GC: n
S: UNICEF – https://www.unicef.org/eca/media/2671/file/Social_Protection2.pdf (last access: 2 May 2024); UNOCHA – https://2022.gho.unocha.org/ (last access: 2 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.”
– assistance (n): early 15c., “act of helping or aiding; help given, aid,” from Old French assistance and Medieval Latin assistentia, from the respective verbs.
2. Aid that seeks, to save lives and alleviate suffering of a crisis affected population. Humanitarian assistance must be provided in accordance with the basic humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality, as stated in General Assembly Resolution 46/182. In addition, the UN seeks to provide humanitarian assistance with full respect for the sovereignty of States. Assistance may be divided into three categories – direct assistance, indirect assistance and infrastructure support – which have diminishing degrees of contact with the affected population. (OCHA)
3. Humanitarian assistance is generally accepted to mean the aid and action designed to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain and protect human dignity during and in the aftermath of man-made crises and natural disasters, as well as to prevent and strengthen preparedness for the occurrence of such situations (Source: Good Humanitarian Donorship). What marks it out from other forms of aid and foreign assistance is that it should be guided by the principles of:
- humanity – saving human lives and alleviating suffering wherever it is found
- impartiality – acting solely on the basis of need, without discrimination between or within affected populations
- neutrality – acting without favouring any side in an armed conflict or other dispute where such action is carried out
- independence – the autonomy of humanitarian objectives from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented.
S: 1. OED – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=humanitarian%20assistance&lc=es (last access: 2 May 2024). 2. RWP – https://reliefweb.int/report/world/reliefweb-glossary-humanitarian-terms-enko (last access: 2 May 2024) (p. 29). 3. UNICEF – https://www.unicef.org/eca/media/2671/file/Social_Protection2.pdf (last access: 2 May 2024).
SYN:
S:
CR: emergency area, humane care, humanitarian, humanitarian action, humanitarian aid, humanitarian convoy, international humanitarian law, relief.
