<p>Aid workers suffered a record 277 major attacks around the world last year, an independent humanitarian research organisation said on Monday, with healthcare workers responding to crises facing a spike in deadly violence.</p>.<p>A total of 483 aid workers were killed, kidnapped, or wounded in 2019, showed data from Humanitarian Outcomes, the highest number since the start of its records in 1997.</p>.<p>"The ability to help vulnerable civilians in their hour of greatest need is a sign of civilisation; it's a right under international law," Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said in response to the figures.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-unlock-30-rules-india-maharashtra-karnataka-delhi-tamil-nadu-mumbai-bengaluru-chennai-ahmedabad-new-delhi-total-cases-deaths-recoveries-today-covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-covid-vaccine-updates-869265.html" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>"But we are seeing an increasing number of colleagues killed, abducted, wounded ... If aid workers are not protected, lifelines will falter."</p>.<p>Although casualties were up overall, the number of aid worker who were killed dropped slightly to 125, from 131 a year previously, according to the data, which draws on public reports, security organisations and aid groups.</p>.<p>Health workers made up more than 40% of the fatalities - higher than any previous year recorded - according to analysis for the upcoming "<em>Aid Worker Security Report</em>" which is due to be released later this month.</p>.<p>Health staff have been repeatedly targeted in Syria, which was named the most violent country for aid workers, with 47 attacks and 36 fatalities last year.</p>.<p>They also faced a surge in violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which saw the biggest rise in attacks on humanitarian workers.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>More than half the 27 violent incidents reported in Congo last year were committed against health workers responding to the Ebola disease outbreak, said Humanitarian Outcomes.</p>.<p>Its upcoming report will look at how the aid sector is adapting to risks posed by major epidemics.</p>.<p>However, there is so far little sign of any uptick in violence linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, said Abby Stoddard, a partner at the research and consultancy organisation.</p>.<p>Stoddard added that much violence on aid workers was committed by non-state armed groups, with attacks posing a huge challenge to reaching those in need of help.</p>.<p>"They (attacks) have a huge impact – more than need, and more than donor funding available, we have seen security will really dictate where and what aid organisations end up doing," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.</p>
<p>Aid workers suffered a record 277 major attacks around the world last year, an independent humanitarian research organisation said on Monday, with healthcare workers responding to crises facing a spike in deadly violence.</p>.<p>A total of 483 aid workers were killed, kidnapped, or wounded in 2019, showed data from Humanitarian Outcomes, the highest number since the start of its records in 1997.</p>.<p>"The ability to help vulnerable civilians in their hour of greatest need is a sign of civilisation; it's a right under international law," Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said in response to the figures.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-unlock-30-rules-india-maharashtra-karnataka-delhi-tamil-nadu-mumbai-bengaluru-chennai-ahmedabad-new-delhi-total-cases-deaths-recoveries-today-covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-covid-vaccine-updates-869265.html" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>"But we are seeing an increasing number of colleagues killed, abducted, wounded ... If aid workers are not protected, lifelines will falter."</p>.<p>Although casualties were up overall, the number of aid worker who were killed dropped slightly to 125, from 131 a year previously, according to the data, which draws on public reports, security organisations and aid groups.</p>.<p>Health workers made up more than 40% of the fatalities - higher than any previous year recorded - according to analysis for the upcoming "<em>Aid Worker Security Report</em>" which is due to be released later this month.</p>.<p>Health staff have been repeatedly targeted in Syria, which was named the most violent country for aid workers, with 47 attacks and 36 fatalities last year.</p>.<p>They also faced a surge in violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which saw the biggest rise in attacks on humanitarian workers.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>More than half the 27 violent incidents reported in Congo last year were committed against health workers responding to the Ebola disease outbreak, said Humanitarian Outcomes.</p>.<p>Its upcoming report will look at how the aid sector is adapting to risks posed by major epidemics.</p>.<p>However, there is so far little sign of any uptick in violence linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, said Abby Stoddard, a partner at the research and consultancy organisation.</p>.<p>Stoddard added that much violence on aid workers was committed by non-state armed groups, with attacks posing a huge challenge to reaching those in need of help.</p>.<p>"They (attacks) have a huge impact – more than need, and more than donor funding available, we have seen security will really dictate where and what aid organisations end up doing," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.</p>