The challenges encountered by the humanitarian sector in Port-au- Prince (Haiti) after the 12 January 2010 earthquake and in Lybian and Syrian cities in 2011/2012 underlined the difficulties of working in urban settings. Not only are urban settings complex, multi-layered and often dangerous, but they are also alien to mainstream humanitarian agencies. Technical solutions are often not at hand, and with their methods still largely based on rural contexts and camps, humanitarian organisations do not have sufficient understanding of urban contexts. In view of the challenges posed by increased global urbanization, the author calls for a paradigm shift in order to ensure that relevant humanitarian aid is being given in cities affected by war.
Resource collections
- UN Habitat - Urban Response Collection
- Urban Response - Urban Crisis Preparedness and Risk Reduction
- Urban Response Collection - Community Engagement and Social Cohesion
- Urban Response Collection - Economic Recovery
- Urban Response Collection - Environment and Climate Change
- Urban Response Collection - Housing, Land and Property
- Urban Response Collection - Urban Crisis Response, Recovery and Reconstruction
- Urban Response Collection - Urban Resilience
