It is important to maintain a clear distinction between the political resolution of a conflict and the provision of humanitarian assistance to the victims of that conflict. Humanitarian assistance should not be used to serve political ends, otherwise the effectiveness and security of the humanitarian operation is inevitably jeopardised.
This paper addresses the legal issues that concern the UN, regional organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in their attempts to provide humanitarian assistance; and, in the case of some, to undertake humanitarian intervention.