Redefining the Role of Humanitarian Organizations in Civil Emergencies

Abstract

The end of the twentieth century brought about the collapse of the bipolar world order and the “balance of fear,” and saw it replaced by the increase of global instability, which prompted worldwide integration processes. The position of the authors is that a global war is hardly likely to occur in the twenty-first century. Instead, we find that the main challenges to global security will be insurgencies, international terrorism, civil emergencies such as natural disasters and man-made disasters, and conflicts over natural resources. Consequently, the role of humanitarian international organizations and other institutions is being redefined, along with the nature of their participation in conflict prevention and emergency management. A new overall approach to this issue is being developed that touches on all aspects of crisis management: political, military, economic, humanitarian, social, and environmental. All participants in those processes must adapt themselves to new conditions, and humanitarian organizations are no exception, since they are important players in the prevention and mitigation of emergencies and in post-crisis recovery efforts. The circumstances that can cause emergencies have changed significantly; yet security challenges still exist, as well as the need for efficient civil emergency planning and relief. Within the framework of the new circumstances, crisis relief in cases of emergency and war is the most important humanitarian activity carried out by society. Good organization and efficient functioning of humanitarian organizations in an emergency situation—and particularly in the case of war—can be of paramount importance for the survival of civilian populations as well as for the management of the consequences of peacetime emergencies. In the organization and implementation of civil emergency relief, humanitarian organizations— both national and international—participate alongside the maximum engagement of governmental services and institutions. The core roles, tasks, and principles of the work on which civil emergency relief is based and implemented reside within different areas of assistance provided by humanitarian organizations. The conse-