UN expresses worries as nearly 100 journalists killed in conflict zones in 2023

The United Nations has expressed worries as 65 journalists were killed in the line of duty in 2023, compared with 88 the previous year.

In a statement by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, the UN agency says the figures show that 2023 has been a particularly deadly year for journalists who work in conflict zones, with killings almost doubling compared to the past three years.

The Middle East has more casualties with UNESCO having so far reported 19 killings in Palestine, 3 in Lebanon and 2 in Israel since 7 October. Afghanistan, Cameroon, Syria and Ukraine also each saw at least two killings.

“The last three months of this year in particular have already been the deadliest quarter for journalists in conflict zones since at least 2007, with 27 deaths. The statement said.

It added, “At least 38 journalists and media workers were killed in the line of work in countries in conflict in 2023, compared to 28 in 2022 and 20 in 2021. The ongoing hostilities in the Middle East were responsible for a large majority of conflict-related killings, with UNESCO having so far reported 19 killings in Palestine, 3 in Lebanon and 2 in Israel since 7 October. Afghanistan, Cameroon, Syria and Ukraine also each saw at least two killings.

The figures do not include deaths of journalists and media workers in circumstances unrelated to their profession, which have also been reported in significant numbers in 2023. And these tragedies are only the tip of the iceberg, with widespread damage and destruction of media infrastructure and offices and many other kinds of threats such as physical attack, detention, the confiscation of equipment or denial of access to reporting sites. Large numbers of journalists have also fled or stopped working.

“Such a climate contributes to what UNESCO is terming “zones of silence” opening up in many conflict zones, with severe consequences for access to information, both for local populations and the world at large.

“The worrying trend comes despite a noticeable decrease in overall journalist killings worldwide compared with last year – 65 compared with 88. This global trend can be explained by a significant decline in killings outside of conflict zones, which have reached their lowest total for at least fifteen years – especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, where 15 killings were reported, compared with 43 in 2022.”