Courage amid crisis
Portraits from the frontline of humanity
Courage amid Crisis
Portraits from the frontline of humanity
Every day, aid workers put themselves at risk to support those who need it most. Many face targeted violence, abduction and arbitrary detention, as well as legal harassment and retaliation linked to their work.
These portraits honour their courage and tell part of their stories.
When an incident is beyond an organisation's capacity to respond, Protect Aid Workers steps in. We provide rapid, confidential and tailored support to help affected aid workers , like those featured in this exhibition, navigate crisis, rebuild, and stay protected from further harm. So no aid worker is left behind.
Explore their stories.
Meet Liliia
Liliia, from Ukraine, now helps lead Nezlamna, the humanitarian foundation founded by her husband, Slava, after the war began. Following his death, she chose to continue its mission, supporting people affected by the conflict and honouring his commitment to helping others. For Liliia, the foundation is both a lifeline for communities in danger and a way to ensure Slava’s compassion and courage are not forgotten.
Meet Hussam
Hussam was kidnapped by armed individuals while carrying out his work. During his captivity, he received the devastating news that his father had passed away, a deeply traumatic ordeal.
Through Protect Aid Workers, he received the medical care and financial assistance needed to recover from his injuries and replace lost possessions.
Meet Vita
Vita, now displaced from her home in Ukraine, has dedicated six years to Caritas Kharkiv, supporting rural families through agricultural training and livelihood recovery. In January 2023, her team came under fire while delivering critical cash assistance to frontline communities. Despite the severe physical and emotional toll of the attack, Vita continues her mission. Through support from Protect Aid Workers, she accessed essential treatment and recovery care.
Meet Fadi
Fadi’s wife, Hana, was carrying out essential humanitarian work at the Ma’an Development Center when the facility was targeted and attacked. Her death left Fadi to raise their five children alone, including their four-month-old baby boy.
As the family’s primary earner, Hana’s loss deprived Fadi and his children of their livelihood, while they faced the immense grief of losing his wife and their mother. Humanitarian workers and facilities should be protected under international law, yet aid workers continue to pay the ultimate price for supporting others.
Amid this profound tragedy, an emergency grant from Protect Aid Workers provided Fadi with immediate relief. It enabled him to buy infant formula, flour and other essential food items, helping him keep his young family afloat.
Meet Im Nidal
After Nidal, the family’s sole provider, was killed, his brother Sulaiman suffered severe injuries that required a leg amputation. Left grieving and without an income, their mother, Im Nidal, faced mounting medical costs and basic living expenses alone.
A financial grant from Protect Aid Workers provided critical relief, covering Sulaiman’s ongoing treatment and offering the family crucial stability.
Meet Abderrazek
Abderrazek, a former philosophy teacher, was working with the Tunisian Council for Refugees when he was unjustly arrested in May 2024. Convicted solely for providing humanitarian protection, he served over 19 months in prison.
Though released, he faced a new trial: stripped of his livelihood, unable to return to normal life, and left carrying deep psychological scars.
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