Humanitarian Aid

Humanitarian aid is fundamental in responding to global health crises. With ongoing and emerging global health challenges, thorough understanding of the principles and practices of humanitarian aid is paramount to its delivery. This chapter discusses the key principles and legislation underpinning humanitarian aid and the roles of parties involved such as bodies of the United Nations, World Health Organisation and non-governmental organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and Oxfam. Humanitarian aid is needed in a wide range of circumstances, and this chapter addresses the indications for aid, both in terms of the crises faced and the settings in which aid is required. This chapter explores humanitarian aid in the context of natural disasters and conflict, focussing on the impact in low-resource countries (LRCs). Displacement is an ever-growing pattern seen globally, requiring humanitarian aid in increasing demand. More recently, the concept of dignity is understood to have profound effects on the success of any support offered and is fundamental to the discussion surrounding humanitarian aid. Through case studies, we hope to demonstrate how these principles of humanitarian aid translate to real-life examples.