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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

Carte de la Syrie

The Syrian crisis
Switzerland approves CHF 20 million in additional aid for victims of the Syria crisis
 There is no end in sight to the violence in Syria and the humanitarian situation is unlikely to improve in the near future. On 7 June 2013, the UN in Geneva published its assistance plans for Syria and neighbouring countries for the second half of 2013. The UN and its partners have requested USD 4.4 billion to alleviate suffering. Switzerland intends to add CHF 20 million to the CHF 30 million already provided for the victims since the beginning of the conflict in Syria.

Media release, 06.07.2013
Dossier

Logo Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

Geneva
Conference on disaster risk reduction
Switzerland hosted the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction from 19 to 23 May in Geneva. It was chaired by Martin Dahinden, Director-General of the SDC. Some 2500 participants were attending the conference, which was organised by UNISDR, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Media release 21.5.2013
Article 29.5.2013

Ernährungssicherheit im Süden Malis. (© DEZA)

Mali
 Development key to restoring stability
 More than one year since the food crisis and the capture of the Northern territories by insurgents, the situation in Mali remains critical. Nevertheless, the SDC is committed to seeing through its projects there to restore stability through development, while also aiding refugees.  

Speech of the state secretary: conference on Mali in Brussels, 15.5.2013 (fr)
Situation in Mali and swiss contribution; interview

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

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]
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Additional Information and Documents