Humanitarian aid is, by definition, any action that immediately and effectively helps minimise the effects of a variety of disasters that directly affect nearby populations.
In full accordance with its functions, the Division of Civil Society Support identifies, analyses, devises and monitors emergency and humanitarian relief.
Humanitarian aid provided by Camões, I.P. has been offered to countries all over the world, particularly in countries classified as strategic priorities for Portuguese Co-operation, in some cases Portuguese-speaking countries.
One of the most relevant documents related to humanitarian aid is as follows:
Good Humanitarium Donorship
The Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) consists of a set of principles and good practices agreed in Stockholm in 2003 by a wide range of donors and humanitarian entities. The challenge for the international humanitarian community is to unite the practices of each humanitarian donor, not just within their own system of co-operation but also to individually seek to adopt and enforce these principles as international players acting in a co-ordinated and reliable manner.
Portugal adhered to these principles and good practices in 2006.
GHD meetings are held annually with the aim of not only measuring the progress made but largely contributing to the adoption of national GHD plans and ensuring the disclosure, dissemination and application of these principles by donors.
European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid
European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid provides a common vision for allocating EU humanitarian aid in other countries on both a member state and Community level.
Humanitarian aid is a fundamental expression of the universal value of solidarity between peoples, as well as a moral imperative.
Humanitarian crises include natural disasters and man-made catastrophes. Their effects are increasingly devastating due to factors such as the changing nature of conflict, climate change, increasing rivalry regarding access to energy and natural resources, extreme poverty, poor governance and situations of fragility. The main victims are civilians, often the poorest and most vulnerable people most commonly living in developing countries. Humanitarian crises have resulted in large numbers of displaced persons, both refugees and those displaced internally.