Humanitarian Assistance

CSIS’s Humanitarian Agenda analyzes the successes and challenges of humanitarian crisis response across topical and regional focus areas within the center. This research is part of a unique partnership between CSIS and the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA).

Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

What Is Happening to U.S. Humanitarian Assistance? Will the United States Continue to Save Lives?

Almost 90 days after President Trump’s executive order freezing U.S. foreign aid, this paper unpacks the critical losses in emergency response capacity, data, and U.S. credibility, and suggests a path forward for aid reform that minimizes harm.

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Report by Michelle Strucke and Marc Cohen — April 18, 2025

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Jon Alterman

Jon B. Alterman

Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy
Will Todman

Will Todman

Chief of Staff, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department; and Senior Fellow, Middle East Program

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Compounding Devastation: The Myanmar Earthquake

Myanmar’s earthquake compounds an already dire humanitarian crisis. As the military regime weighs international aid against political optics, the impact of U.S. assistance is uncertain amid the absence of a functioning USAID presence.

Critical Questions by Erin L. Murphy — April 1, 2025

The Truth of the Matter

Responding to the LA Wildfires

Ann Lee, CEO of CORE Response, joins the podcast to discuss California wildfires, CORE’s relief efforts, and lessons from past disasters to build resilience.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Ann Lee — February 12, 2025

CSIS the truth of the matter