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UNICEF Nutrition Specialist and Emergency Response Team member Joseph Senesie screens a woman for malnutrition in Adikeh in Wajirat in Southern Tigray in Ethiopia on 19 July 2021. The woman was identified as severly malnourished. A Joint UN and INGOs team carried out a Rapid Response Mechanism in response to the humanitarian needs of communities affected by the ongoing conflict in Tigray on 19 July 2021 in an area previously inaccessible due to conflict. The UNICEF team went out to Adikeh in Wajirat woreda to assess the nutrition status of mothers and children and provide much needed therapeutic food. A Joint UN and INGOs team carried out a Rapid Response Mechanism in response to the humanitarian needs of communities affected by the ongoing conflict in Tigray on 19 July 2021 in an area previously inaccessible due to conflict. The UNICEF team went out to Adikeh in Wajirat woreda to assess the nutrition status of mothers and children and provide much needed therapeutic food.
February 03, 2026 – General –
A prominent human rights organisation has issued a warning that journalists, humanitarian aid workers, and other civilian personnel operating in conflict-affected regions are facing escalating threats to their safety, including targeted violence, kidnappings, and protection barriers, according to a report released in early February 2026. The findings underscore growing risks for those documenting violence or delivering assistance in war-torn areas around the world.
The Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ), based at a major U.S. university, detailed trends observed across multiple theatres of conflict where non-combatants are increasingly caught in the crossfire or deliberately targeted by armed groups and government security forces. The report synthesises field reports, incident logs, and testimony from journalists and aid organisations operating in environments such as the Sahel, parts of the Middle East, Ukraine, and the Horn of Africa, illustrating patterns of threat escalation over the past year.
According to CHRGJ’s analysis, frontline journalists face a spectrum of risks extending beyond traditional battlefield hazards. These include abductions, harassment, arbitrary detention, and digital surveillance, particularly in areas where armed actors seek to suppress independent reporting or block coverage of abuses. Aid workers have likewise reported violent attacks on convoys, restrictions on movement, and pressures that compromise delivery of food, medical care, and other life-saving assistance.
The report highlights a notable shift in threats, indicating an increase in deliberate strategies used by some factions to intimidate or silence media and humanitarian missions. In several cases, journalists covering protests, human rights abuses, or extremist activity have been singled out for punitive measures, including physical assault or threats to family members — actions that human rights observers say may violate international humanitarian and human rights law.
CHRGJ’s findings also point to systemic challenges in accountability, noting that attacks against journalists and aid workers often go uninvestigated or unresolved by local authorities. The report calls on states and international bodies to strengthen protective frameworks and enforcement mechanisms, urging prosecution of perpetrators under domestic and international legal standards where possible.
In response to the report, press freedom advocates and humanitarian coalitions have underscored the essential role of journalists and aid workers in documenting rights violations and providing impartial assistance. They argue that enhanced protections — including safer access protocols, legal safeguards, and diplomatic engagement — are critical to ensure that these professionals can operate without fear of retaliation.
The CHRGJ report concludes by recommending increased training on risk assessment and digital security, comprehensive incident tracking, and stronger cooperation between media organisations, NGOs, and international bodies such as the United Nations to develop coordinated responses to threats. Observers say that recognising and addressing these emergent dangers is vital not only for individual safety but also for preserving the integrity of independent information flows during conflict.
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