December 1, 2010

Source: ReliefWeb

In 2009, donors provided over 11.5 billion USD in aid to respond to needs of millions of people affected by conflicts and natural disasters around the world. Ensuring that aid is used correctly is no easy task, with humanitarian crises increasing in number and complexity. Today, humanitarian actors face daunting challenges to provide protection and assistance to those in need – often entering into a complex interplay of competing national and international interests related to political, military, security or Development concerns. Add tighter budgets to this scenario, and the need for effective and efficient humanitarian assistance becomes more important than ever.

The Humanitarian Response Index 2010 provides an objective overview of donor performance, which can assist governments in ensuring their humanitarian funding has the greatest posible impact for people in need.

This year’s report reveals the increasing politicization and militarization of humanitarian aid which compromises effective assistance to vulnerable populations and endangers humanitarian workers. The Humanitarian Response Index 2010 urges a principled approach by donor governments since respect of Good Humanitarian Donorship principles is essential to make humanitarian aid more effective.