In 2013, the humanitarian community‘s strategic objectives will continue to address the immediate life-saving needs of refugees, IDPs, returnees, expelled migrants, host communities, and people affected by sudden- and slow-onset natural disasters. Special focus will be given to strengthening the resilience of disaster-affected communities to handle cyclical shocks. In this context, the interaction between emergency assistance, recovery and development is a continuum in which medium- and long-term development initiatives co-exist with principled short-term emergency response, where life-saving interventions are needed as well as preparedness activities.