Humanitarian assistance is a set of measures for the saving of human life, the decrease of human suffering, and the protection of human dignity during and after armed conflicts and/or disasters as well to prevent and strengthen preparedness for the occurrence of such situations.
What is the Humanitarian Imperative?
The Humanitarian Imperative is the fundamental humanitarian principle that stipulates the right to receive humanitarian assistance when it is needed, the duty to allow it to be given and the obligation to offer it.
The imperative derives from the fundamental principle of humanity — that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights — emphatically proclaimed in Vienna in 1965.
The Principles of Humanitarian Assistance
Humanity: The uppermost aim is to ensure the survival of affected people in acute need and to alleviate their suffering. Correspondingly, the dignity of human beings must remain guaranteed.
Neutrality: Humanitarian assistance favours no side (party) in an armed conflict or any other confrontation.
Impartiality: Humanitarian assistance is based exclusively on need without discrimination of the recipients (meaning unconditionally and without discrimination based on ethnic origin, sex, religion, social status, nationality, or political opinion).
Independence: Humanitarian assistance is given independent of political, economic, military, or religious circumstances or the aims of the parties to the conflict.
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