Pre-reading: How many humanitarian organizations do you know? Name some international conflicts in which humanitarian organizations participate in order to help the victims.

Humanitarian organizations

A humanitarian organization is an organization which helps people who face different types of crises. Most organizations are politically independent and they do not participate on any side in a conflict. Their aim is to provide aid and medicines for civilians suffering as a result of conflicts, diseases and poverty. The economic fundament of humanitarian organizations relies heavily upon charity and donations and people working for these organizations are by and large volunteers

An example: Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders is one of the most famous humanitarian organizations in the world. For more than 35 years the organization has played a vital role in a number of humanitarian conflicts all over the world helping people facing crises. Doctors Without Borders is an independent organization focusing on helping people without taking side in the conflicts. The organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.