December 2, 2010

‘Politicisation of humanitarian aid a worrying trend with grave consequences’

DARA’s annual Humanitarian Response Index 2010 report, which ranks the effectiveness of  donor governments’ humanitarian assistance, reveals that political priorities  have impeded the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to millions of people in need.

The world’s main donor governments provide over US$11 billion a year in humanitarian aid. 

On 7 December 2010 , DARA will present the findings of its global Humanitarian Response Index 2010, which assesses the performance of the world’s 23 main donor governments in 14 crises that received almost two thirds of total emergency aid funding in 2009.

Ross Mountain, Director General of DARA and former Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Deputy Special Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will highlight the report’s latest findings, amongst which is the increasing militarisation and politicisation of aid. This compromises access to affected populations, and civilians are not receiving the protection and assistance they need. The lives of humanitarian workers have also been endangered by this worrying trend. The report also highlights the need for investment in prevention and preparedness, more efficient use of aid and a principled approach.

The policies and practices of key donors will be discussed based on quantitative data and field research carried out in major humanitarian crises during 2010, including the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Afghanistan, Pakistan,  Haiti, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe.

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