Humanitarianism is not collapsing. It is being traded and compromised

What the report says

In an Al Jazeera opinion piece published on World Humanitarian Day, Amitabh Behar, executive director of Oxfam International, argues that humanitarian principles are being weakened by selective enforcement of international law, rising attacks on aid workers, political restrictions on relief operations and major cuts to development funding. He says these trends are putting both humanitarian staff and vulnerable communities at greater risk.

Behar points to several recent pressures on aid delivery. He says Israeli authorities last December required Oxfam and 36 other international organizations to share staff personal details in order to continue work in Gaza and the West Bank; the groups refused and were deregistered, although Oxfam still operates under registration with the Palestinian Authority. He also cites a sharp deterioration in security for aid workers globally, along with worsening crises in places such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The article says governments are increasingly treating civilian protection as conditional rather than universal, while funding is being reduced even as humanitarian need grows. Behar describes this as a political choice that has made impunity easier and accountability harder. He argues that aid workers, hospitals, water systems, schools and shelters must be protected under international humanitarian law, and that attacks should be independently investigated and prosecuted when crimes are found.

He concludes that World Humanitarian Day should be used not only for remembrance, but for stronger action and accountability. The piece is published as commentary and reflects the author’s views, not necessarily Al Jazeera’s editorial position.