Principled Humanitarian Assistance of ECHO Partners in Iraq

Commissioned by NRC with the support of ECHO, this review takes an in-depth look at the extent to which humanitarian organisations that receive ECHO funding have incorporated the humanitarian principles in their strategy, decision-making, and practice in Iraq. In Iraq, humanitarian actors are confronted with a multitude of political and military obstacles that challenge the consistent application of humanitarian principles. This is by no means a new phenomenon, but a closer look at how humanitarian organisations work to uphold principled humanitarian action seems long overdue. To what degree do humanitarian organisations, in particular those funded by ECHO, use the four core principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence, in order to create the space necessary to operate in war-torn areas in Iraq, to secure and maintain access to people in crisis?