For Switzerland, emergency relief is primarily about getting help to where it is needed on the ground. The majority of humanitarian funds go towards protecting the civilian populations most in need – especially refugees and internally displaced persons – and meeting their basic needs, such as emergency shelter, drinking water, sanitary facilities and medical supplies.
Humanitarian aid operations on the ground go hand in hand with respect for international humanitarian law, international norms and the humanitarian principles. For international aid to reach suffering civilian populations, the parties to an armed conflict must allow humanitarian access. The SDC uses bilateral and multilateral dialogue to advocate for such access.