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On 4 August 2006 in Muttur, Sri Lanka, 17 Action contre la Faim humanitarian workers were murdered on the NGO’s premises, while they were assisting populations affected by the tsunami and conflict. This massacre, one of the most serious ever committed against humanitarian workers, has gone unpunished. For almost 20 years, Action contre la Faim has tirelessly fought for the truth and justice, condemning flawed inquiries and calling upon the international community to recognise who was responsible and ensure justice for the victims.
Action contre la Faim had been working in Sri Lanka since 1996, and since 2001 in Muttur. The association ran water, hygiene and sanitation programmes there, as well as food security projects.
Following the tsunami of 26 December 2004 , Action contre la Faim greatly intensified its operations there. Some 150 tonnes of materials were sent and more than 16 million euros from private funding were mobilised to respond to the humanitarian emergency, restore drinking water access and support survivors of the tsunami. ACF left the country in 2008.
Between 1983 and 2009, a violent conflict took place in Sri Lanka between the Sri Lankan government , dominated by the Sinhalese majority, and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) , a separatist Tamil movement that sought to create an independent state called Tamil Eelam.
In 2006, Sri Lanka was immersed in an acute phase of its civil war between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The north-east part of the country, including Trincomalee and Muttur, was a particularly militarised area, characterised by frequent clashes, bombings, mass displacement of civilians and the presence of multiple authorities (Sri Lankan army, LTTE and paramilitary groups).
The 17 victims were Sri Lankan employees of Action contre la Faim , all involved in essential humanitarian programmes, mainly relating to water, sanitation, hygiene and food security. They were young people – most of them aged between 23 and 36 – who came from local communities. Together, they were an experienced team recognised for their crucial role in post-tsunami assistance efforts.
“They were aid workers…who paid with their lives for their good intentions.”
Jan Egeland, former UN Emergency Relief Coordinator
The evidence gathered by Action contre la Faim, independent NGOs and international observers coincides in indicating that the likely culprits are members of the Sri Lankan security forces.
To date, Sri Lankan proceedings have been a resounding failure and the Sri Lankan government has shown a flagrant reluctance to establish the truth. We hope the government reassumes its responsibilities soon.
‘Nearly 20 years after the killings, the perpetrators of these attacks have still notbeen arrested, prosecuted and punished.’
Twenty years have gone by, but we have not forgotten them. Since 2006, we have made sure to commemorate our colleagues murdered in Sri Lanka. These are our campaigns:
Understanding the Muttur Massacre leads to reflections on the crimes committed against humanitarian workers. More and more frequently, deliberate attacks are targeting them. Data collected on our colleagues’ safety show an increase in serious attacks. In 2025, 332 humanitarian employees were killed, 144 kidnapped and 228 injured . The vast majority of these cases involved national workers, meaning employees born in the country where they work.
Find out more: Not a Target:Stop crimes against humanitarian workers – Action contre la Faim
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