Humanitarian Outcomes’ Aid Worker Security Database: Statistical Analysis of Data Trends, 2000-2019

The Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD) records major incidents of violence against aid workers globally. The data, collected from public sources, aid organizations, and operational security entities, is broken down by subnational regions as well as type of attack. This report analyses this data from 2000 to 2019. I first analyze time-trends using graphical plots, t-tests, and OLS regressions. After that, I turn to changing attack contexts and locations, demonstrating how the frequency and breakdown of these have changed across time. Subsequently, I examine the relationship between crime, the intensity of civil conflict, and attacks on aid workers. I conclude with an examination of how the means of attack have changed over time.