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Humanitarian work is no longer just a voluntary activity or a profession fraught with challenges; it has become the first line of defense for human dignity in a world torn apart by armed conflict, natural disasters, and forced displacement. Humanitarian workers are the unsung heroes who carry food instead of weapons, and provide medicine and shelter instead of violence and destruction—yet they remain the most vulnerable to attacks.
Repeated assaults on aid workers in conflict zones are no longer isolated incidents but a dangerous phenomenon that threatens the future of international humanitarian action, requiring genuine measures to ensure adequate protection.
In this context, Jordan’s signing of the “Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Workers” on Monday, September 22, 2025, marks a historic milestone—not only for the Kingdom but for all international, regional, and local organizations working in the field. It stands as a reaffirmation of commitment to international humanitarian law and a strong message of support to the thousands of workers who risk their lives daily to save others.
The Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) welcomes Jordan’s signing of the declaration, stressing that this step comes at a particularly critical moment, as humanitarian workers in the region face the gravest challenges in modern history. ARDD calls for turning the declaration into concrete steps to protect humanitarian personnel, strengthen cooperation among governments, international organizations, and civil society, and uphold the value of humanity across all fields.
Jordan’s Signature: A Moral and Diplomatic Message
On the sidelines of the high-level week of the 80th UN General Assembly, Jordan signed the declaration. The signing coincided with Jordan’s celebration of the 70th anniversary of its UN membership, alongside the accession of Qatar, Brazil, China, France, Kazakhstan, South Africa, and the International Committee of the Red Cross—reflecting broad international consensus on prioritizing the protection of humanitarian workers.
Jordan and Qatar are the first two Arab states to announce their signature on the declaration—an especially symbolic move, given that the Arab region is witnessing the most severe contemporary humanitarian crises in Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, and Syria.
The signatories issued a joint statement calling for an end to violations of international humanitarian law, for respect and protection of civilians, civilian property, aid workers, and journalists, and for support in convening a high-level conference in 2026 to explore mechanisms for protecting and strengthening humanitarian action.
Through this step, Jordan adds new weight to its diplomatic and humanitarian record, reflecting its historic commitment to refugee protection and humanitarian response operations, both within its borders and across the region.
Despite limited economic resources, Jordan has played a pivotal role in humanitarian response, hosting hundreds of thousands of Palestinian, Syrian, Yemeni, and Sudanese refugees. Local Jordanian organizations and national personnel often form the frontline of aid delivery, operating under immense pressure and scarce resources. Thus, Jordan’s signing is also a message of support to these workers and recognition of their vital role in saving lives.
Importance for the Arab Region
It is impossible to discuss humanitarian action in the region without highlighting the ongoing tragedies in Palestine, Sudan, and Yemen.
In Gaza, since October 2023, the strip has become the most dangerous place in the world for humanitarian workers, with over 520 aid staff—most of them from UNRWA—killed in direct targeting.
In Sudan, since the outbreak of war in 2023, more than 60 aid workers have been killed while performing their duties amid one of the largest displacement crises globally.
In Yemen, millions depend entirely on aid, yet humanitarian personnel face massive security, political, and funding challenges. Despite these conditions, humanitarian workers continue their mission with courage and determination, as their absence would mean the collapse of the only lifeline for millions.
Shocking Numbers and Warning Signs
The United Nations has warned that 2025 could be the worst year yet, with continued targeting of humanitarian workers and persistent impunity—what Secretary-General António Guterres has described as “an attack on humanity itself.”
In 2024 alone, more than 383 aid workers were killed worldwide, 308 were injured, 125 kidnapped, and 45 detained.
The UN also confirmed that the Middle East and North Africa require $15.9 billion to meet urgent humanitarian needs—34% of the global funding requirement.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance continues to rise each year. Humanitarian operations face multiple challenges: insecurity, funding shortages, political and bureaucratic restrictions, and in some cases, direct targeting of humanitarian workers in conflict zones.
At the start of this year, the UN launched an urgent appeal to raise more than $47 billion to assist nearly 190 million people across 72 countries worldwide.
New Challenges and Threats
In a joint statement, UN resident and humanitarian coordinators in the occupied Palestinian territories, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon stressed that attacks on humanitarian space have gone beyond traditional patterns, posing a threat to the foundations of the global system and the principles of international humanitarian law.
These assaults include attempts to dismantle certain UN agencies, impose sanctions on them, or cut humanitarian funding to institutions that have worked to advance protection, dignity, and justice.
Thus, even discussing violations has become fraught with risks, threats, and political exploitation, undermining the safety and security of humanitarian operations and their ability to reach civilians in conflict zones.
The statement warns that the absence of justice in the face of grave violations encourages other parties to adopt the same behavior. This normalization of violations and international complacency toward them cannot be morally accepted or politically justified. All parties must commit to the rules of war and international humanitarian law, and ensure accountability for any violations.
Jordan: Implications for National Laws
Jordan’s signing of the declaration reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to protecting humanitarian personnel and prompts a review of relevant national laws.
Key implications include:
In short, the signing does not automatically change the laws, but it compels their review and strengthens protection for humanitarian workers both legally and ethically.
Protecting Our Humanity
Protecting humanitarian workers is not a choice—it is a moral and legal necessity. This requires implementing UN Resolution 2730 (2024) to guarantee the protection of aid personnel, ending impunity through independent and transparent investigations, strengthening international funding to close resource gaps and ensure sustainability, empowering local organizations and involving them in humanitarian decision-making, and fostering a culture of respect for international humanitarian law.
In the end, humanitarian workers remain the silent heroes who sacrifice their lives for others. They are not mere numbers in reports, but faces, names, and stories of sacrifice. Jordan’s signing of the declaration is thus a call to awaken the global conscience, for protecting those who save others is a way of saving what remains of our shared humanity.
