HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT

Providing Emergency Assistance and Support to Vulnerable Communities in Need

A Project of International Human Rights Organization World Society (IHRO World Society)

“Humanity in Action. Dignity in Every Response. Leaving No One Behind.”

About the Project

The Humanitarian Support Project is a humanitarian initiative of the International Human Rights Organization World Society (IHRO World Society) dedicated to providing assistance, protection and practical support to people and communities affected by emergencies, disasters, poverty, displacement and other situations of vulnerability.

Humanitarian crises can arise from natural disasters, climate-related events, conflict, displacement, disease outbreaks, economic hardship and other emergencies. Such situations can place people’s lives, health, dignity, livelihoods and basic needs at risk.

IHRO World Society seeks to respond through needs-based, inclusive, transparent and responsible humanitarian action, working with communities, local organizations, volunteers, development partners and other relevant stakeholders.

The humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence are widely recognized as foundations of humanitarian action. Humanity emphasizes addressing suffering wherever it is found and respecting the life, health, dignity and rights of affected people; impartiality requires assistance to be guided by need and provided without discrimination.

OUR VISION

A world where vulnerable people affected by emergencies and hardship can access timely, dignified and appropriate humanitarian assistance and are not left behind.

OUR MISSION

Through humanitarian response, community engagement, partnerships and resource mobilization, IHRO World Society seeks to:

• provide emergency assistance to people in need;
• support vulnerable and marginalized communities;
• respond to humanitarian emergencies and disasters;
• promote protection, dignity and human rights;
• support access to essential goods and services;
• strengthen community resilience;
• support local humanitarian capacity;
• mobilize volunteers and resources;
• promote inclusive and non-discriminatory assistance; and
• strengthen partnerships for sustainable humanitarian action.

HUMANITY AT THE CENTRE

Humanitarian action begins with a simple principle:

Human suffering matters, wherever it occurs.

IHRO World Society seeks to place human dignity, safety and basic human needs at the centre of its humanitarian activities.

Our response aims to respect:

Life • Dignity • Equality • Safety • Human Rights • Humanitarian Principles

The UN humanitarian framework similarly emphasizes respect for the life, health, dignity and rights of people affected by crises.

WHO WE SUPPORT

Depending on available resources, program objectives and assessed needs, the Project may support:

• people affected by natural disasters;
• low-income and vulnerable families;
• children;
• women;
• older persons;
• persons with disabilities;
• displaced communities;
• people affected by climate-related emergencies;
• disaster-affected communities;
• people experiencing food insecurity;
• people facing sudden loss of shelter or livelihood;
• marginalized communities; and
• other people experiencing humanitarian need.

Assistance should be based primarily on assessed needs and vulnerability, rather than discrimination based on identity, background, religion, nationality, gender, political opinion or other status.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

IHRO may mobilize humanitarian assistance following emergencies such as:

Natural Disasters

• floods;
• cyclones;
• storms;
• landslides;
• earthquakes;
• fires; and
• other natural hazards.

Climate-Related Emergencies

• extreme weather;
• heat-related emergencies;
• climate-induced displacement;
• water shortages; and
• other climate-related impacts.

Humanitarian Crises

• displacement;
• loss of shelter;
• food insecurity;
• disruption of essential services;
• community emergencies; and
• other situations creating significant humanitarian needs.

The UN identifies timely, coordinated and needs-based humanitarian action as essential to effective emergency response.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

Subject to available resources and assessed needs, IHRO may provide or facilitate:

Food Assistance

Emergency food packages, nutritional support and other appropriate food assistance.

Water & Sanitation

Support related to safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation where appropriate.

Emergency Shelter

Emergency shelter materials and essential household items for people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed.

Clothing & Essential Items

Appropriate clothing, blankets, hygiene items and other essential supplies.

Health Support

Support for access to essential health-related services and supplies through appropriate qualified partners.

Cash or Voucher Assistance

Where feasible and appropriate, humanitarian cash or voucher assistance may be considered to enable affected families to address priority needs.

Cash assistance can allow families to prioritize their own urgent needs when appropriate systems and safeguards are available.

Educational Support

Emergency educational materials and support for continuity of learning where appropriate.

Protection & Referral

Information, referral and protection support for people facing heightened risks.

RAPID HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

When an emergency occurs, IHRO may seek to follow a structured response process:

1. Emergency Alert

Identify the emergency and obtain initial information.

2. Rapid Needs Assessment

Assess the scale, location, affected population and priority needs.

3. Response Planning

Determine available resources, partners, logistics and response priorities.

4. Resource Mobilization

Mobilize appropriate financial, material and human resources.

5. Assistance Delivery

Deliver or facilitate appropriate humanitarian assistance.

6. Monitoring

Monitor distribution, beneficiary reach, quality and potential risks.

7. Accountability

Document activities, expenditures, challenges and outcomes.

8. Recovery & Resilience

Where appropriate, support transition from emergency assistance toward recovery and community resilience.

NEEDS-BASED ASSISTANCE

IHRO World Society seeks to ensure that humanitarian assistance is based on objective assessment of needs and vulnerability.

Where resources are limited, priority may be given to people facing the greatest risks or most urgent needs.

The UN has emphasized that emergency assistance should be based on careful assessment of actual needs and should prioritize those most in need using objective, non-discriminatory criteria.

PROTECTION OF HUMAN DIGNITY

Humanitarian assistance is not simply about distributing goods.

It is about supporting people with:

Respect • Dignity • Privacy • Safety • Choice • Participation

IHRO shall seek to avoid practices that could humiliate, stigmatize, expose or unnecessarily identify people receiving assistance.

Special attention should be given to the protection of:

• children;
• survivors of violence;
• persons with disabilities;
• older persons;
• displaced people;
• women and girls;
• vulnerable families; and
• people facing protection risks.

HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLES

IHRO World Society seeks to apply four core humanitarian principles:

Humanity

Human suffering should be addressed wherever it is found, with respect for life, health and dignity.

Impartiality

Assistance should be provided according to need, without discrimination.

Neutrality

Humanitarian activities should not take sides in hostilities or political conflicts.

Independence

Humanitarian objectives should remain independent from political, economic, military or other objectives.

These principles are recognized within the international humanitarian system and guide humanitarian organizations in emergency response.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Women and children may face heightened risks during humanitarian emergencies.

IHRO may prioritize protection and assistance for:

• children;
• pregnant women;
• women-headed households;
• children separated from caregivers;
• persons with disabilities;
• older persons; and
• other particularly vulnerable individuals.

Humanitarian activities involving children shall follow appropriate safeguarding and child-protection procedures.

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

IHRO seeks to make humanitarian assistance as inclusive and accessible as reasonably possible.

Emergency planning should consider:

• physical accessibility;
• communication needs;
• mobility requirements;
• assistive devices;
• accessible information; and
• protection from discrimination.

FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

Emergencies can rapidly affect household food security.

Where appropriate and resources permit, IHRO may support:

• emergency food distribution;
• nutritional awareness;
• child nutrition initiatives;
• support for vulnerable households;
• community food assistance; and
• referral to appropriate services.

This contributes to SDG 2 — Zero Hunger, including the objective of ensuring access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food for people in vulnerable situations.

WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE

Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is particularly important during emergencies.

IHRO may support:

• drinking-water distribution;
• hygiene materials;
• sanitation awareness;
• emergency hygiene facilities;
• community awareness; and
• partnerships for WASH interventions.

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Humanitarian emergencies can disrupt essential health services.

IHRO may support or facilitate access to:

• emergency health information;
• essential health supplies;
• health-awareness activities;
• community health initiatives;
• psychosocial support through qualified partners; and
• referral to appropriate healthcare services.

Such activities shall be implemented through appropriately qualified persons or organizations where professional services are required.

SHELTER AND ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT

Loss of housing can expose families to significant risks.

Depending on need and resources, IHRO may support:

• emergency shelter materials;
• blankets;
• household items;
• clothing;
• hygiene kits;
• temporary accommodation support; and
• referral to appropriate shelter services.

The UN identifies shelter, food, protection and other essential support as important components of emergency response.

LIVELIHOOD AND EARLY RECOVERY

Humanitarian support should, where possible, contribute to recovery and resilience rather than creating long-term dependency.

IHRO may support appropriate initiatives involving:

• livelihood recovery;
• vocational support;
• small community initiatives;
• skills development;
• restoration of basic economic activities;
• community resilience; and
• disaster preparedness.

Local capacity-building is recognized as an important component of effective humanitarian assistance and longer-term resilience.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Affected communities should not be treated merely as recipients of assistance.

Where feasible, IHRO seeks to involve communities in:

• needs identification;
• response planning;
• prioritization;
• implementation;
• monitoring; and
• feedback.

Community participation can improve the relevance, dignity and sustainability of humanitarian programs.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO AFFECTED PEOPLE

IHRO seeks to maintain mechanisms through which affected people can:

• ask questions;
• provide feedback;
• report concerns;
• raise complaints;
• provide suggestions; and
• report suspected misconduct.

Humanitarian assistance should be transparent, responsible and responsive to the people it is intended to support.

SAFEGUARDING AND PROTECTION FROM EXPLOITATION

IHRO maintains a commitment to preventing:

• sexual exploitation and abuse;
• harassment;
• discrimination;
• fraud;
• corruption;
• child exploitation;
• abuse of beneficiaries;
• misuse of humanitarian resources; and
• other forms of misconduct.

People receiving humanitarian assistance must never be required to provide sexual, personal or other improper benefits in exchange for assistance.

TRANSPARENCY AND RESPONSIBLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

IHRO seeks to ensure that humanitarian resources are used responsibly.

Depending on the project, appropriate records may include:

• donor contributions;
• procurement records;
• beneficiary numbers;
• distribution records;
• project expenditure;
• inventory;
• monitoring results; and
• completion reports.

IHRO may provide appropriate reports to donors, partners, regulators and other stakeholders in accordance with applicable requirements.

PARTNERSHIP AND COORDINATION

Humanitarian needs can exceed the capacity of a single organization.

IHRO therefore seeks to cooperate with:

• local communities;
• civil-society organizations;
• humanitarian organizations;
• government authorities;
• development partners;
• professional organizations;
• volunteers;
• donors; and
• other relevant stakeholders.

Coordination can help reduce duplication, strengthen coverage and make better use of limited resources. The UN humanitarian system places significant emphasis on coordination among humanitarian actors and with national and local authorities.

LOCAL CAPACITY AND RESILIENCE

IHRO recognizes the importance of strengthening local capacity.

Where appropriate, humanitarian projects may include:

• community preparedness;
• volunteer training;
• disaster-risk awareness;
• first-response awareness;
• local leadership development;
• emergency planning;
• resource mapping; and
• community resilience initiatives.

The objective is to help communities become better prepared for future emergencies.

ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE HUMANITARIAN ACTION

Where feasible, IHRO seeks to consider environmental impacts when designing humanitarian interventions.

This may include:

• responsible procurement;
• minimizing unnecessary waste;
• environmentally appropriate packaging;
• responsible disposal;
• efficient logistics; and
• consideration of climate resilience.

OUR SDG CONTRIBUTION

The Humanitarian Support Project contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals.

SDG 1 — No Poverty

Supporting vulnerable people and strengthening resilience to shocks and disasters.

SDG 2 — Zero Hunger

Supporting food security and nutrition among vulnerable populations.

SDG 3 — Good Health & Well-Being

Supporting access to essential health and well-being services.

SDG 5 — Gender Equality

Considering the specific needs and protection of women and girls.

SDG 6 — Clean Water & Sanitation

Supporting access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities & Communities

Supporting resilient communities and disaster preparedness. SDG 11 includes targets concerning disaster impacts and resilience of human settlements.

SDG 13 — Climate Action

Supporting communities affected by climate-related hazards and strengthening resilience.

SDG 16 — Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

Promoting protection, accountability and inclusive humanitarian governance.

SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals

Building partnerships and mobilizing resources for humanitarian action.

The UN 2030 Agenda emphasizes partnership, resilience, poverty reduction and reaching vulnerable populations while pursuing the commitment to leave no one behind.

WHAT WE DO

Under the Humanitarian Support Project, IHRO World Society may undertake:

• emergency food distribution;
• emergency relief packages;
• clothing distribution;
• winter support;
• hygiene-kit distribution;
• drinking-water support;
• emergency shelter assistance;
• medical-support initiatives through qualified partners;
• disaster-response activities;
• humanitarian fundraising campaigns;
• community resilience programs;
• livelihood recovery initiatives;
• educational support;
• support for vulnerable children and families;
• support for persons with disabilities;
• emergency volunteer mobilization;
• humanitarian awareness campaigns; and
• other lawful humanitarian activities based on assessed needs.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DO NO HARM

Humanitarian assistance can create risks if it is poorly designed or delivered.

IHRO therefore seeks to consider:

• beneficiary safety;
• privacy;
• safeguarding;
• cultural sensitivity;
• protection from discrimination;
• protection from exploitation;
• responsible photography and communication;
• appropriate data protection;
• environmental impacts; and
• unintended consequences.

Humanitarian assistance should strengthen dignity rather than undermine it.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

IHRO may monitor humanitarian projects through:

• beneficiary feedback;
• distribution records;
• field visits;
• project indicators;
• expenditure monitoring;
• partner reporting;
• photographs and documentation where appropriate;
• needs reassessment; and
• post-project evaluation.

Lessons learned may be incorporated into future humanitarian responses.

OUR EXPECTED IMPACT

Through the Humanitarian Support Project, IHRO World Society aims to contribute to:

• timely assistance for people affected by emergencies;
• improved access to essential goods and services;
• protection of human dignity;
• stronger community resilience;
• improved disaster preparedness;
• greater inclusion of vulnerable people;
• strengthened local humanitarian capacity;
• responsible resource mobilization;
• stronger humanitarian partnerships; and
• communities better prepared to recover from future crises.

OUR COMMITMENT

IHRO World Society believes that humanitarian action is a practical expression of human solidarity and human dignity.

When people face disaster, displacement, poverty or other emergencies, timely and appropriate support can help protect lives, preserve dignity and create pathways toward recovery.

Through the Humanitarian Support Project, IHRO World Society seeks to stand with vulnerable communities through humanity, impartiality, responsible action, partnership and accountability.

Respond to Need. Protect Dignity. Support Recovery. Leave No One Behind.