Discuss three of the nine Sphere Core Humanitarian Standards. Identify the one that you
think is most often neglected in the case of natural disasters or complex humanitarian
emergencies. Discuss characteristics of complex humanitarian emergencies in your
response. Share a real example of how these standards were (or were not) applied in a
recent humanitarian crisis.
The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) sets out Nine
Commitments that organizations and individuals involved in humanitarian response can
use to improve the quality and effectiveness of the assistance they provide (The Standard,
2020). The nine standards set forth placing communities and people in the center of action
to help those affected by a crisis. It assists those affected to promote progress towards
learning, rebuilding and improvement for the community affected. I feel like the 1st three
are essential they speak of a humanitarian response being appropriate, ensuring the
response is effective and the response is able to strengthen capacities and any negative
effects. These are important after a crisis affects a community. It’s important that the
assistance that is available is what the community is needing at the time to strengthen what
capacities are left standing and that enough assistance is sent to help the building and
improvements needed for a community affected. The response that arrives has to be in
timely matter so that what is left can be salvaged. It’s important during a time of crisis that
the members of the affected community are able to gather and find available resources
during this time. I feel like the one that is most often neglected in emergencies is #8.
According to The Standard, (2020), #8 is staff are supported to do their job effectively, and
are treated fairly and equitably (The Standard, 2020). I feel like during a disaster, crisis or
emergency there is not enough supplies or resources available to this organization to offer
the assistance. Sometimes they may even lack the volunteers needed to assist these
communities. A common complex humanitarian emergency that many can recall is the
crisis in Syria. People are fleeing their homes for safety becoming refugees. This can be
used as a real example of the lack of humanitarian assistance for these people. The
environment is so unsafe there are not available resources for these people to seek out.
Their civilian infrastructure is being attacked leaving them in need of a long term need to
improvement and rebuilding.
RESPONSE TO CLAUDIA 2
Akin to Claudia’s sentiments. I concur that the nine sphere core humanitarian standards play a
pivotal role in prioritizing the needs of the individuals and communities affected by crises. The
prioritization of their needs occurs through the provision of the necessary assistance that fosters
progress in terms of lessons learned, rebuilding, and the improvement of different aspects of the
community that were adversely affected. Indeed, Claudia’s selection of the first three principles
highlights their significance in determining the effectiveness, appropriateness, and relevance of
the assistance provided by different organizations. Besides these factors, the principles selected
point out the essence of providing assistance that aligns with the needs of the affected
communities, its timeliness, and the adequate appropriation of the resources available. However,
negligence in the implementation and application of these standards occurs when some of the
principles are disregarded or inappropriately administered (The Sphere Project, 2015). As such, I
concur that inequitable, unfair, and ineffective support structures among the staff that provides
the necessary services, in most cases, inhibit the attainment of the desired goals. Most
fundamentally, the case of Syria accentuates an elaborate instance of a complex humanitarian
emergency in which the necessary assistance remains inadequate. At the same time, the
environment is hazardous for the development of suitable response strategies.
References
RESPONSE TO CLAUDIA 3
The Sphere Project. (2015). The Core Humanitarian Standard and the Sphere Core Standards:
Analysis and Comparison. The CHS and the Sphere Core Standards, 1-10.