Gaza Herald _United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has revealed that Gaza accounted for the majority of UN personnel deaths recorded last year, describing a devastating toll on staff members working to assist civilians amid the territory’s prolonged humanitarian crisis.
Speaking during a ceremony honoring United Nations personnel who lost their lives while carrying out their duties in 2025, Guterres said 136 UN employees were killed worldwide over the course of the year. Of those, 80 were serving in the Gaza Strip.
Losses Across the UN System
According to the UN chief, the victims came from 32 different countries and included 97 civilian employees as well as 39 peacekeeping personnel.
Guterres noted that the largest share of those killed in Gaza were employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the agency responsible for providing essential services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees.
Unprecedented in UN History
The Secretary-General said the number of UN personnel killed in Gaza exceeded losses suffered by the organization in any previous conflict or disaster since the United Nations was established.
He explained that some staff members were killed alongside family members while sheltering in their homes or places of refuge. Others lost their lives while carrying out their duties in offices, shelters, and communities where they were providing assistance and support to civilians.
Calls for Protection of Humanitarian Workers
Guterres stressed that attacks resulting in the deaths of UN personnel, peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers constitute violations of international law.
His remarks come amid ongoing concerns from international organizations regarding the safety of aid workers operating in conflict zones and the growing risks faced by humanitarian personnel serving civilian populations.
Gaza’s Long Road to Recovery
The Secretary-General’s comments were delivered against the backdrop of a ceasefire reached after two years of war in Gaza, a conflict that left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead or wounded and caused widespread destruction throughout the territory.
According to UN assessments, approximately 90 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure sustained damage during the war, leaving homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and public services severely affected.
The United Nations estimates that rebuilding the devastated territory will require roughly $70 billion, underscoring the immense challenges facing Gaza as recovery efforts move forward.
