Reading Pack: Humanitarian Action

Abstract

The purpose of humanitarian action is to support people affected by armed conflicts and disasters by helping them to save their lives, alleviate their suffering, maintain their dignity, assist their recovery and increase their resilience. Today’s global humanitarian system is a major achievement in modern international relations. It has created and sustained strong humanitarian norms, laws and operational agencies. These now ensure that the great majority of people in desperate need because of war and disaster throughout the world are likely to receive some form of aid and protection from its global reach.