Humanitarian assistance is not a solution to problems caused by conflicts and disasters but is often the first step towards normality

“The purpose on humanitarian assistance is to save lives and to alleviate suffering,” says Claus Lindroos, Director of the Unit for Humanitarian Assistance. Three questions about development cooperation is a series of interviews of specialists from the Department for Development Policy.

Claus Lindroos
"I’m proud of the fact that Finland is one of the countries that are prepared to help the most vulnerable people,” says Claus Lindroos.

1. Why are you working in the field of humanitarian assistance?

“Humanitarian assistance doesn’t leave any room for considering why this work is done. To understand this, you only need to look into the immediate needs caused by conflicts and natural disasters in different parts of the world. Even today, almost 170 million people, mainly children and women, are in need of urgent assistance: protection, food, clean water, healthcare and basic education. The spread of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic may further aggravate the world’s humanitarian crises.

Humanitarian assistance is purely needs-based, provided without political objectives. The work is guided by independence, impartiality, neutrality and humanity. Humanitarian action respects and defends human dignity even in the most difficult circumstances. Assistance is provided to save lives and to alleviate human suffering.

I’m happy to be able to work in an organisation that is part of the global mechanism, which enables the functioning of humanitarian response. I’m also proud of the fact that Finland is one of the countries that are prepared to help the most vulnerable people.”

2. Can you mention a humanitarian achievement that has made you particularly happy? What brings you down?

“During the past five years, Finnish humanitarian work has systematically focused on policy dialogue on how to improve the position of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are in a weaker position even in normal circumstances and in crisis situations, in particular. In connection with natural disasters, for example, persons with hearing or visual impairments do not necessarily get the evacuation order. In the event of a conflict, persons with reduced mobility may not be able to get to safety.

Finland was involved in the drafting of the Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action, adopted in Istanbul in spring 2016. We also participated in the funding of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy, which guides the work of all major assistance organisations towards better inclusion of persons with disabilities in all phases and situations.

In my work, injustice, human suffering and hardships are constantly present. In this connection, I could mention two conspicuous fundamental problems. The first one is that approximately 80 per cent of the needs are caused by man-made conflicts. All this could be prevented if we had enough political will and sufficiently strong international mechanisms.

The other problem is lack of funding: humanitarian funding normally covers approximately 60 per cent of the need. In the past few years, the needs have rapidly increased, which means a widening gap between funding and needs. Currently, the UN’s consolidated appeal for humanitarian funding for 2019 is over EUR 30 billion. It is a big sum but not a big one in global terms. I hope that Finland will be able to raise its humanitarian assistance to the level stated in the Government Programme.

3. What do you want to say to someone who thinks that humanitarian assistance is of no use?

“When we talk about humanitarian assistance, it's always good to remember that it is given in situations where the preconditions of normal life have been severely shattered because of a conflict or natural disaster.  Assistance as such doesn’t resolve problems caused by conflicts, natural disasters or low level of development. In the least developed and fragile countries, above all, we also need conflict resolution and crisis management measures and long-term development cooperation.

Emergencies bring to the fore the fact that we humans are very similar. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, people in Finland are now concerned about what would happen if healthcare services and basic commodities were not available or what happens if a crisis isolates you from your loved ones. We all have similar basic needs. In countries afflicted by a crisis, humanitarian assistance seeks to safeguard that people‘s basic needs are met.

The humanitarian assistance system has developed enormously, and assistance can be provided in practice everywhere, if only there is enough funding and provided that the security situation permits access to the area. By providing humanitarian assistance, we convey an important message  to people in distress, a message that we care. Assistance is often the first step towards normal conditions.”

Press release: Finland increases humanitarian assistance as the coronavirus pandemic escalates