Humanitarian & resilience
Humanitarian Action
Definition
Humanitarian action is action whose objectives are to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity during and in the aftermath of crises and disasters associated with natural hazards or human causes, as well as to prevent such situations and strengthen preparedness for them. It includes protection of civilians and provision of food, water, shelter, and health services, and is guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.
References
authoritative definition
Overview
What it means
The definition, codified in the OECD DAC-endorsed Good Humanitarian Donorship principles, deliberately includes prevention and preparedness, not only response — the bridge to disaster risk reduction and to the humanitarian-development nexus. What distinguishes humanitarian action from development cooperation is its basis in need alone and its governing principles, not its subject matter.
How it is used
The term structures UN appeals, OCHA coordination, donor reporting of humanitarian assistance, and standards such as Sphere and the Core Humanitarian Standard.
Why it matters
As climate change multiplies disasters, the boundary between humanitarian response and long-term resilience is where sustainability policy is being rewritten.