Humanitarian Affairs

Humanitarian aid must swiftly meet basic needs of the suffering population by providing food, clothing, shelter, and emergency medical care and by rehabilitating basic infrastructure (particularly water and energy). Immediate, life-saving relief, not conflict resolution, is the primary goal of emergency aid, though it may happen in a still insecure environment.

A number of international organizations such as UNHCR, UNDP, UNESCO, WFO, and WHO as well as numerous governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are engaged in this sector.

The number of NGOs in situ might grow rapidly and can even soon amount to several hundred. A close coordination of relief measures between humanitarian organizations and the senior management of a peace operation is hence both urgent and difficult.

Possible Tasks and Functions

• Monitoring and analysing the humanitarian situation, compiling situation reports
• Communicating information on security situation to humanitarian actors
• Providing logistical support to humanitarian actors
• Carrying out needs analysis and developing action plans
• Liaising with humanitarian relief organizations and the donor community
• Coordinating humanitarian relief
• Supporting the accommodation of refugees and IDPs
• Evaluating impact of relief action

updated September 2009