On World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued an urgent appeal demanding greater protection for civilians and aid personnel in West and Central Africa amid escalating conflict.
Regional violence has intensified sharply, resulting in 15,352 recorded deaths between January and late July 2026 alone—a toll approaching the 16,419 total deaths documented across all of 2025. OCHA officials warned that millions of displaced residents are struggling to obtain basic food, medical care, and education, while deliberate attacks on schools and healthcare facilities continue to sever vital lifelines.
The environment has grown increasingly perilous for frontline aid organizations, with five humanitarian workers killed, nine injured, and 14 abducted across the region since the start of 2026. OCHA Regional Head Charles Bernimolin stressed that aid workers are not targets, noting that national staff bear the brunt of these security risks. The agency also expressed grave concern over the modern deployment of armed drones and emerging technologies, which broaden conflict zones beyond historical front lines and complicate field operations. Compounded by severe global funding cuts, international agencies are being forced to ration aid precisely when needs are at an all-time high, prompting OCHA to demand strict compliance with international law, unhindered access for relief teams, and full accountability for perpetrators of violence against humanitarians.
TE/lb/abj/APA