Multilateral Humanitarian Aid As a Foreign Socio-Humanitarian Policy Tool in Britain

Beyond trading insults in international humanitarian aid

The article examines the issues of UN humanitarian aid and humanitarian funds in the world. The issues of providing humanitarian aid in different countries are investigated. It is argued that humanitarian aid in the modern world is an indispensable tool through which funds and other resources are formed and distributed among the state, among people who, due to various factors, have found themselves in special conditions that do not consider them to be able to adequately satisfy their vital human needs. It is proven that the problems due to which people and the state need humanitarian aid are caused primarily by military uprisings, military conflicts (armed conflicts, aggression), confrontation between legitimate authorities (legally elected and/or legally appointed) and their opponents. The activities of the UN Emergency Relief Service, managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), are analyzed in detail. The features of financing humanitarian assistance from OCHA through the largest pooled funds of many donors are considered: the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPL), Regional Humanitarian Funds (RHF). Special attention is paid to humanitarian funds. The features of OCHA’s pooled funds, which are formed mainly through contributions from national governments, foundations and individuals, are analyzed. The practice of the CERF, which is designed for underfunded emergencies and helps to scale up and sustain long-term relief operations to avoid critical gaps in the absence of other funding, is examined. The country-based pooled funds (CBPFs), which are established when an emergency arises or when an existing crisis worsens, are analyzed. They are managed by OCHA under the leadership of Humanitarian Coordinators (HCs) or UN Resident Coordinators (RCs) and in close consultation with the humanitarian community, are pooled into single, non-earmarked funds. These funds support high-priority projects implemented by those best suited to respond (including international and national NGOs and UN agencies) through an inclusive and transparent process that supports the priorities identified in the Humanitarian Response Plans.

Aid shortfall causes agencies to rethink approach in Gaza

Humanitarian aid: some political realities

To guarantee a unified response to disasters, humanitarian organizations work together via the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Although the OCHA has made great strides to improve its information management and increase the availability of accurate, real-time data for disaster and humanitarian response teams, significant gaps persist. There are inefficiencies in the emergency management of data at every stage of its lifecycle: collection, processing, analysis, distribution, storage, and retrieval. Disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management are the two main tenets of the United Nations’ worldwide plan for disaster management. Information systems are crucial because of the crucial roles they play in capturing, processing, and transmitting data. The management of information is seldom discussed in published works. The goal of this study is to employ qualitative research methods to provide insight by facilitating an expanded comprehension of relevant contexts, phenomena, and individual experiences. Humanitarian workers and OCHA staffers will take part in the research. The study subjects will be chosen using a random selection procedure. Online surveys with both closed- and open-ended questions will be used to compile the data. UN OCHA offers a structure for the handling of information via which all humanitarian actors may contribute to the overall response. This research will enable the UN Office for OCHA better gather, process, analyze, disseminate, store, and retrieve data in the event of a catastrophe or humanitarian crisis.

Background: Official development assistance (ODA) is one of the most important means for donor countries to foster diplomatic relations with low- and middle-income countries and contribute to the welfare of the international community. Objective: This study estimated the sectoral allocation of gross disbursements of ODA of the 29 Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for the duration of 2011 to 2018, by aid type (bilateral, multilateral, and both aids). Methods: Data from the OECD iLibrary were used. The sector definition was based on the OECD sector classification. For core funding to multilateral agencies that do not specialize in each aid sector, we estimated ODA and its flows based on the OECD methodology for calculating imputed multilateral ODA. Results: For all 29 countries, during the period of 2014–2018 where data were available for all the countries, the sector with the highest average annual ODA contribution was health at 20.34 billion USD (13.21%), followed by humanitarian aid at 18.04 billion (11.72%). Humanitarian aid has increased in the sectoral share rankings in both bilateral and multilateral aid, and the sectoral share for refugees in donor countries has increased in bilateral aid. While the 29 countries show relatively similar trends for sectoral shares, some countries and sectors display unique trends. For instance, infrastructure and energy sectors in bilateral aid of Japan are particularly high accounts for 48.48% of the total bilateral ODA of the country in 2018. Conclusions: This paper evaluated ODA trends by major donors of DAC countries in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic periods. We hope that our estimates will contribute to the review of the strategic decision-making and the effective implementation of future ODA policy discussions in the DAC countries while ensuring transparency.

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) was established in January 1998 as part of the UN Secretariat, replacing the Department of Humanitarian Affairs. OCHA’s mandate is to work with UN agencies, governments, intergovernmental humanitarian organizations and nongovernmental organizations to ensure that a prompt, co-ordinated and effective response is provided to complex humanitarian crises. OCHA co-ordinates and aims to expand the reach of humanitarian action, with a focus on reducing duplication and prioritizing the most vulnerable recipients. The Central Emergency Response Fund, established in December 2005, with a view to ensuring a more predictable and timely response to suddenly emerging or rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crises, comprises a US $1,000m. OCHA led the preparatory process for the inaugural World Humanitarian Summit, which was convened in May 2016, in Istanbul, Turkey, with participation by 55 heads of state and of government, and by nearly 9,000 representatives of civil society, private sector interests, international and regional organizations and of Noes.

The overwhelming humanitarian impact of the January 2010 Earthquake in Haiti created a tremendous coordination challenge for the humanitarian relief agencies. In this paper, we first describe the coordination mechanisms that are implemented by the United Nations and the role of its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). We introduce the cluster approach, which is instrumental in providing a more efficient and effective coordination in affected disaster areas. The main thrust of our paper is on the role and use of information management (IM) in these coordination efforts. To understand better the benefits and problems of information systems, we conducted interviews with experienced information managers who participated in the Haiti relief effort. While the interviewees saw clear benefits of IM for the coordination of humanitarian relief, concerns related to information overload, reliability and accountability were found to impede the realisation of the full potential of IM.

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) was established in January 1998 as part of the UN Secretariat, replacing the Department of Humanitarian Affairs. OCHA has a mandate to mobilize and co-ordinate the global emergency response to humanitarian crises, as well as to provide policy advice and leadership on humanitarian issues. OCHA liaises with UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordin-ators and Country Teams, and co-ordinates with other UN bodies to monitor developments, to assess requirements, to raise awareness of crises, and to mobilize financial assistance and other resources. OCHA co-ordinates and aims to expand the reach of humanitarian action, with a focus on reducing duplication and prioritizing the most vulnerable recipients. OCHA advocates to promote awareness of and respect for international humanitarian and human rights law; to support crisis-affected populations in obtaining humanitarian assistance; and to raise public awareness of low profile crises.

The article examines the content of such key concepts of international aid in the paradigm of defense capability of Ukraine as “international aid”, “international technical aid”, “military aid”, “humanitarian aid”, “charitable activity”. It was found that the system of ensuring the defense capability of the state is not limited by internal resources, but actively attracts external resources for the needs of the security and defense sphere. It is pointed out that there is no concept of “international aid” in the legislation of Ukraine, but the definition of the content of international technical aid, humanitarian aid and charitable activities. It was determined that the concept of “military aid” is also absent in national legislation, but in scientific doctrine it is considered as a type of international aid, and in conditions of armed aggression as assistance to Ukraine in ensuring the realization of its national interests. Forms of providing military aid to Ukraine by partner countries were considered. It was noted that the meaning of the concept of “military aid” is not limited to the provision of weapons and military equipment, but also includes the training and training of military personnel, the construction of infrastructure facilities, the provision of assistance in the development of battle plans, etc. It was emphasized that today military aid is provided by donor countries as international technical assistance, humanitarian aid or charity in accordance with the terms of the concluded agreement. A conclusion was drawn on the expediency of the legislative separation of military aid, as well as the development of a regulatory basis for its attraction, accounting, distribution, and use, which, taking into account the volume and importance of such aid to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities, will simplify its receipt from donor countries. Keywords: international aid, international technical aid, military aid, humanitarian aid, charitable activity.

Sanctions Hurt but Are Not the Main Impediment to Humanitarian Operations in North Korea Roberta Cohen (bio) For more than two decades, humanitarian agencies have tried to address the chronic hunger and malnutrition of more than 40% of North Korea's 25 million people. Since the great famine of the 1990s, when humanitarian organizations were first invited into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), they have come up against a series of obstacles put in their way by the government, undermining the effectiveness of aid. Although the sanctions imposed in 2006 and strengthened in 2016 and 2017 unquestionably have added to the difficulty of delivering humanitarian aid, the main impediment remains the government of North Korea itself. This essay will examine how the DPRK, while allowing humanitarian aid agencies access to its territory, has often restricted their operations and effectively prevented them from reaching many of the most in need, as well as how international sanctions have added to those difficulties. As a result, without a change in North Korea's policies and practices, the lifting of sanctions would not alter the fundamental problems faced by humanitarian actors in the country. The Challenge of Bringing Aid to North Korea In 2014 the report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK concluded that "20 years after humanitarian agencies began their work in the DPRK, humanitarian workers still face unacceptable constraints impeding their access to populations in dire need." The report found that the DPRK has "imposed movement and contact restrictions on humanitarian actors that unduly impede their access"; "deliberately failed to provide aid organizations with access to reliable data, which, if provided, would have greatly enhanced the effectiveness of the humanitarian response and saved many lives"; and continually obstructed effective monitoring of [End Page 35] humanitarian assistance,1 presumably to hide the diversion of some of the aid to the military, elite, or other favored groups as well as to markets. In response, aid agencies have devised special measures to try to ensure that food reaches those for whom it is intended, including by weighing children's arms, omitting rice from donations because corn gruel and other mixed foods are not favored by the military and elite, and supplying medicines "that can only be used for their intended purpose."2 At times they have developed successful random monitoring systems.3 Despite notable progress, in 2017 UN secretary-general António Guterres continued to highlight the "significant constraints" imposed by North Korea on aid agencies' access to the beneficiaries.4 In 2016, then UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon called on North Korea to grant UN agencies "unconditional access" to reliable and accurate data to ensure that aid programs "can effectively target and reach the most vulnerable."5 Yet when the World Food Programme's executive director visited North Korea in 2018, he noted that "access has still been very limited."6 The UN resident coordinator in Pyongyang aptly put it: "National authorities are reluctant to share data beyond the bare minimum and agencies are normally only allowed access to limited information that is strictly related to their operations."7 In this tightly controlled political climate, international humanitarian staff often have to make compromises. Some point out privately that it is unrealistic to try to uphold humanitarian standards in an environment as difficult as North Korea's. They try hard to come up with ways to make their aid sustainable for the North Korean people, but their plans are not always accepted. They may propose extensive medical treatment for some diseases only to have officials curtail the aid and increase the number of people being treated. Where the aid ends up is also not always clear. Supplies brought to one hospital may end up being sent elsewhere without explanation. [End Page 36] According to the UN Commission of Inquiry report, humanitarian staff expressed "strong doubts that the people and children presented to them were those most in need."8 Gaining access is an ongoing issue. In 2016, during Typhoon Lionrock, for example, UN agencies were told they could visit only three of the flooded areas.9 And they were not offered entry—nor did they...

Background Official Development Assistance (ODA) significantly aids sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted aid allocation, posing challenges for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Objective This study explores and underscores the profound implications of shifts in ODA allocation by Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member countries, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of international aid. Methods Drawing from the gross ODA disbursement data for LMICs by DAC member countries from 2011 to 2021, a linear regression analysis assessed the changes in ODA amount, ODA-to-gross national income (GNI) ratio, sectoral aid allocation, and the balance between bilateral and multilateral aid, primarily focusing on the differences pre- and post-COVID-19. For non-specialised multilateral agencies’ core funding, the OECD’s methodology for calculating imputed multilateral ODA was employed to estimate ODA flows. Results The study found an increasing trend in the total ODA provided by DAC member countries from 2011 to 2021. However, the average ODA/GNI ratio showed a slight but significant decrease before the pandemic, followed by an increase after the COVID-19 pandemic. The health sector received the highest percentage of aid after the pandemic, with a marked increase in both bilateral and multilateral aid. However, other sectors such as humanitarian aid, water and sanitation, and energy experienced a significant decrease in sectoral aid share. Conclusions Emerging from this analysis is a strong recommendation for DAC members to re-evaluate aid objectives and escalate their financial commitments to reinforce SDGs and sustainable development efforts. While the rise in health aid is essential, other sectors also require equal focus to offset the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the intricacies of aid allocation can improve aid efficacy, culminating in greater, transformative results for recipient countries.

Typically, when major disasters occur, the international community provides support by dispatching relief teams to the affected country on humanitarian grounds immediately afterwards. UN General Assembly (1991) Resolution 46/182, “Strengthening of Coordination of Humanitarian Emergency Assistance of the United Nations,” provides a conceptual definition for humanitarian assistance.1 It states that “humanitarian assistance must be provided with the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality” and that “assistance must be provided with the consent of the affected country and in principle on the basis of an appeal by the affected country.” The international community has accepted these points as the basic principles undergirding assistance activities for disaster relief and recovery.2 The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which was established in 1997, is the organization tasked with coordinating urgent humanitarian support activities. The UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) has more recently been established under OCHA; UNDAC’s disaster emergency experts undertake initial coordination, quick disaster assessment, and information dissemination activities. When disasters occur, various UN organizations undertake relief activities in their fields of specialization under the coordination of OCHA.

This study aims to analyze and explain the humanitarian crisis that occurred in South Sudan from 2019 to 2021, as a consequence of the prolonged civil war, as well as the role of the Office For The Coordination Of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in efforts to overcome and respond to the humanitarian crisis. In this study, the author uses several concepts and theories, which include the concept of Human Security, the concept of Responsibility to Protect, and the theory of International Organizations. The method used in this research is a descriptive qualitative method. The results showed that the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Sudan caused violations of several aspects of human security, which include personal security, community security, political security, economic security, food security, health security, and environmental security. Then in an effort to respond to and overcome the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, OCHA did several things, namely making a policy agenda, providing information, advocating, and providing humanitarian funds for the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan.

This paper adds to the growing body of knowledge in media and foreign aid. We aim to determine whether the impact of media-led US aid allocation applies universally to any foreign aid or specific to certain aid types. This paper's contribution is that we created three new media variables and use them to determine the strength of media effect on US Official Development Assistance (ODA), humanitarian assistance, and food aid. We generated the media variables from citations of an aid recipient's events in the four leading US daily newspapers' (the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times) from 1966 to 2014. We used panel data fixed effects estimation technique on a dataset comprising 134 countries to determine the net strength of aid's media effect. Our findings showed that media's impact is ambiguous on the allocation of ODA. We found that the US ODA disbursement is unresponsive to media effect, whereas ODA commitment varies depending on the comparison's context. Media exposure is a critical factor for US humanitarian assistance and food aid disbursements.