Gaza Is World’s Deadliest Place for Aid Workers, U.N. Says

Gaza has become the most dangerous place in the world for aid workers, the United Nations said on Monday.

At least 250 aid workers have been killed since the war there began on Oct. 7, the United Nations has said, and on Monday the U.N. said that nearly 200 of them worked for UNRWA, its main agency for Palestinian refugees, further hindering the work of organizations already struggling to deliver aid in the enclave.

Aid groups have said that most of the dangers come from Israeli bombardment and airstrikes, which have devastated Gaza over eight months of war, killing more than 37,000 Gazans, according to local health authorities. Israel launched its retaliatory campaign in Gaza after the Hamas-led assault in southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and abducted about 240, according to Israeli officials.

The peril faced by humanitarian workers in Gaza has interrupted or obstructed the distribution of desperately needed aid in a place where, aid groups have warned, hundreds of thousands of people are facing famine conditions.

It was unclear how many aid workers have been killed by Israel’s offensive while delivering humanitarian aid, though at least some of the 193 UNRWA employees were, said Inas Hamdan, UNRWA’s acting public information officer for Gaza.

“Airstrikes or bombardment never stop,” Ms. Hamdan said. She added: “In order for humanitarian response to be effective, stable conditions are needed.”