Digital Technology and Securitisation in Humanitarian Field Security:  Unpacking Bunkerisation Risks and Operational Challenges

This article investigates how digital technology influences securitisation in humanitarian field security, with particular attention to its role in reinforcing bunkerisation. It argues that while technological tools enhance operational safety, they may also inadvertently restrict humanitarian access, raising tensions between operational effectiveness and humanitarian principles. The study adopts an interpretivist, qualitative research design, employing semi-structured interviews with eight experienced practitioners working in international humanitarian organisations and operating in high-risk environments. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis to identify patterns linking technology-enabled security measures with spatial and organisational restrictions. Findings indicate that technologies such as biometric registration, satellite tracking, and encrypted communications strengthen situational awareness and staff protection, but can also perpetuate a security-first operational culture, resulting in reduced community engagement and constrained humanitarian outreach. The article concludes that humanitarian organisations must critically assess how security technologies are deployed to avoid reinforcing exclusionary practices, and recommends integrating community access strategies into security planning to ensure that technological adoption supports both safety and the fulfilment of humanitarian mandates.