Humanitarianism
Humanitarianism refers to a set of beliefs and practices aimed at relieving human suffering and protecting life, health, and dignity in times of armed conflict and natural disaster. It involves delivering rapid assistance such as food, water, shelter, medical care, and protection, with the aim of aid reaching those in need regardless of nationality, race, religion, or political affiliation. While closely related to development work, humanitarian action is typically focused on acute emergencies and immediate relief.
The field is guided by core ethical principles that shape decision making and operations: humanity, impartiality,
Historically, modern humanitarianism emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries from religious, moral, and legal ideas
Key actors include the ICRC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), UN
Challenges include restricted access, security risks to aid workers, funding volatility, coordination fragmentation, and debates over