Humanitarian aid differs from development assistance on two important points. Firstly, the aim of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity, while alleviating poverty is the overall aim of development assistance.
In effect, the poor are the ones usually worst affected by disasters, and who require the majority of the humanitarian support.
Secondly, humanitarian support is based on international law and, in particular, international humanitarian legislation, while development assistance is based on political decisions by the donor country’s government.
The principal responsibility for assisting the population in a disaster always lies with the country that has been affected. If the country is occupied, the occupying power has this responsibility.
If the affected country cannot or does not want to assist its own population, the so-called humanitarian imperative is applied. This term is based on international law and established practices within the humanitarian area. According to Sweden’s interpretation of this, outsider states and organizations have an obligation to contribute with their support if it is required in the event of a crisis or disaster. Some countries interpret the humanitarian imperative slightly differently.
In the acute stage of a crisis or disaster, humanitarian aid includes practical efforts, such as getting rescue and medical staff to the area concerned quickly, and helping the affected people with food, water and protection. A humanitarian disaster can continue for many years, and it is therefore not unusual for help to be required over a considerable length of time.
Humanitarian aid and development efforts can also exist side by side. The humanitarian subsidy can also finance early reconstruction efforts in the transition phase leading to development co-operation, as well as some disaster-prevention efforts.
Sweden and Sida have a very good reputation internationally with regard to humanitarian support. Each year, independent evaluation and research organization Development Assistance Research Associates (DARA) assesses the 23 largest donors of humanitarian aid in terms of quality and effectiveness. Sweden came in first place in both 2007 and 2008.
Guiding principles
Sida’s humanitarian efforts are guided by several principles. These include:
- Considering environmental and climatic aspects
- Co-operating with local authorities, organizations and so on should be promoted. This increases the chance of the efforts also having an impact in the long term
- Strengthening the humanitarian principles through information and debate surrounding the Geneva Convention and other civil rights principles
- Reducing the gap between humanitarian support and reconstruction
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Facts about humanitarian aid:
- The humanitarian aid provided through Sida from 2008 to 2010 was estimated at SEK 7.5 billion, and at SEK 2.27 billion for 2010
- Over 50 per cent of Sida’s humanitarian contribution goes to various UN organizations within the humanitarian arena, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
- Sweden also contributes to the funding of the major humanitarian UN organizations through the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- About one quarter of the humanitarian contribution is channelled through the International Red Cross Committee, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies through the Swedish Red Cross
- Some humanitarian efforts are carried out by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB). The size of the contribution depends on the requirement, but it is usually about SEK 120 million per year.
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The humanitarian contribution is used for both emergency and long-term humanitarian crises. A request for financial support often comes through a flash appeal from the UN. For long-term disasters, these appeals are launched once a year (Consolidated Appeals Process). For emergency efforts, the UN uses a flash appeal as quickly as possible after a disaster has taken place.
