From poverty to power - Oxfam-Québec

FROM POVERTY TO POWERTHE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM FORHUMANITARIAN RELIEF AND PEACETHE INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN SYSTEMMost humanitarian relief is provided locally, by neighbours, relatives,and friends and local and national governments. But when wars andother calamities undermine their ability to cope, the professionalinstitutions of the international humanitarian system are often calledupon to help. A well-governed and well-run humanitarian systemprovides a vital safety net in times of crisis, so that vulnerability,whether chronic or short-term, does not turn into a downward spiralof disintegration, rising inequality, and impoverishment. Today, however,the system is in disarray, undermined by political and commercialself-interest and unilateralism (notably over Iraq). Over the comingyears, world leaders will have to decide whether they want to create astronger, fairer multilateral system that builds on welcome progress ina number of areas. This section examines the global system of humanitarianresponse, and suggests how its failings can be corrected.The provision of life-saving assistance is as old as recorded history.Religious institutions ran most humanitarian work in the past, andtoday they remain key mobilisers of solidarity with the victims of warand natural disaster. For example, the Muslim tradition of tithing oralms, known as zakat, prescribed in the Koran, to this day deliversdirect cash assistance freely and quickly to those most in need.The past 150 years have seen the emergence of professionalinstitutions specialising in humanitarian relief, some of them based384