The Theology of Missions

Between 1985 and 1998 slightly less than 50% of all humanitarian worker deaths
came from workers in UN programs. 25% of these deaths were UN
peacekeepers.
Between 2006-2008 Sudan (Darfur), Afghanistan and Somalia – accounted for
more than 60% of violent incidents and aid worker victims.
Most deaths of aid workers are due to deliberate violence.
One third of deaths occur in the first three months of deployment, with 17%
occurring within the first 30 days.
Since 2006, violence is once again on the increase and growth in the number of
incidents is faster than the growth in the number of humanitarian aid workers.
Kidnapping in particular is on the rise, with a 350% increase between 2006 and
2008.
List of Attacks on Humanitarian Workers
A full list of major incidents, from 1997–present, of violence against aid workers can be
found at Humanitarian Outcomes' Aid Worker Security Database.
1993
Somalia – January 2, 1993 - A gunman killed Sean Devreaux, 28, a British
worker for UNICEF in Kismayu.
Somalia – February 22, 1993 - Gunmen killed Valerie Place, 23, an Irish nurse
with the charity Concern.
Bosnia – July 5, 1993 – Scottish aid worker Christine Witcutt shot and killed by a
sniper in Sarajevo.
Bosnia – October 25, 1993 – Danish aid worker Bjarne Vium Nielsen Danish
killed in attack on humanitarian aid convoy.
1996
Burundi – June 4, 1996 – Three ICRC delegates were killed in an attack on two
vehicles on the road between the villages of Rugombo and Mugina in the
northern province of Cibitoke, resulting in a withdrawal of ICRC from Burundi.
Novye Atagi, Chechnya – December 17, 1996 – Six ICRC workers are killed in
an attack on the local hospital. As a result, ICRC withdraws all expatriate staff
from Chechnya.
Guatemala, 1996 – One Costa Rican Salvation Army officer is attacked by
demobilized guerrilla members while transporting a senior citizen with a broken
leg to the hospital. The vehicle was taken.
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