Happy New Year 2025: 10 Humanitarian Resolutions to Share!

Dear readers, dear friends of Défis Humanitaires,

Please accept my warmest wishes for you, your families, and your projects for a wonderful year 2025. To mark the year ahead, I would like to propose ten humanitarian resolutions inspired by the crises we face today and those yet to come.

 

At the beginning of this new year, let us think of Mayotte, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the countries of the Sahel, and Burkina Faso. Across these and many other crises, 305 million men, women, and children need humanitarian assistance today.

 

Here is a proposed roadmap for 2025, which you are welcome to adapt, expand, and debate.

1. Let humanitarian aid be more committed

Let humanitarian action be more committed, competent, effective, empathetic, participatory, and mobilizing, with and for people affected by crises. Humanitarians must look beyond immediate needs, both to improve their work and to broaden public support. Let us set an example.

2. Let humanitarians mobilize together

Let the humanitarian community unite to ensure that every year the financial resources required to meet urgent needs are fully secured. Rather than resign ourselves to declining budgets, let us advocate, persuade, and influence decision-makers to reverse this deadly trend.

 

3. Let humanitarian action respect identities

 

Humanitarian action must fully embrace respect for peoples’ identities, cultures, ways of life, beliefs, languages, and histories, all of which are integral to human dignity, especially when people have lost everything. There is a universalism of diversity and a diversity of universalism. One for all, all for one.

4. Let international, national, and local humanitarian actors work together

International, national, and local humanitarian organizations must actively cooperate and complement one another. In times of crisis, solidarity begins locally, yet the scale of needs often requires international support. Together, they can create a new humanitarian synergy. Let us act together.

5. Let humanitarian action avoid simplistic use of the term « colonialism »

 

Humanitarian action should avoid simplistic interpretations of colonialism. Colonialism generally refers to the lasting conquest of territory, resources, or political power, which bears little resemblance to humanitarian work. At the same time, condemning colonialism while exporting ideologies intended to reshape vulnerable societies raises serious ethical concerns. Let us practice discernment.

 

 

6. Let humanitarian action remain truly humanitarian

Humanitarian action must remain free from partisan political agendas that contradict the principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence. These principles are essential to gaining access to populations in danger despite the many obstacles created by crises. Humanitarianism is an ethical commitment that must be upheld in practice.

7. Let us see people in need as human beings, not customers

Those requiring assistance are victims of crises, whether war, disaster, or epidemic. They are human beings, not customers in a marketplace. Humanitarian action is guided by principles, not commercial interests.

 

 

8. Let humanitarian action not become a form of industrial Taylorism

Humanitarian work must not become a mechanical repetition of standardized procedures. Instead, it should remain human-centered, empathetic, adaptive, participatory, and flexible. Success should not be measured solely by timesheets and procedures, but by the real and positive impact achieved for affected populations.

9. Let humanitarian action bridge emergency relief, recovery, and development

Humanitarian action must be responsive and effective in emergencies, while adapting as reconstruction becomes possible and necessary. It should also help create the conditions for renewed development in peaceful environments. Humanitarian actors aspire to peace, but peace remains the responsibility of political and military leaders, and above all of the parties to conflict. Everyone must assume their responsibilities in seeking peace.

 

10. Let humanitarian action champion major global causes

Humanitarian actors must continue to advocate for essential causes such as water, food security, shelter, health, climate, biodiversity, and all issues related to the vital needs of populations affected by crises. The legitimacy of humanitarian action strengthens its advocacy.

 

 

In Conclusion

According to Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at OCHA, 305 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2025. The response plan covers 32 countries and requires an estimated US$47 billion, bringing together more than 1,500 humanitarian partners.

 

Yet, by November 2024, only 43% of the US$50 billion requested had been received. Such reluctance to provide assistance is not only immoral in an increasingly wealthy world; its consequences are devastating and will ultimately affect us all.

 

Let us mobilize today, wherever we are, to ensure that humanitarian funding finally matches the scale of human needs. Entire populations are being left adrift and abandoned because the necessary resources are lacking. Meeting these needs is simply our duty.

 

 

In 2025, Défis Humanitaires remains committed to informing you as effectively as possible within the limits of our resources. You can personally support this humanitarian mission by making a donation. Your contribution is tax-deductible up to 66% of its value under French law. Together, your support will help us strengthen humanitarian action.

 

I personally thank you for your generosity and wish you, despite the many crises facing our world, the very best possible year for yourselves and for all those working to provide relief.

 

Alain Boinet

President
Défis Humanitaires (Make a donation)

Thank you.