Contributions for Humanitarian Aid

The purpose of humanitarian aid is to save lives and relieve the suffering of a population affected by a crisis (conflict, natural or human catastrophe). This aid should be provided according to principles of humanity, impartialness, neutrality and independence. The international community is placing increasing emphasis on the need for countries to be prepared for a possible emergency. However, when a crisis affects a country, and in particular a developing one, the need to respond in a coordinated, fast and effective way to the emergency is fundamental to minimise human and material damage and to reverse the consequences as much as possible.

Andorra assigns part of its Ministry of Cooperation’s budget to humanitarian aid. The distribution of these funds is activated when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs receives an international emergency appeal launched by the affected country or by the multilateral organisations that act as aid coordinators, such as some of the agencies of the United Nations (CERF, OCHA, UNHCR, WHO, UNICEF, the FAO or the World Food Programme) or other international organisations, such as the International Red Cross.

The Andorran Government makes humanitarian aid contributions via three channels: through international organisations (the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, etc.), through the Andorran NGO Platform or in a bilateral way, either directly with the government of the country in question or with one of its humanitarian crisis management agencies or through Andorran associations with representation in the affected countries.