Notification

The escalation of violence in Gaza and Israel is leaving people in Gaza in urgent need of humanitarian support. Please donate now.

Available documents

Overview

Since 2008, the UN has tried to bring together its various functions in single ‘integrated missions’ in conflict situations. Its aim has been to maximize impact through greater coherence. But Oxfam and other humanitarian agencies have always been concerned that such integration can challenge the independence and impartiality of humanitarian action – particularly when the UN adopts so-called ‘structural integration’, where UN humanitarian, peacekeeping and political functions are under a single management line. In 2013, the UN recognised the risks inherent in these approaches, including to the security of aid workers and the people they seek to assist, if humanitarian actors are no longer seen to be impartial. A new UN policy set out safeguards to mitigate such risks. Since 2013, however, these safeguards have not been consistently applied in, for example, Mali or South Sudan. Better compliance with the UN’s own safeguards is vital. Oxfam, meanwhile, will continue to distinguish itself from structurally integrated UN missions.

Oxfam Humanitarian Policy Note updated August 2014.

Keywords

Additional details

Publisher(s)

ISBN

978-1-78077-579-1

How to cite this resource

Citation styles vary so we recommend you check what is appropriate for your context.  You may choose to cite Oxfam resources as follows:

Author(s)/Editor(s). (Year of publication). Title and sub-title. Place of publication: name of publisher. DOI (where available). URL

Our FAQs page has some examples of this approach.

Related resources

Here are similar items you might be interested in.

Browse all resources