Humanitarian Guidelines and Systems → International humanitarian architecture

International humanitarian architecture

The government of a disaster- affected country has the primary role in organisation, coordination and implementation of assistance to humanitarian emergencies.

In many humanitarian emergencies, local communities and organizations are the first to respond and provide assistance.
Humanitarian agencies should endeavour to engage with national actors and authorities and keep them informed. Also to link humanitarian assistance to existing development actors, plans and policies to ensure that it:
- is appropriate for the local context;
- contributes to achieving longer term development objectives;
- does not increase vulnerability, or fuel future inequality, conflict or suffering

"Each state has the responsibility firsta nd foremost to take care of the victims of natural disasters and other emergencies occurring on its territory”
UN General Assembly Resolution46/182
 

How is humanitarian response organised?

Three ‘families’ of the humanitarian community - UN and international organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs) and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (IFRC, ICRC).
Donors e.g. USAID, AusAid, CIDA, DFID - providing bi-lateral aid (direct funding to
individual agencies) or multi-lateral funding (through the EU, World Bank, DEC, pooled funding mechanisms)
Military and peacekeeping actors – providing protection, maintaining law and order, assisting in search and rescue, distributions etc