The purpose of humanitarian aid is to alleviate human suffering in times of emergencies such as natural disasters, extreme weather events, or armed conflicts.
Most humanitarian assistance is distributed in the affected areas by non-governmental organizations under donor monitoring, or by government agencies if the emergency does not involve an armed conflict. Humanitarian aid can take the shape of:
- Emergency supply kits given to those who have suffered from a natural disaster such as flooding, hurricane, or drought.
- Care provided by healthcare workers who examine and treat malnourished children in refugee camps.
- Money transfers for war-displaced individuals and families.
Humanitarian aid also involves the management of refugee camps covering aspects such as labor initiatives, training, and educational services.
Defining humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid takes the form of an immediate response that is intended to save lives, ease suffering, and help people to recover from disasters. Every individual has the right to receive and benefit from humanitarian aid whenever they require it, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, race, etc.
Humanitarian aid principles
There are four fundamental principles of humanitarian action that have been established and endorsed by the United Nations:
- Humanity – according to this principle, we as people have the obligation to alleviate human suffering when it occurs, giving particular consideration to the most vulnerable.
- Impartiality – any responses given must be offered in accordance with the needs that have been identified, with no distinction made between those impacted.
- Neutrality – care must be taken not to support one side of a dispute or become involved in any political, ethnic, religious, or ideological disputes at any point.
- Independence – the sole goal of humanitarian aid is the alleviation and avoidance of the suffering brought on by a catastrophe, which means that the response must be independent of military, political, or economic goals.
Pros of humanitarian aid
Undoubtedly, humanitarian aid is there to help people in need, save lives and make vulnerable communities more resilient. Let’s dive deeper into the advantages of humanitarian aid:
1️⃣ Humanitarian aid saves lives
Aid offers immediate relief to those who have suffered from disasters and conflicts, providing essentials such as food, water, shelter, and medical care among others.
2️⃣ Humanitarian aid supports vulnerable communities
People affected by crises such as war, natural disasters, or displacement receive vital assistance in the form of food, shelter, healthcare, and education through humanitarian aid.
This aid makes it possible for people to rebuild their lives, restore stability to some extent, and regain dignity while also creating a base for long-term rehabilitation and self-reliance.
3️⃣ Humanitarian aid demonstrates global solidarity
Assistance can be viewed as a symbol of shared responsibility among countries around the world that have come together to help those in need, transcending borders and politics, uniting nations and focusing on humanity and compassion, putting aside any conflicts there may be between certain nations.
4️⃣ Humanitarian aid builds and improves local capacity
Through training, resources, and infrastructural assistance, humanitarian aid can help to strengthen local groups and communities to allow them to confront potential difficulties that may arise in the future and to rely less on external support.
5️⃣ Humanitarian aid helps prevent further crises
Since humanitarian aid involves addressing urgent needs promptly, its high level of effectiveness can prevent further health emergencies, famines, and mass displacement from becoming worse.
Cons of humanitarian aid
Despite the obvious advantages, humanitarian aid does also have certain drawbacks that can impact long-term progress. For instance, a country that is dependent on external assistance will decrease its chances of becoming self-reliant.
Furthermore, the situation can worsen if aid is poorly managed, leading to corruption and high levels of inequality.
Some of the disadvantages of humanitarian aid include:
1️⃣ Humanitarian aid dependency risks
When the recipient relies too heavily on aid, this could threaten local self-sufficiency and long-term development.
2️⃣ Humanitarian resource mismanagement
Corruption or mismanagement of humanitarian aid can result in the improper use or misdirection of funding and supplies.
3️⃣ Politicization of aid
There is a risk that aid will be impacted by a donor country’s political intentions which can ultimately lead to disproportionate or biased distribution.
4️⃣ Security issues
While aid itself can benefit many people who are in distress, its delivery can have a negative impact on the aid workers who operate in conflict zones. Furthermore, regions that are involved in a war can be difficult to reach.
5️⃣ Limited short-term efficiency
Humanitarian aid involves prompt assistance with the aim of helping people as quickly as possible, but this short-term strategy can have a detrimental effect on the next stage which calls for the long-term aid that is needed to rebuild infrastructure, restore health systems, and rebuild livelihoods.
Final thoughts
Due to conflicts and natural disasters, millions of people require humanitarian assistance and in order to save as many lives as possible countries put aside their disputes, and work together to aid a good cause. Despite the benefits that humanitarian aid brings, it also has its flaws that should be addressed, particularly in terms of corruption and the mismanagement of allocated resources.
