Recent research

Aid Worker Security Report 2026 – When the threat is the state: Detentions of humanitarian workers

This year’s Aid Worker Security Report presents the latest verified statistics on violence and other major security incidents affecting aid workers worldwide, with data drawn from the Humanitarian Outcomes Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD).

Seismic shifts: How a humanitarian sector in upheaval responded to the 2025 Afghanistan earthquake

The earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August 2025 was a devastating shock for the mountain communities of Kunar and Nangarhar, and a test for the humanitarian sector operating under radically changed conditions. How would the system respond to a rapid-onset disaster in the context of severe funding cuts and a pariah host state?

Aid Worker Security Report 2024 – Balancing advocacy and security in humanitarian action

In a year marked by high civilian casualties and record numbers of ​​aid workers killed, the question of how to hold warring parties accountable for their duty to protect and facilitate humanitarian relief efforts has become more urgent and elusive.

State of Practice: The Evolution of Security Risk Management in the Humanitarian Space

As a subject of humanitarian policy and practice, security risk management (SRM) has been an active and growing – yet largely understudied – area of operations. Only a small number of comprehensive, sector-wide analyses of SRM have been published over the past two decades, and none of them are recent enough to cover the significant developments of the past several years.

Humanitarian Access SCORE Report: Sudan

The current conflict in Sudan, with its rapid escalation and large-scale violence, stands out among recent crises for the severity of its humanitarian impact. Despite being overshadowed on the international stage by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Sudan is the scene of the world’s fastest growing displacement crisis, mass atrocities, and dire humanitarian needs.

Slipping Away? A Review of Humanitarian Capabilities in Cholera Response

Over the past two years there has been a notable uptick in cholera outbreaks and deaths. The greater number of countries experiencing cases, combined with an unusual geographical distribution of outbreaks and unacceptably high case fatality rates, has raised concerns about the global capacity for cholera response аnd control, and whether some past progress has been lost.