Intra- & Post-Conflict Humanitarian Assistance

There are no safe conflicts. Conflicts exacerbate pre-existing development and survival challenges or create new ones, and civilians pay the ultimate price. The codification of international humanitarian law (IHL) began in the nineteenth century, notably through the adoption of the 1864 Geneva Convention and the 1868 Declaration of Saint Petersburg, and was consolidated in 1949 as the Geneva Conventions of 1949, along with succeeding supplements. Nearly every state in the world has agreed to be bound by them as customary law - that is, as general rules to which all states are obligated. However, criminal repression of IHL violations occurs in most conflicts, and civilians bear the highest cost for adverse outcomes. Fatalities from violent events rose by 37% year-on-year during the reporting period (1 July 2023 - 30 June 2024), reaching nearly 200,000 globally, largely due to a 315% increase in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.1,2 Serious violations of international humanitarian law are considered war crimes. These violations can occur in both international and non-international armed conflicts and endanger protected persons (e.g., civilians, prisoners of war, the wounded, and the sick) or objects (e.g., civilian infrastructure) if they breach important values. The majority of war crimes involve death, injury, destruction, or the unlawful taking of property. The main challenge to preventing violations of IHL is the nature of war; when wars or conflicts occur, national governments and international bodies often cannot discern the full history of violations or are incapable of intervening. Furthermore, current conflicts focus on speed and lethality, despite the risk of widespread harm to civilians. Hybrid warfare - a mix of conventional and unconventional tactics - blurs the line between war and peace and tears at the fabric of societies. PRINCIPLED HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE: INTRA-CONFLICT AND POST-CONFLICT Conflict-generated humanitarian needs vary depending on the pre-conflict development status of a population, conflict-induced deficits, and efforts required to enable the population to achieve acceptable standards of living (Table 1). Guided by the principles of humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality, the overarching framework of humanitarian assistance is to center on people and their needs.3 These actions aim to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and protect and maintain human dignity.Intra-conflict humanitarian assistance focuses on providing immediate support to sustain life and reduce suffering, thereby minimizing severe outcomes. Post-conflict humanitarian assistance has two objectives: bringing normalcy to lives and facilitating the structured reconstruction and rehabilitation of assets, infrastructure, and services to enable the country and its population to perform and progress in a global economy. However, many objectives during intra- and post-conflict humanitarian assistance overlap. Key elements of humanitarian response include: Communication and Consultation: Engaging with parties in conflict or post-conflict authorities, when possible, is a first step in initiating humanitarian efforts. Tailored Needs Assessment: Evaluating the needs and challenges of affected populations to determine the most critical areas of support. Pre-existing country data on infrastructure, guidelines, and redundancies can reduce the time spent on needs assessments. Informal or formal consultations with community opinion leaders are essential to discern appropriate needs. Sourcing Supplies: In many situations, international vendors may be required. Large organizations focused on humanitarian assistance may have virtual or physical reserves or stockpiles of essential commodities. Assessing Delivery Mechanisms and Challenges: During conflicts, accessing safe passage to the target population is often a challenge. Innovative solutions, including negotiated facilitation through parties in conflict or post-conflict authorities, aerial unmanned options, and local sourcing, should be considered. Protection of Vulnerable Populations: Protecting women, children, and those requiring medical care is foundational to providing humanitarian assistance. Empowering Local Players: Local actors can help reduce preparedness challenges and ensure continuity during protracted reconstruction periods. Ongoing Monitoring and Evaluation: Continuously assessing the conflict's impact and the needs of the population, as well as supply chain dynamics, can help maintain the continuity of assistance. Beginning in 2015, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) emerged as a key player in intra- and post-conflict humanitarian response, establishing structured and funded partnerships with key global stakeholders.4 A major step undertaken by KSrelief is the representation of global stakeholders situated at the Riyadh headquarters, which has facilitated day-to-day coordination of relief efforts and streamlined redundancies. Intra-conflict humanitarian aid has been a mainstay of KSrelief's development aid. In fact, of the top ten KSrelief aid recipient countries, nine are affected or impacted by conflict (Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Somalia, Pakistan, Sudan, Lebanon, Indonesia, Ukraine, and Afghanistan), with Indonesia being the exception. Of the 640 million USD funding dispersed by KSrelief at the 4th Humanitarian Forum in Riyadh on February 24. THE WAY FORWARD A world without conflict is our primary goal, as envisioned during the formation of the United Nations in the aftermath of World War II. However, this ideal has proved unattainable over time, and more conflicts are emerging. Therefore, a secondary goal is to build a culture of compliance with international human rights law to protect humanity in today's and future conflicts. Natural disasters are another significant cause of humanitarian crises. Preparedness of any kind can effectively inform recovery operations following a natural disaster. Natural disasters are occurring with increasing frequency, largely attributable to the climate crisis. To prepare for intra-conflict humanitarian needs, comprehensive baseline data on all aspects of the status of available services is required in all countries. Such information can help identify potential emerging humanitarian needs. Information on essential service delivery requirements is critical for planning and implementing humanitarian support during periods of crisis. This information should include population demographics, educational needs, water and sanitation, stockpiles of essential drugs, food, and clothing. Due to the volume, magnitude and variety of humanitarian challenges, and as no single entity can fulfil the entire list of response needed, collaboration among humanitarian assistance providers is essential. The 4th Riyadh Humanitarian Forum brought together 12 U.N. agencies and 150 organizations that share a common vision for humanitarian support. Such collaborations are immensely valuable for sharing learned lessons and brainstorming the application of technological advancements. Artificial intelligence and developments in unmanned and aerial mobile equipment can aid in recovery processes that may be dangerous for humans to engage in. Aerial delivery of essential supplies is an important supplementary approach to sustain and support life in both conflict- and disaster-affected areas. Monitoring and research present challenges during conflicts and emergencies. However, service delivery data can be used to assess the impact of interventions. With online options and handheld devices, a significant amount of data can be collected. Satellite images, especially those provided by NASA, are valuable not only for geographic visualization but also for monitoring weather patterns. Monitoring antimicrobial resistance, changes in vector habitats, water contamination, sewage breakage, and accident and injury sites - including the presence of mines - is crucial. The field of humanitarian aid has evolved over time; documentation, synthesis, and communication of such information can effectively inform the ever-evolving field of humanitarian relief.