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SWISSAID is currently supporting people in Chad and Myanmar. In Myanmar, the population is left on the brink of collapse following an earthquake. And a humanitarian tragedy is unfolding in the refugee camps along the border of Sudan …
Yes, the need is immense. Hundreds of thousands of refugees from Sudan are stranded in Chad. There are already over a million people. Most of them are women, children and elderly people who have to live in precarious conditions in hastily set up refugee camps. SWISSAID has previously carried out development projects in adjacent areas. An emergency aid project has now been launched in the Farchana refugee camp. The nearby villages are also part of the project: They are as well severely impacted by increasing pressure on already scarce natural resources.
Since last year, SWISSAID has been providing more emergency aid than ever before. Why?
The causes are complex. Due to climate change, droughts, floods, hurricanes and other extreme weather phenomena are occurring more frequently. In some countries of the Global South, violent conflicts also occur between ethnic and religious groups. The consequences are famine and outbreaks of violence. Many people are forced to leave their homes in search of protection and food. Emergency aid can help people avoid having to leave their homes and build a new life for themselves.
How does SWISSAID proceed with emergency aid?
The first priority is food and access to clean drinking water. We distribute seeds to help revitalise food production. Emergency aid interventions are always accompanied by conflict-sensitive measures. In the long term, SWISSAID works with local partner organisations to initiate sustainable development. This approach, known as the Triple Nexus, involves close collaboration with local authorities and other national and international humanitarian aid organisations.
How does SWISSAID ensure that aid really reaches the people who need it most?
SWISSAID adheres to important international standards in emergency aid, which ensure that those in need are not discriminated against or excluded and that funds are used transparently and efficiently. The selection of food and seed suppliers and the needs-based distribution of aid is conducted in close cooperation with legitimate representatives of the local authorities and target groups.
Furthermore, SWISSAID has a well-established monitoring system that closely oversees the implementation of projects and continuously adapts them to changing conditions. The SWISSAID staff in the national coordination offices also contribute to this by closely monitoring the implementation of emergency aid measures and taking corrective action if necessary.
What are the biggest challenges in humanitarian aid that SWISSAID will face in the future?
The discrepancy between the growing demand for emergency aid and the available financial resources is widening worldwide. Many governments in the Global North are increasingly cutting back on development cooperation and humanitarian aid as part of national cost-cutting programmes. Support for international organisations such as the World Health Organisation or the World Food Programme is in consequence also decreasing. In response, humanitarian organisations must work smarter, collaborate closer, and act faster to reach as many people in crisis as possible.
