Protracted Conflict and Humanitarian Action: Some Recent ICRC Experiences

Protracted conflicts are a major cause of human suffering and can lead to long-term displacement, migration and development reversals. This report describes the theoretical and practical aspects of the ICRC’s work in such situations. The organization spends about two thirds of its budget on protracted conflicts, and the average length of time it has been present in the countries hosting its ten largest operations is more than 36 years.The report contributes to important humanitarian policy discussions on the relief-development relationship, the urbanization of humanitarian response, multi-year planning and humanitarian financing. Chapter 1 contains theoretical and legal analyses of protracted conflict. Chapter 2 examines the damaging effects of protracted conflict on State and society. Chapter 3 describes the ICRC’s "combined approach" to short and long-term needs. Chapter 4 looks at key areas in which the ICRC is determined to improve its performance, as well as some important policy changes that will help it do so.