Humanitarian Assistance

What is humanitarian assistance?

When a major incident results in significant disruption to lives and serious distress or emotional impact, the local authority has a responsibility to provide practical humanitarian assistance to those affected.  Depending on the number of people affected and the nature of the services required this could take the form of a telephone help line, a website or a Humanitarian Assistance Centre.

Whichever form it takes, humanitarian assistance is designed to put people in touch with the various organisations that can support and assist them in dealing with the problems they face as a result of the incident.  Details of the humanitarian assistance arrangements will be widely advertised to reach all who require them.

Services and support

Access to advice and assistance addressing the following issues are likely to be provided, along with incident specific services (in respect of flooding for instance):

• Police inquiries and assistance
• Social Care
• Housing and property
• Benefits and personal finance
• Employment
• Legal and insurance
• Bereavement and counselling
• Physical and mental health
• Emotional and psychological wellbeing