U.S. blasts "sickening trend" as U.N. warned of "relentless wave of attacks on humanitarian workers"

United Nations — Humanitarian aid workers — the people who risk their own health and to bring food and shelter to women, children and families around the world — are under attack, the Director General of the International Red Cross has told CBS News. 

"Humanitarian aid is being used as a bargaining chip, and we see this materializing in many, many conflicts in all regions of the planet," said Robert Mardini. Humanitarian workers have been killed trying to do their jobs, including three Doctors Without Borders staffers killed just last month in Ethiopia's war-torn Tigray region. According to data compiled for a project funded by the U.S. government's international aid agency USAID, the last two years have seen both the highest number of major attacks on aid workers, and the most resulting in injuries.