Peace Through Strength: The Case for Safe and Strategic Humanitarian Access

March 27, 2025 - Across global conflict zones, humanitarian workers are risking their lives to provide food, medical care, and critical supplies. In the Middle East, Northern Africa, Southeast Asia, and beyond, escalating violence has made it increasingly difficult for aid organizations to safely operate putting vulnerable civilians at risk and threatening long-term regional stability.

In recent weeks, reports from aid organizations like the World Food Programme warn of growing shortages in the Middle East that could leave tens of thousands without essential food in a matter of weeks. Tragically, even humanitarian convoys have come under fire, and multiple aid workers working under respected, internationally recognized groups such as the World Central Kitchen have been killed or gone missing.

This is not about assigning blame or taking sides in a complex conflict. Rather, this is about reaffirming a universal principle: humanitarian workers must be protected, and life-saving aid for noncombatants should never be a casualty of war.

A Global Pattern with Global Consequences

Similar conditions exist elsewhere. In Southeast Asia, continued fighting between rival military factions has displaced millions and left large parts of countries inaccessible to aid. The World Health Organization and International Committee of the Red Cross have both warned of growing health emergencies due to blocked supply routes and disrupted humanitarian access.

These are not isolated events. The inability to safely deliver humanitarian aid undermines security, fuels desperation, and creates fertile ground for instability and extremist influence. The longer crises go unresolved, the higher the human and geopolitical cost.

Why This Matters to the United States

America has long understood that humanitarian aid is not just an act of goodwill, it is a strategic investment in peace and national security. When U.S. allies and interests are threatened by conflict-induced instability, it can have cascading effects on regional security, economic markets, and even U.S. border and homeland security.

Today, the U.S. does not operate its foreign aid policy in isolation. When aid is effectively deployed, it helps stabilize fragile regions, protect innocent lives, and strengthen America’s global leadership, all while safeguarding key trade routes, supply chains, and allies.

Supporting Self-Reliance with American Oversight

Supporting humanitarian access does not mean writing blank checks or funding groups that run counter to U.S. interests. It means ensuring aid is deployed safely, transparently, and with oversight, in ways that develop self-sufficiency, a three step process the military often refers to as helping others crawl-walk-run. Aid should align with American values, laws, and strategic priorities, and in instances of growing humanitarian crises, that includes ensuring the rule of law is followed and upheld, that peace is achieved and maintained, and that all people are given the right to life, liberty, and happiness.

A Call for Strategic Action

We urge policymakers to continue championing secure and unimpeded humanitarian access wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so. Whether in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, or elsewhere, aid must be allowed to reach civilian noncombatants caught in conflict, especially when that aid aligns with America's longstanding commitment to global security and prosperity.

Organizations like The Borgen Project advocate for smart, effective foreign assistance that advances American national security and economic stability. Their platform helps everyday citizens contact their representatives to support foreign policy that reinforce U.S. security and influence abroad to help reduce global poverty and its root causes.

Sources 

To learn more about supporting U.S. foreign policy that advances humanitarian goals while improving national security and economic stability in the United States visit borgenproject.org.

Max Kurzweil is a junior at Muhlenberg College, class of 2027, pursuing a double major in Political Science and Business Administration. He previously served as a Political Affairs Intern and Ambassador for The Borgen Project, where he supported initiatives focused on poverty reduction and sustainable development as part of a balanced approach to American foreign policy and global engagement. He will begin serving as a Regional Director with The Borgen Project in January 2026.