Abby Stoddard
@abbystoddard.bsky.social
Humanitarian Outcomes
humanitarianoutcomes.org
Aid Worker Security Database
aidworkersecurity.org
humanitarianoutcomes.org
Aid Worker Security Database
aidworkersecurity.org
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
Just months after the August earthquake killing thousands in #Afghanistan, the country is faced with a 2nd devastating quake. Our new report on the response to the first event questions how the country could respond to another. Read the full report here -
humanitarianoutcomes.org/Afghanistan_...
humanitarianoutcomes.org/Afghanistan_...
November 5, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Just months after the August earthquake killing thousands in #Afghanistan, the country is faced with a 2nd devastating quake. Our new report on the response to the first event questions how the country could respond to another. Read the full report here -
humanitarianoutcomes.org/Afghanistan_...
humanitarianoutcomes.org/Afghanistan_...
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has generously awarded us funding to secure our own storage. This critical processing space will be instrumental in ensuring that large datasets can be temporarily stored, curated, and described.
Thank you, MacArthur Foundation, for your support!
Thank you, MacArthur Foundation, for your support!
Data Rescue Projects receives support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to support data rescue efforts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Since launching in February 2025, the Data Rescue Project has grown substantially. At this point, the DRP has enabled the rescue of more than 1,000 datasets from US Federal…
www.datarescueproject.org
November 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has generously awarded us funding to secure our own storage. This critical processing space will be instrumental in ensuring that large datasets can be temporarily stored, curated, and described.
Thank you, MacArthur Foundation, for your support!
Thank you, MacArthur Foundation, for your support!
Detentions/arrests of aid workers have become more common than kidnappings. I’m not convinced that humanitarian security management, crisis response mechanisms, and insurance carriers are prepared for the reality where the perpetrator is the state.
Aid Worker Security Database - Signal Alert: Aid workers face high risk of detention in Myanmar
Download it now in English: www.aidworkersecurity.org/signal-alert...
#Myanmar #aidworkers
Download it now in English: www.aidworkersecurity.org/signal-alert...
#Myanmar #aidworkers
October 30, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Detentions/arrests of aid workers have become more common than kidnappings. I’m not convinced that humanitarian security management, crisis response mechanisms, and insurance carriers are prepared for the reality where the perpetrator is the state.
The first World Humanitarian Day was marked in 2009, a year when 113 aid workers died in attacks. Last year the toll was 383, and 2025 may break the record again. With states now the majority perpetrators, it’s hard not to see these numbers as a bellwether for the state of IHL and the global order.
2025 Aid Worker Security Report - Defenceless: Aid worker security amid the humanitarian funding collapse, is now available for download here - humanitarianoutcomes.org/AWSR_2025
#WHD2025 #ActForHumanity #Notatarget @unocha.org
@abbystoddard.bsky.social
#WHD2025 #ActForHumanity #Notatarget @unocha.org
@abbystoddard.bsky.social
August 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
The first World Humanitarian Day was marked in 2009, a year when 113 aid workers died in attacks. Last year the toll was 383, and 2025 may break the record again. With states now the majority perpetrators, it’s hard not to see these numbers as a bellwether for the state of IHL and the global order.
Air drops will bring more chaos, danger and indignity. Let the aid in overland, to be distributed safely by experienced humanitarian providers. Enforce the laws of war.
We're now into air drops - the worst, most tokenistic way to deliver aid. The world play acts at action while Palestinians die.
Instead the world's powers needs to treat Israel like the genocidal regime it is and compel it to stop, and allow aid in properly.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Instead the world's powers needs to treat Israel like the genocidal regime it is and compel it to stop, and allow aid in properly.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Starmer suggests UK will play role in Gaza aid air drops
His comments come as he faces calls from 221 cross-party MPs for the UK to recognise a Palestinian state.
www.bbc.com
July 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Air drops will bring more chaos, danger and indignity. Let the aid in overland, to be distributed safely by experienced humanitarian providers. Enforce the laws of war.
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
"Five months into its unprecedented dismantling of foreign-aid programs, the Trump administration has given the order to incinerate food instead of sending it to people who need it"
@hana-kiros.bsky.social, on spending $130,000 to burn food worth $800,000
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
@hana-kiros.bsky.social, on spending $130,000 to burn food worth $800,000
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
The Trump Administration Is About to Incinerate 500 Tons of Emergency Food
Federal workers warned for months that the high-energy biscuits would go to waste.
www.theatlantic.com
July 15, 2025 at 5:31 AM
"Five months into its unprecedented dismantling of foreign-aid programs, the Trump administration has given the order to incinerate food instead of sending it to people who need it"
@hana-kiros.bsky.social, on spending $130,000 to burn food worth $800,000
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
@hana-kiros.bsky.social, on spending $130,000 to burn food worth $800,000
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
We may never know the true impact of the US foreign aid cuts, since losing the funding also means losing the ability to measure. Some colleagues and I wrote about the threat to humanitarian data. @newhumanitarian.bsky.social
The data streams that underpin humanitarian response are about to collapse
Famine warning, needs assessments, health data: Humanitarian action will be groping in the dark if vital data sources are allowed to crumble.
www.thenewhumanitarian.org
March 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM
We may never know the true impact of the US foreign aid cuts, since losing the funding also means losing the ability to measure. Some colleagues and I wrote about the threat to humanitarian data. @newhumanitarian.bsky.social
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
"Medical staff along the Uganda–DRC border have been terminated. Soldiers are everywhere. The laboratory built to deal with zoonotic diseases with US funding is empty."
www.wired.com/story/race-t...
www.wired.com/story/race-t...
A Lethal Mystery Illness Is Spreading in Congo. USAID Cuts Have Slowed the Response
Gutting USAID is already having a devastating impact around the world. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, teams that would normally be racing to identify a fatal sickness are gone.
www.wired.com
March 3, 2025 at 8:46 PM
"Medical staff along the Uganda–DRC border have been terminated. Soldiers are everywhere. The laboratory built to deal with zoonotic diseases with US funding is empty."
www.wired.com/story/race-t...
www.wired.com/story/race-t...
Yes, the humanitarian sector was dependent on the US and is in crisis now owing to this single point of failure. But it is unavoidable that the nation representing >25% of the global economy should provide at least that share of relief aid. Global emergency response requires state contributions. 1/6
March 3, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Yes, the humanitarian sector was dependent on the US and is in crisis now owing to this single point of failure. But it is unavoidable that the nation representing >25% of the global economy should provide at least that share of relief aid. Global emergency response requires state contributions. 1/6
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
There are now 204 local and national humanitarian NGOs reporting program reductions. This is 79% of all survey respondents from 36 countries.
March 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
There are now 204 local and national humanitarian NGOs reporting program reductions. This is 79% of all survey respondents from 36 countries.
This will be happening in many places. Unpaid vendors, desperate communities cutoff from aid, and no budget for security will drive more security incidents-until there are no more aid operations remaining to attack.
NEW: When the Trump Admin abruptly cancelled almost all USAID programs, it also refused to pay $2bln the U.S. govt owes **for work that’s been done.**
One of the cut-off programs in Syria couldn’t afford security and was robbed by masked men.
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
One of the cut-off programs in Syria couldn’t afford security and was robbed by masked men.
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
March 2, 2025 at 1:08 AM
This will be happening in many places. Unpaid vendors, desperate communities cutoff from aid, and no budget for security will drive more security incidents-until there are no more aid operations remaining to attack.
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
7. Over 1,000 food kitchens in Sudan, a country with almost 25 million people experiencing acute food insecurity – terminated. www.npr.org/2025/02/27/g...
Trump administration cuts most USAID programs. And, the ethics of leaving your job
Nearly all USAID programs have been eliminated. One official says it's a "global health massacre." And, a federal judge will hear arguments over the decision to fire thousands of probationary workers.
www.npr.org
February 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM
7. Over 1,000 food kitchens in Sudan, a country with almost 25 million people experiencing acute food insecurity – terminated. www.npr.org/2025/02/27/g...
These reports continue to come in from L/NNGOs. Many of them won't survive. The defunding crisis may ultimately give birth to a more localized humanitarian system, as some optimistically posit, but right now it sure feels like the opposite: local response capacities are the first to be obliterated.
There are now 159 local and national NGOs reporting program reductions across 33 countries.
February 25, 2025 at 5:59 PM
These reports continue to come in from L/NNGOs. Many of them won't survive. The defunding crisis may ultimately give birth to a more localized humanitarian system, as some optimistically posit, but right now it sure feels like the opposite: local response capacities are the first to be obliterated.
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
Top USAID officials are trying to create a false narrative that life-saving aid has continued despite Trump’s blanket halt to foreign aid. Our @nytimes.com reporting shows the exact opposite. USAID even issued an internal email to stop applications for waivers: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
USAID Lifesaving Aid Remains Halted Despite Rubio’s Promise
A new directive puts further exemptions on hold. Aid workers also say the U.S. government has made it impossible to pay partners around the world.
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Top USAID officials are trying to create a false narrative that life-saving aid has continued despite Trump’s blanket halt to foreign aid. Our @nytimes.com reporting shows the exact opposite. USAID even issued an internal email to stop applications for waivers: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
One local NGO survey respondent in Mali reports the compelled "cessation of protection services: 26,207 people including 7,913 adult women, 4,412 adult men + 13,882 children."
Latest numbers from our survey. More local/national NGOs working in humanitarian response are reporting partial or full programme shutdowns.
humanitarianoutcomes.org/projects/gdho
humanitarianoutcomes.org/projects/gdho
February 14, 2025 at 8:20 PM
One local NGO survey respondent in Mali reports the compelled "cessation of protection services: 26,207 people including 7,913 adult women, 4,412 adult men + 13,882 children."
In addition to the numbers, we are gathering statements from these local NGOs. One from Haiti that supported victims of armed gangs in an IDP camp: "We were forced to stop all ongoing activities with the children. The women and children were displaced to makeshift camps in Port-au-Prince."
Local and national NGOs are severely affected by the US aid freeze, and some are already shutting down. We are surveying thousands of organisations in our GDHO database and will keep this tracker updated. #KeepCounting
humanitarianoutcomes.org/projects/gdho
humanitarianoutcomes.org/projects/gdho
February 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
In addition to the numbers, we are gathering statements from these local NGOs. One from Haiti that supported victims of armed gangs in an IDP camp: "We were forced to stop all ongoing activities with the children. The women and children were displaced to makeshift camps in Port-au-Prince."
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
When @abbystoddard.bsky.social briefed the SC in November, the # of aid worker fatalities in 2024 had reached 282. In the current defunding crisis, she expects violent incidents may rise initially and then fall, as many programs stop completely and there are fewer people delivering aid.
Protection of civilians in armed conflict
YouTube video by Humanitarian Outcomes
www.youtube.com
February 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
When @abbystoddard.bsky.social briefed the SC in November, the # of aid worker fatalities in 2024 had reached 282. In the current defunding crisis, she expects violent incidents may rise initially and then fall, as many programs stop completely and there are fewer people delivering aid.
It pays to push back in the courts. NGO boards, take note.
Trump Administration Live Updates: Judge Pauses Job Cuts at USAID
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2025 at 11:14 PM
It pays to push back in the courts. NGO boards, take note.
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
The largest US government workers' union and an association of foreign service workers sued the Trump administration in an effort to reverse its aggressive dismantling of the US Agency for International Development reut.rs/41fBb9n
Trump administration sued by government workers over cuts to USAID
The largest U.S. government workers' union and an association of foreign service workers sued the Trump administration on Thursday in an effort to reverse its aggressive dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
reut.rs
February 7, 2025 at 3:07 AM
The largest US government workers' union and an association of foreign service workers sued the Trump administration in an effort to reverse its aggressive dismantling of the US Agency for International Development reut.rs/41fBb9n
Important piece by @sara-pantuliano.bsky.social. The lynchpin of the humanitarian system has been removed, and it is collapsing. But if other governments' humanitarian arms can be mobilized, it can be built back better. We must not "wait and see" for too long.
At @odi.global we've been stunned by the brutality of USAID's shutdown. Our thoughts are w/ staff & people who will be gravely impacted globally.
This attack reflects a trend of dwindling multilateral engagement. Decisive, collection is needed now to rebuild a future that serves everyone. My 2¢ 👇
This attack reflects a trend of dwindling multilateral engagement. Decisive, collection is needed now to rebuild a future that serves everyone. My 2¢ 👇
Out of the rubble
At a time when humanitarian needs are escalating and aid budgets continue to be cut, new forms of collective leadership are urgently needed.
odi.org
February 6, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Important piece by @sara-pantuliano.bsky.social. The lynchpin of the humanitarian system has been removed, and it is collapsing. But if other governments' humanitarian arms can be mobilized, it can be built back better. We must not "wait and see" for too long.
Much foreign aid, especially humanitarian relief, has long had Republican support as well. Real pushback should be possible.
SCOOP: Senate Democrats are privately eyeing delays on all Trump nominees as retaliation for his restructuring of USAID, Axios has learned.
Scoop: Senate Dems plot to delay all Trump nominees in retaliation for USAID restructuring
Senate Democrats are privately discussing an escalation beyond "blanket hold."
www.axios.com
February 4, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Much foreign aid, especially humanitarian relief, has long had Republican support as well. Real pushback should be possible.
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
Senator Brian Schatz is correct -
"If you want to change an agency, introduce a bill and pass a law. You cannot wave away an agency that you don't like or that you disagree with by executive order, or by literally storming into the building and taking over the servers." #USAID
"If you want to change an agency, introduce a bill and pass a law. You cannot wave away an agency that you don't like or that you disagree with by executive order, or by literally storming into the building and taking over the servers." #USAID
February 3, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Senator Brian Schatz is correct -
"If you want to change an agency, introduce a bill and pass a law. You cannot wave away an agency that you don't like or that you disagree with by executive order, or by literally storming into the building and taking over the servers." #USAID
"If you want to change an agency, introduce a bill and pass a law. You cannot wave away an agency that you don't like or that you disagree with by executive order, or by literally storming into the building and taking over the servers." #USAID
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
Attempting to dissolve USAID without legislation would be unlawful and a serious breach of the Constitutional separation of powers.
THAT is the fundamental game at play here.
HOW they are carrying this out is most important aspect.
THAT is the fundamental game at play here.
HOW they are carrying this out is most important aspect.
February 3, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Attempting to dissolve USAID without legislation would be unlawful and a serious breach of the Constitutional separation of powers.
THAT is the fundamental game at play here.
HOW they are carrying this out is most important aspect.
THAT is the fundamental game at play here.
HOW they are carrying this out is most important aspect.
Reposted by Abby Stoddard
ah cool, an archive of all CDC data before they tampered with it
CDC datasets uploaded before January 28th, 2025 : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
An archive of all CDC datasets uploaded to https://data.cdc.gov/browse before January 28th, 2025. Excludes corrupt datasets and data not publicly accessible.
archive.org
February 2, 2025 at 2:33 PM
ah cool, an archive of all CDC data before they tampered with it
“Most of the soup kitchens in Khartoum, the battle-torn capital of Sudan, have shut down. Until last week, the United States was the largest source of money for the volunteer-run kitchens that fed 816,000 people there.”
How the World Is Reeling From Trump’s Aid Freeze
President Trump’s order to halt most foreign aid has intensified humanitarian crises and raised questions about the United States’ reliability as a global leader.
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2025 at 2:44 PM
“Most of the soup kitchens in Khartoum, the battle-torn capital of Sudan, have shut down. Until last week, the United States was the largest source of money for the volunteer-run kitchens that fed 816,000 people there.”