The United Nations released information on how they deliver humanitarian aid during crises. This is what we can take away from them.
When the Israel-Palestine conflict dealt with another crisis on October 7th, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs did not waste any time. They immediately swung into action so that the injured and others in need would receive assistance. Their mission is simple: get essential and life-saving aid to whoever needs it.
Several well-known UN agencies took charge of delivering relief on the ground. Some of these agencies were the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). They have been heavily involved in humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, Sudan, and Gaza.
A dedicated crisis team at the UN headquarters in New York is specifically tasked with keeping a close eye on global hotspots. To support their efforts, the UN Department of Global Communications (UN DGC) spreads the word about emergency needs and funding appeals online, such as through social media. The UN Secretary-General, currently Antonia Guterres, and his envoys are charged with engaging with the key players involved in the conflict to facilitate peaceful resolutions. The UN also has teams on the ground to monitor events in real time. They keep the media updated and work with national authorities to ensure aid is delivered to the people without getting bogged down by the “red tape” (bureaucratic issues).
Effective planning is crucial due to the complexity of the operations. UNICEF operates the Global Supply and Logistics Hub in Copenhagen, Denmark. This massive warehouse spans over 20,000 square meters and can store about 36,000 pallets of supplies. Other hubs are located in Italy, Panama, China, and the United Arab Emirates, offering similar facilities.
Nations worldwide contribute to the United Nations Central Response Fund (CERF), which is in charge of helping during these crises. Year-round donations to CERF come in from various countries, slowly accumulating a significant sum that is managed by OCHA. CERF has supplied over $6 billion in life-saving aid to over 100 countries and territories. Additionally, the UN humanitarian affairs office operates country-based pooled funds (CBPF). Country-based pooled funds are created when emergencies occur or a crisis is severely deteriorating. In 2022, OCHA had a record of $1.2 billion assisting around 47 million people in the world. The UN agency has just released another $5 million to help people in Gaza and the West Bank.
The method for ensuring aid delivery relies on various modes of transportation, including boats, trucks, planes, and drones. The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) plays a vital role in reaching isolated communities when those forms of transportation are not available. UNHAS offers safe, reliable, and cost-effective transport for humanitarian organizations, with a fleet of over 90 aircraft that serves 33,000 passengers and efficiently delivers 300 metric tonnes of cargo monthly to 310 regular destinations.
Drones are increasingly being used to reach remote areas and deliver vaccines, medicines, and other smaller essential items. UNICEF lauded the first drone initiative in Africa in 2016. Establishing transport agreements among nations is crucial during conflicts to ensure that supplies and aid are not intercepted. Aid delivery and the Black Sea Initiative are essential examples of such transport agreements.
“Whenever a crisis strikes, the UN mobilizes its global network of humanitarian support, with the end goal of reaching those in need and leaving no one behind.” – United Nations