{"id":23472,"date":"2025-12-10T16:41:59","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T21:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/?p=23472"},"modified":"2025-12-10T16:42:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T21:42:00","slug":"van-hollen-merkley-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-aid-workers-in-conflict-zones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/es\/van-hollen-merkley-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-aid-workers-in-conflict-zones\/","title":{"rendered":"Van Hollen, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Aid Workers in Conflict Zones"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON<\/strong> \u2013 Today, on Human Rights Day, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation to protect humanitarian aid workers operating in conflict zones. The lawmakers\u2019 legislation, the Commitment to Aid Workers Act, would strengthen U.S. efforts to safeguard those who risk their lives to deliver humanitarian assistance. The bill creates new oversight and enforcement mechanisms to hold foreign militaries accountable for actions that endanger humanitarian workers as they deliver American aid. U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) has previously introduced companion legislation in the House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cHumanitarian workers do some of the most vital but dangerous jobs in the world as they come to the aid of civilians caught in the middle of armed conflict. After two extremely deadly years for these workers, we must do more to protect them. This bill will employ U.S. leverage to help ensure the safety of humanitarian workers as they conduct their lifesaving missions,\u201d dijo el senador Van Hollen.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWhen conflict or disaster strikes, humanitarian aid workers are the first line to deliver food, water, medicine, and shelter,\u201d dijo el senador Merkley.<\/strong> \u201cOur top priority must be to support and protect those who serve on the frontlines of crisis, and the Commitment to Aid Workers Act does just that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cHumanitarian aid workers put their lives on the line to deliver food, water, medicine, and shelter to civilians caught in the crossfire of conflict. Their work is guided by a basic principle: that even in war, human dignity must be preserved,\u201d Representative Pingree said.<\/strong> \u201cTragically, we are seeing aid workers targeted like never before. This year, 326 have been killed\u2014and last year was the deadliest on record, with over 370 killed across the globe. These are attacks on the very foundation of humanitarian law. The United States cannot stand by while those delivering life-saving assistance are treated as collateral damage. The Commitment to Aid Workers Act ensures accountability, advocacy, and limits U.S. military assistance to countries found to be targeting aid workers deliberately. We must support those who serve on the frontlines of humanitarian crises.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Commitment to Aid Workers Act:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n