GC: n

S: DFID – https://www.gov.uk/donate-volunteer-humanitarian-disaster (last access: 8 May 2024); WVI – https://www.wvi.org/disaster-management/what-humanitarian-disaster (last access: 8 May 2024).

N: 1. – humanitarian (adj): As a noun by 1794 in the theological sense “one who affirms the humanity of Christ but denies his pre-existence and divinity,” from humanity + suffix from unitarian, etc.; see humanism. Meaning “philanthropist, one who advocates or practices human action to solve social problems” is from 1842, originally disparaging, with a suggestion of excess.
As an adjective by 1834 in the theological sense “affirming the humanity or human nature of Christ;” by 1855 as “having regard for the broad interests of humanity.”

– disaster (n): “anything that befalls of ruinous or distressing nature; any unfortunate event,” especially a sudden or great misfortune, 1590s, from Middle French désastre (1560s), from Italian disastro, literally “ill-starred,” from dis-, here merely pejorative, equivalent to English mis- “ill” (see dis-) + astro “star, planet,” from Latin astrum, from Greek astron “star” (from PIE root *ster- (2) “star”).
The sense is astrological, of a calamity blamed on an unfavorable position of a planet, and “star” here is probably meant in the astrological sense of “destiny, fortune, fate.” Compare Medieval Latin astrum sinistrum “misfortune,” literally “unlucky star,” and English ill-starred.

2. A disaster or humanitarian emergency can take different forms and have a major impact on people, the environment, infrastructure and buildings. It can arise out of many circumstances, including prolonged drought, intense flooding, earthquakes and tsunamis, or through political upheaval and civil conflict. In all disasters the survivors – many of them children – can be left stranded and in urgent need of life-saving relief such as shelter, food, water and health care.

3. Whenever there is a disaster or a humanitarian catastrophe, the UN is on the ground providing relief, support and assistance.
From the population displacements caused by war, weather and natural disasters, to the impact of such disruptions on health, hygiene, education, nutrition and even basic shelter, the UN is there, making a difference.

S: 1. Etymonline – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=humanitarian+disaster (last access: 8 May 2024). 2. WVI – https://www.wvi.org/disaster-management/what-humanitarian-disaster (last access: 8 May 2024). 3. UNIS – https://bit.ly/2S5XD2t (last access: 17 July 2019).

SYN: humanitarian catastrophe

S: UNIS – https://bit.ly/2S5XD2t (last access: 17 July 2019)

CR: humanitarian, humanitarian crisis, humanitarian disaster.