Published on 24 March 2025

Humanitarian Aid

The SDC’s Humanitarian Aid is an expression of Switzerland’s solidarity with people in need. It focuses on emergency relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation of affected areas, and disaster risk reduction. In a spirit of neutrality, independence and impartiality, it places the victims at the centre of its efforts.

A man from South Sudan carries wood on his shoulders and walks past flooded land. — In some contexts, natural disasters are added to the consequences of man-made conflicts. — © SDC

The Humanitarian Aid prioritises the protection of people affected by crises, violence, armed conflicts and disasters, with a focus on safeguarding their safety, dignity and rights. Respect for international humanitarian law is therefore inseparable from humanitarian aid.

The work of the SDC’s Humanitarian Aid is based on the 1976 Federal Act on International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (German), as well as on Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028.

Thematic priorities

The SDC’s Humanitarian Aid pursues the following thematic priorities:

Protecting civilians;
Disaster risk reduction;
Water and sanitation;
Gender-based violence;
Food security and cash transfer programming.

The Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) is an integral part of the SDC’s Humanitarian Aid.

Compatibility with international humanitarian law

The SDC’s humanitarian activities embody the spirit of international humanitarian law and its basic principles. SDC humanitarian aid integrates the principles of gender equality, human rights, environmental protection and good governance in all its programmes and activities. It helps all victims regardless of their race, gender, language, religion, political views or social affiliation.

Multilateral cooperation

At the multilateral level, the SDC advocates an international system that responds more effectively to humanitarian crises. In the humanitarian field, Switzerland is recognised as a credible, respected and influential partner. The SHA conducts field operations, which are a distinctive feature of Switzerland's humanitarian efforts and an integral part of its support to multilateral partners.

Securing access to the affected population is crucial for delivering aid to those in need during armed conflicts. The SDC advocates this through bilateral and multilateral dialogue, including with the parties to the conflict.

Support for local actors

Switzerland advocates for international aid that strengthens the local, national and regional humanitarian response mechanisms of affected countries in the event of a crisis or disaster. This approach is crucial for building long-term resilience and ensuring that affected countries and their populations are better prepared to withstand future crises and disasters.

Background

Humanitarian challenges have become more numerous and complex in recent years. The humanitarian system is strained by the increasing scale, frequency, intensity and duration of crises, conflicts and disasters, exacerbated by non-compliance with international humanitarian law and principles. Civilians bear the brunt of these challenges. Millions of people around the world are forced to flee from hardship and violence.