Humanitarian aid

Humanitarian aid is assistance given to people in distress by individuals, organisations, or governments to relieve suffering. The term often carries an international connotation, but this is not always the case. Many full time, professional humanitarian aid organisations exist, both within government (USAID, DFID), and as private voluntary organizations (or non-governmental organisations, e.g. Oxfam, Mercy Corps). The International Committee of the Red Cross is unique in being mandated by international treaty to uphold the Geneva Conventions. It is often distinguished from development aid by being focussed on relieving suffering caused by natural disaster or conflict, rather than removing the root causes of poverty or vulnerability. The Humanitatian Charter of the Sphere coalition of leading private voluntary organisations list the following principles of humanitarian action:

1. . The right to life with dignity.\n#. The distinction between combatant and non-combatants.\n#. The principle of non-refoulement.

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\n* Timeline of events in humanitarian relief and development\n* Attacks on humanitarian workers