Cultural sensitivity in humanitarian assistance in post-conflict areas

Abstract

Due to the increasing number of non-international conflicts around the world, the importance of humanitarian aid is also increasing and the international cooperation is crucial. To provide humanitarian assistance is a key policy of many international and national organisations and it is a main focus of essential international actors such as the United Nations or European Union. However, on an international level a lot of humanitarian agencies provide aid in a country different from the one the agency is based in. This means that humanitarian organisations operating abroad have to be aware of different traditions, customs or behaviour, and must incorporate those characteristics into their humanitarian projects. International discussions continue to skim over this topic even though it is very important for the effective work of humanitarian organisations. This thesis offers a deep study of cultural sensitivity within humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian work is based on international humanitarian principles, which are likely to be followed by organisations. Still, the lack of attention on culture can be found within the main humanitarian principles. Interviews with some humanitarian organisations should show if the cultural approach of humanitarian agencies is sufficient or not. Key words: aid, culture, humanitarian assistance, humanitarian principles, human rights, universalism, ICRC .