Federal Administration admin.ch
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
SDC – on location worldwide

Visit Swiss Cooperation Office websites.

Switzerland
Switzerland 
Search:
Specific projects
Films - An insight into the SDC
Humanitaere Hilfe

A number of short films provide an insight into the SDC’s mission

Humanitarian Aid
Portrait of an employee in Sri Lanka
All short films

Aid operations
Strategy 2013–2016
Four framework credits, one Message.

What are the new strategic orientations of Switzerland’s international cooperation? Which principles guide and which instruments are applied in Switzerland’s international cooperation?
Strategy 2013–2016

Humanitarian Aid: emergency aid and reconstruction

humanitaere_hilfe.jpg

International humanitarian aid forms an important part of Swiss foreign policy and manifests the Swiss philosophy of solidarity with the real world. When disasters, crises and conflicts occur abroad it supports, on the one hand, the projects of other humanitarian organizations for the benefit of people in need. During and after crises and disasters it saves lives and relieves suffering, providing people with survival aid and supporting them in the reconstruction process.

Spotlight on

Logo 150 Jahre (© IKRK)

8 May 2013
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
On 8 May World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day and the anniversary of the birth of its founder and Nobel laureate, Henry Dunant, were commemorated. This year, 2013, several special events have also been included in the calendar to mark 150 years of the ICRC. Switzerland is taking advantage of these anniversaries to pay tribute to the partners who are keeping its humanitarian tradition and commitment alive. On 8 May the FDFA emphasised the excellent relations and the close cooperation between Switzerland and the Swiss Red Cross.

Article
Dossier 150 years ICRC


Editions of Asht-e-subh, one of the few daily newspapers in Afghanistan

World Press Freedom Day, “Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media”   
Between a rock and a hard place: the media in Afghanistan
The Afghan media has experienced an unparalleled boom: growing from one Taliban-run radio station in 2001 to more than 200 independent radio and TV stations today. Despite the thriving media diversity and new legislation, Afghan journalists are harassed from various sides. And the future of media diversity and press freedom after the 2014 foreign troop withdrawal is uncertain.

Article, 2.5.2013


Annual Conference of Switzerland’s Humanitarian Aid (© SDC)

15 March 2013, Kursaal Bern
Annual Conference of Switzerland’s Humanitarian Aid
Dedicated to the theme «Accessing the Victims – the Challenge» the Conference presented specific projects and programmes from the bilateral commitments of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) and the multilateral cooperation taking place in Mali, Syria, and Myanmar.

Dossier: Films, media release, speches


Simex: Le squadre hanno potuto esercitarsi in condizioni molto vicine alla realtà. (© DSC)


Kriens: 4–8.3.2013
Twelve countries to practise rescue operations
Internationally deployable rescue teams have to undergo regular training. This is why Switzerland was conducting an international disaster relief exercise (SimEX) for the second time since 2011.

Image gallery
Media release


Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter gives a statement at a meeting of the “Friends of Yemen” group. (© FDFA)


London, 7.3.2013
Switzerland joins “Friends of Yemen” group
Today marks the start of Swiss membership of “Friends of Yemen”, a group of over 30 states and several organisations which exists to support political transition in Yemen. At today’s meeting in London, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter mentioned that between 2012 and 2014 Switzerland has provided around CHF 20 million to support political stabilisation and improve the humanitarian situation in the country.

Media release


Cover Bild des Konzepts für die multilaterale humanitäre Hilfe (© UNO)

New Publication
Multilateral Humanitarian Aid Concept
This document outlines Switzerland’s strategy and priorities relating to humanitarian multilateral aid for the period 2013–2016. It explains how Swiss Humanitarian Aid will strengthen its multilateral activities through financial and in-kind contributions as well as secondments to multilateral organizations. It also provides information on SDC humanitarian objectives, approaches and partnerships.

Multilateral Humanitarian Aid Concept
Download (PDF, 4155 KB): [en]
Order


Carte de la Syrie

The Syrian crisis
Switzerland’s commitment
As the crisis in Syria continues to worsen, the humanitarian situation has reached disastrous proportions with some four million people in need of aid according to estimates of the United Nations. At the international donor conference in Kuwait, Switzerland pledged CHF 10 million in 2013 for people affected by the Syrian crisis.

Media release, 30.1.2013
Dossier

Additional Information and Documents