Violence and Humanitarian Action in Urban Areas: New Challenges, New Approaches

Author(s)
Harroff-Tavel, M.
Publication language
English
Pages
22pp
Date published
01 Jun 2010
Type
Research, reports and studies
Keywords
Accountability and Participation, Innovation, Protection, human rights & security, Response and recovery

On the basis of the experience of the International Committee of the Red Cross and of its partners, as well as reports by academic specialists, this article describes the vulnerability of the poorest and of migrants in urban areas. It presents the difficulties with which humanitarian organizations, which are often accustomed to working in rural areas, have to contend. Lastly, it describes innovative responses, from which much can be learned: income-generating micro-projects, aid in the form of cash or vouchers, urban agriculture, and the establishment of violence-prevention or health-promotion programmes to protect those affected by armed violence in disadvantaged areas.