Deliver Humanitarian Aid

Coordinating at the national level

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is responsible for operational activities for natural disaster mitigation, prevention and preparedness.

When emergencies occur, UNDP Resident Coordinators coordinate relief and rehabilitation efforts at the national level.

UNDP: 2020 Year in Review

Helping refugees

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) emerged in the wake of World War II to help Europeans displaced by that conflict. The agency leads and coordinates international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide.

The General Assembly created the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to provide emergency relief to some 750,000 Palestine refugees, who had lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Today, some 5 million Palestine refugees are eligible for UNRWA services.

The UN General Assembly hosted a high-level meeting on 19 September 2016 to address large movements of refugees and migrants, with the aim of bringing countries together behind a more humane and coordinated approach.

UNHCR: "What you need to be warm” by Neil Gaiman

Helping children

Since its beginning, The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has strived to reach as many children as possible with effective, low-cost solutions to counter the biggest threats to their survival. UNICEF also consistently urges governments and warring parties to act more effectively to protect children.

The Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action – the CCCs – are the core UNICEF policy and framework for humanitarian action. They are at the heart of UNICEF's work on upholding the rights of children affected by humanitarian crises. The CCCs promote equality, transparency, responsibility and a results-oriented approach to enable predictable and timely collective humanitarian action.

UNICEF: Executive Director Henrietta Fore Humanitarian Action Message

Supporting women and girls

UNFPA, the sexual and reproductive health agency, provides humanitarian assistance in all regions with a focus on meeting the health and protection needs of women, girls and young people. We provide life-saving sexual and reproductive health services and supplies, services and coordination for the prevention and response to gender-based violence, along with integrated services for mental health and psychosocial support  and cash and voucher assistance. 

Feeding the hungry

The World Food Programme (WFP) provides relief to millions of people, who are victims of disasters. It is responsible for mobilizing food and funds for transport for all large-scale refugee-feeding operations managed by UNHCR.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is often called on to help farmers re-establish production following floods, outbreaks of livestock disease and similar emergencies.

The FAO Global Information and Early Warning System issues monthly reports on the world food situation. Special alerts identify, for Governments and relief organizations, countries threatened by food shortages.

FAO: Dominique Burgeon on Global Report on Food Crises 2020

Healing the sick

The World Health Organization (WHO) coordinates the international response to humanitarian health emergencies of all kinds ranging from disease outbreaks to conflicts to natural disasters. WHO is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

In the 21st century, health is a shared responsibility, involving equitable access to essential care and collective defence against transnational threats.

WHO: A Global Response to a Global Pandemic