Bahrain highlights technological risks to humanitarian personnel at UN Security Council

The Kingdom of Bahrain highlighted growing technological risks facing humanitarian personnel during a United Nations Security Council briefing on the protection of aid workers in conflict zones.

The session was held as Bahrain assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council for April and was chaired by Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, Bahrain’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The meeting was convened under UN Security Council Resolution 2730, which focuses on safeguarding humanitarian personnel.

The Council received briefings from senior UN officials and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross on the increasing dangers faced by aid workers worldwide.

In Bahrain’s national statement, Alrowaiei stressed that attacks on humanitarian and UN personnel amount to attacks on humanity. He noted that aid workers continue to face serious threats in 2026, citing incidents involving the World Food Programme, the killing of UNRWA staff, attacks on peacekeepers in Lebanon, and the detention of UN personnel in Yemen, alongside other cases in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Myanmar.

He also pointed to the impact of Iranian attacks on Bahrain, GCC countries, and Jordan, stating that these developments have disrupted humanitarian operations across multiple regions.

Bahrain outlined three key priorities to enhance protection for humanitarian workers: ensuring the effective implementation of legal safeguards, strengthening compliance with international humanitarian law and the UN Charter, and addressing emerging technological threats such as drone attacks and disinformation campaigns.

The ambassador further emphasized the need to guarantee safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, warning that parallel aid channels established by terrorist groups are complicating relief efforts.

He concluded by reaffirming Bahrain’s support for international efforts aimed at protecting humanitarian personnel and upholding humanitarian principles in line with global legal frameworks.