Armed Drones Emerge as New Threat to Aid Workers

The UN has warned that cheap and increasingly accessible armed drones are creating a growing threat to humanitarian workers in conflict zones. The warning came as the world marked World Humanitarian Day, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reporting that 907 aid workers were killed, injured or kidnapped in 2025. So far in 2026, 82 aid workers have been killed, 97 injured and 39 kidnapped across the world. Gaza and Sudan remain among the deadliest environments, with drones increasingly used to strike populated areas, health facilities and humanitarian convoys. The UN is calling for stronger protection of aid…