On this World Humanitarian Aid Day, we want to pay a special tribute to all the people who have lost their lives in the exercise of their humanitarian missions. This day is an occasion to remember the extent to which respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is essential to guarantee the protection of people deployed in conflict zones. So when a humanitarian worker is attacked, it is also humanitarian principles themselves, as well as IHL, that are attacked.

In the last three years, more than 1,000 humanitarian workers have lost their lives around the world. Among them, several Caritas members have been killed in conflict zones, particularly in Gaza and in Mariúpol, where Caritas employees lost their lives among other places. On July 26, Yana Zhernovskaya, a social worker at Caritas Kharkiv, died in a Russian missile attack that hit her home, while her 10-year-old son was injured in the attack. These tragedies illustrate the magnitude of the dangers faced by humanitarian teams on the ground.

The aid workers under attack

According to data from la UN, the Gaza conflict zone has reached the highest level of violence ever documented in the contemporary history of humanitarian actors. Caritas is present in Gaza with aid workers who dedicate themselves to their daily work with commitment and generosity, despite the risk to their lives. Click to watch the video.

These events remind us that the mere existence of standards is not enough to guarantee their compliance. The protection of aid workers is also based on the ability to make the principles of international humanitarian law a reality within societies and to reinforce their appropriation by communities.

From this perspective, religiously inspired organizations and religious leaders can play an important role. Religious actors, long present within communities, can benefit from a relationship of trust and moral authority that allows them to promote the values ​​of international humanitarian law in a language that unites people.

Their commitment to peace, the protection of civilians and respect for dignity and all human life can help strengthen adherence to humanitarian principles. As highlighted in the report Strengthening the Moral Force of International Humanitarian Law Through Faith-based Advocacy(from the Geneva Institute of Higher International and Development Studies, prepared in collaboration with Caritas Internationalis, Act Alliance and the World Council of Churches), when As humanitarian expertise is combined with the credibility of religious leaders, calls for respect for international humanitarian law become more effective.

In the Central African Republic, religious actors play a key role in promoting peace despite persistent violence. For more than a decade, the country has been living at the pace of successive humanitarian crises. In the eastern part of the country, tensions have intensified especially since May 2025, where new threats loom over the civilian population. At the same time, the decrease in humanitarian funding and the progressive withdrawal of some actors reduce the capacity for intervention on the ground.

Central African Republic: religious leaders on the front line

In this context, the Catholic Church continues to be present alongside the most isolated communities. The Bishop of Bangassou, Monsignor Aurelio Gazzera, who has exercised his ministry in the Central African Republic for many years, testifies to this reality and the risks faced by those who decide to remain with the population.

The recent murder of Father Crépin Martial Monga, murdered in his diocese due to his commitment to peace, dramatically illustrates these dangers. Father Monga was murdered in Zémio, in Haut-Mbomou, a region in the southeast of the Central African Republic, devastated by ethnic conflict between different local militias. A renowned mediator between the rebels and the authorities, his murder, without any claim, highlights the growing dangers faced by peacemakers and humanitarian workers.

Mons. Aurelio Gazzera: "Dialogue is essential"

"Despite the fact that the threats are real, we continue forward because we are one of the few who have the strength and courage to do so," explains Bishop Gazzera, referring to the role of the Catholic Church and other religious confessions, in a context in which the space for dialogue remains limited. Communities have few means to make their voices heard and report the violations of which they are victims. Religious leaders become, therefore, key interlocutors, capable of transmitting these testimonies and keeping spaces for dialogue open.

This ability to dialogue with different actors constitutes one of the strong points of the Interreligious Platform for Peace, which brings together senior Catholic, Muslim and Protestant leaders. According to Bishop Gazzera, the platform has made it possible to meet with the authorities, armed forces and communities in an open manner, which has contributed to a better understanding of the realities of the conflict and to improving the situation on the ground.

Experience shows that calls for respect for international humanitarian law are more likely to be heard when they are framed in a relationship of trust and an understanding of local contexts. Thanks to the legitimacy they have acquired within their communities, their constant presence among the population and the neutrality with which they are often recognized, religious actors can reach the parties involved in conflicts and contribute to promoting peace, while humanitarian organizations have difficulty accessing them.

It is by uniting the forces and knowledge of each and every one that the principles of international humanitarian law can truly come to life. While humanitarian actors contribute their experience in protection and international humanitarian law, religious leaders put their knowledge of the terrain, their proximity to populations and the trust they enjoy at the service of communities. This complementarity makes it possible to bring humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law closer to lived realities and reinforce their respect, while contributing to better protecting those who, every day, risk their lives to come to the aid of populations affected by conflicts.

And, behind each protected aid worker, there are entire communities that can continue to receive the help and support they need. Protecting humanitarian workers is defending the life, dignity and hope of populations caught in conflict.

By Anaïs Jeanjean, European and International Studies, Sorbonne Nouvelle University of Paris