Violent attacks against humanitarian workers have tripled over the past decade, resulting in more than 100 deaths annually, former U.N. humanitarian chief Jan Egeland said Tuesday. The highest tolls are in conflict areas such as Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia. In a report released Tuesday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, Egeland says that neutrality, impartiality and independence can help protect aid workers. Egeland, the U.N. humanitarian chief from 2003 to 2006, told a news conference that aid workers for the United Nations and non-governmental groups are more vulnerable to attack amid the increasing politicalization of humanitarian efforts. Egeland, now director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, said that aid workers are more vulnerable to attack if local residents think they're taking sides. [...] "More resources for security measures are needed, especially among local non-governmental groups and national staff members."