A baseline review of the current use of armed escorts for humanitarian convoys in complex emergencies

As the number and intensity of protracted state-based conflicts continues to rise globally, humanitarian organizations face a complex range of personnel security dilemmas. Some have responded by utilizing armed escorts (AE) for their humanitarian convoys in emergency settings, but others raise concerns about the impact of this practice on the humanitarian principles of neutrality and independence. This research utilizes a mixed method approach that combines quantitative survey data and qualitative analysis of key informant interviews from UN and NGO personnel in 32 countries alongside data collected by an artificial intelligence guided search of online grey literature sources to estimate and analyze the use of AE in humanitarian emergencies globally. Data analysis revealed that AE are used in 61–71% of humanitarian contexts globally, though the frequency of AE use varies significantly by context. UN actors use AE at higher rates than NGO actors, but informants perceive that when UN organizations start using AE in operational settings, other humanitarian responders feel pressured to do the same. Despite humanitarian respondents raising concerns about ethics and effectiveness, organizations continue to use AE to mitigate security risks and lack proper exit strategies. Furthermore, this article underscores the breakdown of community acceptance as a humanitarian security strategy and outlines the implications for the future of UN and NGO engagement in humanitarian operations globally.