Open AccessHumanitarian need drives multilateral disaster aid
Author(s) -
Lisa Dellmuth,
Frida A.M. Bender,
Aiden R. Jönsson,
Elisabeth Lio Rosvold,
Nina von Uexküll
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2018293118
Subject(s) - humanitarian aid , livelihood , emergency management , hazard , climate change , political science , environmental resource management , environmental planning , business , geography , economics , ecology , archaeology , law , biology , agriculture , chemistry , organic chemistry
Significance Threats to human livelihoods resulting from natural hazards are increasing due to climate change. Climate-related disasters such as floods, storms, and droughts have destroyed shelter, reduced crop yields, harmed livestock, and fueled conflict, especially in developing countries. The key finding is that UN aid in the aftermath of climate-related disasters is largely driven by humanitarian need. The UN seems able to fend off donor states’ strategic interest and allocate more aid after disasters where hazard severity is greater and need is more pressing. Based on this finding, we argue that the UN lives up to its stated principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence in disaster aid, corroborating the legitimacy of the UN in allocating disaster aid.