In many respects, political and humanitarian actors are uncomfortable bedfellows. Some humanitarian actors argue strongly that the principles of humanity, neutrality, and impartiality should be strictly adhered to. There are others who argue that humanitarian action has de facto become an effective form of political action. There are, however, more important differences between humanitarian and political action. The fundamental objective of humanitarian action is to alleviate suffering and save lives.
Humanitarian action focuses on people and is rights based.
Political action focuses on states and is guided by national interests and respect for sovereignty. How to balance the rights and ensure the protection of the individual with the interests of the state is a challenge that any concerted strategy among humanitarian and political actors must seek to overcome. Conflict situations and humanitarian crises Until recently, and with the notable exception of the International Committee of the Red Cross, most humanitarian agencies did not work in conflict situations. In the days of the Cold War, the work of humanitarian agencies matched the geopolitical environment. Refugees, for example, crossed international borders that were also ideological boundaries.