Major actors in the humanitarian system
In this section you will learn who are the major actors in humanitarian relief including intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as the Red Cross movement. In addition, you will be introduced to current topics in humanitarian discourse.
Intergovernmental Organizations
Intergovernmental Organizations are organizations based on a formal instrument of agreements (like a treaty) between nations. To qualify as an IGO, this agreement must include three or more nations and must have a permanent executive body (or secretariat). The United Nations is the largest IGO; some UN agencies relevant to forced migration are:
UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs
UNHCHR - United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Unicef - United Nations Children's Fund
UNFPA - United Nations Population Fund
WHO - World Health Organization
Governmental Organizations
Governmental Organizations are organizations/agencies that are
dependent on funding from and controlled by individual political
states/governments. Some examples of governmental organization are
listed below.
USAID - United States Agency of International Development
BPRM - US State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees and
Migration
DFID - UK Department for International Development
SIDA - Swedish International Development Agency
CIDA - Canadian International Development Agency
JICA - Japan International Cooperation Agency
Non-governmental Organizations
Non-governmental Organizations or NGOs are organizations that are
independent from government affiliation. In general, NGOs do not
operate for a profit. Some examples of NGOs that work with forced
migrants are listed below. Most direct services for displaced persons
are provided by non-governmental organizations.
IRC - International Rescue Committee
MSF - Medecins Sans Frontieres
CARE - http://www.careusa.org/about/
SCF - Save the Children Federation
RHRC -
Reproductive Health Response in
Conflict Consortium
InterAction (a US NGO alliance) - http://www.interaction.org/about
ICVA - International Council of Voluntary Agencies (an international
NGO alliance)-
The Red Cross Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's
largest humanitarian network, with a presence and activities in
almost every country. The Movement incorporates the Geneva-based
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International
Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies (the International
Federation), as well as National Societies in 178 countries.
http://www.redcross.int/EN/history/movement.asp
For more information on international actors and specific relief efforts
www.reliefweb.int
IOM Beitbridge Reception Center for Deportees, Zimbabwe
(Photo: Owen Ryan)
What are the major topics in current humanitarian discourse?
Accountability of Humanitarian Aid Providers:
The Red Cross Code of Conduct
The Sphere Project
HAP - Humanitarian Accountability Project
Humanitarian Ethics:
Charity vs. rights: How is humanitarian aid provision guided – by charity and philanthropy or by human rights?
For further detail see:
Slim, H. “Doing the Right Thing: Relief Agencies, Moral Dilemmas, and Moral
Responsibility in Political Emergencies and War.” (1997) Disasters. 21( 3): 244-257.
Distribution of Resources:
How are the resources that are available
to humanitarian aid missions distributed? How do donors make decisions
about the amount/types of resources that are made available to manage
the effects of complex emergencies?
For further detail see:
Salama,P. Laurence B., Nolan ML. “Health and Human Rights in Contemporary Humanitarian Crises: Is Kosovo More Important than Sierra Leone? BMJ. 319(7224): 1569-71.
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