Published on: 2026-08-14
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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August 14, 2026 Humanitarian aid
On the eve of World Humanitarian Day, celebrated on August 19, the UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, called for the protection of humanitarian workers.
He recalled that last week in Kherson, two employees of the mobile psychosocial support group of the NGO “Culture of Democracy” were injured while responding to a call related to a domestic violence incident. The group operates with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and also cooperates with the organization “Successful Woman,” supported by the International Organization for Migration. On the way back, their vehicle was struck by a drone. Their condition is currently stable.
In May, group driver Elena Tarasenko was injured when her car came under fire. In July, she died from the injuries sustained.
“This trend is deeply concerning. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports a 38 percent increase in attacks on humanitarian workers and humanitarian infrastructure in the first quarter of 2026,” Schmale noted.
“In the first six months of 2026, six humanitarian workers were killed in Ukraine, including two humanitarian demining specialists who worked for the organization NPA (“Norwegian People’s Aid” – editor’s note) in Kherson,” he reported.
Shmale expressed solidarity with the victims. “I honor the memory of Elena Tarasenko and all humanitarian workers who gave their lives in the line of duty,” said Shmale.
Employees of organizations such as “Culture of Democracy” and “Successful Woman,” risking themselves, support those who have experienced gender-based violence, as well as women and girls in frontline communities.
“This is a kind of ‘invisible front’: work that is rarely written about in news headlines, but on which thousands of people depend,” Schmale said.
Local women’s rights organizations are generally small and have far fewer resources to ensure staff safety compared to larger structures, he noted. At the same time, funding for such organizations continues to decline.
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of employees is not a matter of choice… Protecting humanitarian workers operating on the frontlines is our shared responsibility. I urge partners and donors to provide continuous support for security measures for organizations protecting women’s rights in frontline areas,” said Schmale.
Humanitarian personnel and humanitarian infrastructure facilities are protected under international humanitarian law, he reminded. “Attacks on them must be regarded as war crimes and must cease immediately,” Schmale stated.
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