Humanitarianism is not collapsing. It is being traded and compromised
Summary
Humanitarian work faces serious challenges today because many governments do not fully follow or enforce international laws meant to protect civilians and aid workers. Political interests often override legal duties, leading to more attacks on aid workers, restrictions on help, and cuts in funding.Key Facts
- International laws once protected children, medics, and civilians, but today many governments ignore or selectively apply these laws.
- Over the past three years, about 1,000 aid workers have been killed, nearly tripling previous numbers.
- In 2025 alone, hundreds of attacks on humanitarian operations occurred, with 350 aid workers killed, 322 injured, and 235 kidnapped.
- Some governments that fund humanitarian responses also support or shield armed groups that attack aid workers.
- Israeli authorities demanded personal information from aid workers in Gaza and the West Bank in late 2026, leading to deregistration of 37 organizations including Oxfam.
- These restrictions have made aid delivery harder, especially as local goods become more expensive due to war and scarcity.
- The G7 countries cut development aid by nearly one-third from 2024 to 2026, despite increasing humanitarian crises like Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and famine in Sudan.
- Political decisions, such as vetoes at the UN Security Council and defunding UN agencies, further weaken humanitarian efforts.
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