provisional for the first six months of the year, with full official annual figures
released at the end of calendar years. 2022 figures are available here:
https://aidworkersecurity.org/

There have been 73 major attacks on aid workers so far in 2022 with 44 deaths this
year (numbers accurate as of 1 August). The majority of deaths, 95%, involved
national staff (42 out of 44 deaths were national staff. The two international staff
were killed in South Sudan and Mali). South Sudan tops the fatalities list so far in
2022 with 11 deaths.

Funding of humanitarian response plans https://hum-insight.info/
About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organisation
fighting global poverty. CARE has more than seven decades of experience
helping people prepare for disasters, providing lifesaving assistance when a
crisis hits, and helping communities recover after the emergency has passed.
CARE places special focus on women and children, who are often
disproportionately affected by disasters.

To learn more, visit www.care-international.org
For media enquiries contact:
Suzy Sainovski
Senior Humanitarian Communications Coordinator, CARE International