Transforming the humanitarian system: Our role to confront embedded inequities
Document Type
Commentary
Publication Date
5-23-2026
Abstract
The humanitarian system presents itself as a beacon of hope amid humanitarian crises, a vision that drew many of us into the field of humanitarian work. Yet once inside, the ideal unravels. Rooted in colonial histories and perpetuated by enduring global power asymmetries and the neoliberal logic of the aid sector, the humanitarian system frequently reinforces the very inequities it purports to resolve. These inequities manifest through policies and frameworks, as well as via interpersonal and cultural practices that, implicitly or explicitly, marginalise the most vulnerable.
Recommended Citation
Bahattab, Awsan, Ibrahim R. Bou-Orm, Alina Sadaf, Rosemary Jouhaud, Stella Muthuri, Helen Lindsay, Orit Abrahim, Ishrat Jahan, Farzana Misha, Munzer Alkhalil, César Rodríguez-Chávez, and Kathryn L. Falb. 2026. "Transforming the humanitarian system: Our role to confront embedded inequities," The Lancet 407(10543): 1994–1996.
DOI
10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00911-6
Language
English
Project
Baobab: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Refugee Settings