Attachments
The relationship between humanitarian and
military actors has changed considerably in the past decade. Military functions
have expanded beyond traditional war-fighting to encompass a range of tasks
related to humanitarian goals, including support for humanitarian and rehabilitation
efforts and the protection of civilians. As a result, interaction between
the military and humanitarian aid providers has grown, raising difficult
questions about the relationship between the two.
Changes in the relationship between
military forces and humanitarian organisations pose important questions
for both communities. Constructive common ground and agreement on core
issues of responsibility and competence is needed. This will call for strategic
engagement between humanitarian organisations and defence establishments,
to reinforce humanitarian principles, improve both communities' understanding
of each other's comparative expertise, and seek agreement that the core
objective of humanitarian action is to save lives and maintain basic human
dignity in the face of widespread threats to human survival - regardless
of a population's strategic value.