The United Nations' Humanitarian Pillar: Refocusing the UN's Disaster and Emergency Roles and Responsibilities

Author: Kent, Randolph C.

Source: Disasters, Volume 28, Number 2, June 2004 , pp. 216-233(18)

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Abstract:

Changes in the nature of humanitarian crises and in the ways that the international community responds to such crises demand a radically overhauled role for the United Nations system. At a time when the UN and its member states are pursuing reform of some of that institution's most fundamental peace and security functions, this paper suggests that reform, too, is required to meet humanitarian crises of the future. This paper proposes a new type of operational role for the UN, while at the same time arguing that the UN has to place itself in the vanguard of humanitarian assistance as `the standard-bearer'.

The article draws many of its conclusions and recommendations from a recently completed study, requested by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, concerning the effect for the UN system of changes in humanitarian financing.

Keywords: United Nations; humanitarianism; disaster relief; complex emergencies; UN reform; humanitarian futures; Inter-Agency Standing Committee

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0361-3666.2004.00254.x

Affiliations: 1: International Policy Institute, King's College, London

Publication date: 2004-06-01