Rights in Crisis
Right to Assistance
People have the right to receive life sustaining assistance when crisis hits. In crisis situations people often lose their homes, their means of income, access to food and clean water. Sometimes assistance may be in the form of food aid, water provision and shelter. Other times it may be more appropriate to respond with what are called “cash transfers”. Cash transfers enable people to purchase items to meet their assistance needs directly. Often this enables the flexibility for people to address their own needs directly, although this is only appropriate in circumstances where there is a viable local economy.
At present there is simply not enough funding for humanitarian aid agencies to meet the needs of people around the world. Inadequate funding means that people in crisis situations can be left without life sustaining assistance such as water, food and shelter. Tragically, people often die after a crisis has passed waiting for life sustaining food, water, shelter or healthcare.
Oxfam is working closely with other humanitarian agencies such as UN agencies and non-government organisations to improve coordination and effectiveness of humanitarian responses. No life should be lost waiting for humanitarian aid.
Oxfam is calling for the international community and national governments to provide more humanitarian aid, of the right kind, in the right place at the right time. Only then will the rights of people in crisis situations be fulfilled.
You can support Oxfam’s humanitarian relief work by donating to our International Crisis Fund here.
