The People Who Protect Children

On World Humanitarian Day, we recognize the people who respond first when disaster strikes.

Last year was the deadliest for humanitarian workers in modern history.

In 2023, the number of aid workers killed in conflict rose to 260, a 120% increase from the previous year, according to the Aid Worker Security Database, which tracks global security incidents involving aid workers.

Attacks on humanitarian workers must stop.

Our staff and local partners work to ensure children's safety, well-being and education during the world's worst crises, despite the world becoming increasingly hostile to children and their rights.

Continue scrolling to learn how humanitarian workers face danger and some of the most complex challenges of our time to serve children worldwide.

Serving Families in Egypt

Hani*, 28, was in Cairo, Egypt when fighting broke out in Gaza, and has not been able to return home. He's had to watch from afar as his family has been forced to relocate multiple times to escape the violence in Gaza. Communication has been challenging, and he only manages to have short conversations with them.

Hani says his mental health has been severely impacted by the situation, especially since the attacks on Rafah intensified in early May 2024 and he lost contact with his family when they were forced to flee yet again.

Hani now works with our staff by taking calls on Save the Children’s hotline and connecting families in Egypt with the services and support they need. He also does quality control checks on Save the Children aid bound for Gaza.

Hani says the volunteering has provided him with a sense of relief and purpose. Now, each day, he gets out of bed early and supports other families from Gaza in a similar situation to his own.

Mental Health Support in Gaza

For children, humanitarian crises, especially violent conflict, can be especially traumatic and put them at risk of long-term mental health problems.

Humanitarians focused on child protection services and psychosocial support are vital for children’s emotional and physical health and social development. 

In Gaza, we work with local partners to reach children and their caregivers with mental health and psychosocial support, including Saleem*, 14, and his mother, Raghda*, 35.

Saleem lost his father, sister, nephews, home, school and his favorite teacher when the war started in Gaza. According to his mother, Saleem was especially close to his sister and relatives. As soon as he heard the news of their deaths, he withdrew and stopped talking to people.

Our Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Case Worker, Maha*, works with Saleem and his mother. Since receiving support from Maha, Saleem has started eating again, he talks to our staff and is more willing to accept help.

There’s still a long way to go in Saleem’s recovery, but Maha and our mental health experts in Gaza are dedicated to helping him and children like him during this conflict.

Child Protection in South Sudan

For humanitarians around the world, many operate in conflict zones where they themselves are at risk or are displaced.

One of our staff members, Monica*, 25, lived in Khartoum until 2023 when war broke out in Sudan and her family was forced to flee.  She made it to safety at the Renk border in South Sudan but lost her grandmother during the journey.

She finally made it to the Renk crossing point after weeks of travel and started working with Save the Children at the transit centers in Renk as a Child Protection Caseworker in August 2023.

Monica's job includes organizing activities for children at our child-friendly spaces in the transit centers, including for children like Hassan (above).

In transit centers throughout South Sudan, Monica and our teams provide refugees with comprehensive case management services, including registering separated and unaccompanied children, distributing essential supplies to families, offering psychosocial support services through child-friendly spaces and more.