Humanitarian access

Rapid, unhindered access for humanitarian organisations is a prerequisite for any form of humanitarian aid, without which the full complement of goods, staff, humanitarian supplies and medical care cannot reach regions in crisis. Both at the UN and through bilateral contacts with the parties involved in conflict, Switzerland is constantly underlining how vitally important rapid and unhindered access is to humanitarian aid.

Switzerland coordinates responses at political, legal and operational levels to secure and sustain humanitarian access to crisis areas. Together with partner organisations, Switzerland has developed tools, such as the 'Handbook on the Normative Framework' and the 'Practitioners Manual on Humanitarian Access in Situations of Armed Conflict'.  These tools clarify and explain the normative framework and provide information and practical recommendations on humanitarian access for humanitarian organisations operating in the field.