Today, humanitarians work in some of the most volatile and insecure environments in the world. Even as they come under increasing attack, humanitarian workers find ways to continue delivering life-saving services to populations in need.
This study documents, across different types of security environments and risk patterns, a variety of practices humanitarian workers have used in their efforts to maintain an operational presence and continue their activities.
The report offers an analysis of the broader challenges to securinghumanitarian action and recommends areas for improvement. This studywill contribute to improving the way humanitarians ˜do business' in complexsecurity environments.
As this report details, much can be done to break the vicious cycle in whichhumanitarians are attacked and blocked and victims in wars and disasterssuffer unassisted. Those who attack or hinder the right to assist needy peoplemust be held accountable for their breaches of international law. Humanitarianorganisations must become more professional, more disciplined and moreprincipled in how they act and how they enforce principles and standards inhigh risk circumstances. More resources for security measures are needed, especially among local non-governmental groups and national staff members.
The UN and all non-UN humanitarian leadership must more vigorouslydefend their rights of humanitarian initiative and access as well as the securityof their front-line staff. And humanitarian organisations that are willing tobecome tools for political agendas and compromise fundamental and inheritedhumanitarian principles for easy money must face greater peer pressure.
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