Editing Humanitarian aid (section)

{{Short description|Material or logistical assistance for people in need}}
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[[File:Distribution of BP-5 Emergency food packages in Goma - from Flickr 2995064256.jpg|thumb|A [[UNICEF]] worker is distributing [[BP-5 Compact Food|high-calorie food]] during an emergency situation in [[Goma]], in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], in 2008.]]
'''Humanitarian aid''' is material and [[Humanitarian Logistics|logistic]] assistance, usually in the short-term, to people in need. Among the people in need are the [[homelessness|homeless]], [[refugee]]s, and victims of [[natural disaster]]s, wars, and famines. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate [[suffering]], and maintain [[human dignity]].

While often used interchangeably, humanitarian aid and [[humanitarian assistance]] are distinct concepts. Humanitarian aid generally refers to the provision of immediate, short-term relief in crisis situations, such as food, water, shelter, and medical care. Humanitarian assistance, on the other hand, encompasses a broader range of activities, including longer-term support for recovery, rehabilitation, and capacity building. Humanitarian aid is distinct from [[development aid]], which seeks to address underlying [[socioeconomics|socioeconomic]] factors.

Humanitarian aid can come from either local or [[international community|international communities]] through [[international non-governmental organization]]s (INGOs). In reaching out to international communities, the [[Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs]] (OCHA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unocha.org/|title=OCHA|website=unocha.org|access-date=28 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319224511/https://www.unocha.org/|archive-date=19 March 2018}}</ref> of the [[United Nations]] (UN) is responsible for coordination responses to emergencies. It taps to the various members of [[Inter-Agency Standing Committee]], whose members are responsible for providing emergency relief. The four UN entities that have primary roles in delivering humanitarian aid are [[United Nations Development Programme]] (UNDP), the [[United Nations Refugee Agency]] (UNHCR), the [[United Nations Children's Fund]] (UNICEF) and the [[World Food Programme]] (WFP).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/deliver-humanitarian-aid/|title=Deliver Humanitarian Aid|website=un.org|date=7 December 2014|access-date=28 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319143649/http://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/deliver-humanitarian-aid/|archive-date=19 March 2018}}</ref>[[File:US Navy 100125-N-6266K-238 A Red Cross worker picks up a humanitarian box to give to an earthquake survivor in Port-au-Prince.jpg|thumb|Humanitarian aid being distributed in Haiti]]According to the ''[[Global Humanitarian Overview]]'' of OCHA, nearly 300 million people need humanitarian assistance and [[Humanitarian protection|protection]] in 2024, or 1 out of 27 people worldwide.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-12-08 |title=Global Humanitarian Overview 2024 {{!}} Humanitarian Action |url=https://humanitarianaction.info/document/global-humanitarian-overview-2024 |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=humanitarianaction.info |language=en}}</ref> In 2024, the estimated global humanitarian response requirements amount to approximately US$46.4 billion, targeting around 188 million of the most vulnerable people in 69 countries.<ref name=":0" /> The three major drivers of humanitarian needs worldwide are conflicts, climate-related disasters, and economic factors.