International aid for refugees in times of crisis

Since their first acknowledgment of refugees, the international humanitarian organizations have seen the "refugee" as a problem to be solved. These organizations developed with time to assist refugees and find solutions for their settlement. Throughout the line of development, the work of international humanitarian organizations went through many failures. However, failure to achieve humanitarian goals in work for refugees leads to tragic consequences because it affects whole populations that are already vulnerable due to their forced migration. The large refugee influxes that occurred in the twenty-first century marks the need for a further research about the role of the international humanitarian organizations and their efficiency in the field. This thesis develops an understanding of the kind of organizations which have been responsible for assisting refugees on an international level and aims to evaluate their responses. It is based on a review of relevant literature and an analysis of three types of documents: First, the charters which declare the establishment of international refugee agencies and their main responsibilities. Second, the Sphere project document, a guide, written by a collection of humanitarian organizations on the minimum standards that must be met in a humanitarian response. Third, the Regional Response Plan (RRP) which seeks to outline the aid provided to Syrian refugees in host countries east of the Mediterranean. The thesis argues that despite extensive experience in refugee aid and the knowledge of common problems that emerge across refugee contexts, the international humanitarian organizations which assist refugees are still ineffective in their response.