The role of International humanitarian assistance and NGOs in sustainable development

In 2015, countries developed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SD) and its 17 goals. Sustainable Development (SD) focuses on poverty, inequality, health and wellbeing, and peace and justice. Good health and wellbeing is the third goal of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which focuses on healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. In disasters, the rate of child and maternal mortality, communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases will increase. So achieving the third goal of MDGs will be harder in these situations. International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) and Non-Governmental Organizations are opportunities to help the governments in this way. IHA organizations and NGOs try to decrease the gap between the health status and health goals in different ways.NGO’s usually take a number of steps to promote discussion about environmental issues, outside the spheres of public media. Advocacy and awareness is another role of NGOs in disasters. Also, NGOs can sensitize policy makers about the local needs and priorities. It is necessary to support and encourage genuine, small, local, national and international level NGOs which can provide much needed support specific to the local needs.The results of this study could be useful for UN, government of affected county, humanitarian assistance organizations, monitoring organizations, Red Cross/ Red Crescent movements, Ministry of Health, NGOs and other governmental organizations which are related to this concept.

Keywords:

International Humanitarian Assistance , NGO , Sustainable Development , Disasters