Providing relief in an emergency is not contrary to ActionAid’s HRBA. ActionAid sees immediate needs such as food, water and shelter as the basic rights of disaster-affected people. Addressing these immediate needs is an important component of any disaster response. However it is important that even in the initial service delivery phase, an HRBA approach is followed. This means people living in poverty have a say in what goods and services are provided, and that these are delivered in ways that respect their dignity.
Alongside providing immediate relief, ActionAid must at the same time be working to empower affected people living in poverty and exclusion, particularly women. For example, we should be supporting them to organise and mobilise with others, to have a voice and develop their ability to negotiate with the powerful in order to claim, secure and enjoy their human rights.