ABSTRACT

Complex political emergencies (CPE) is a concept which refers to intra-country conflict involving economic, political and social destabilization, often combined with a ‘natural’ trigger mechanism, such as a drought, flood or earthquake (Weiss and Collins 2000: 204). Humanitarian emergencies involving massive population displacements, hunger, disease and human suffering have long existed, and the international community has developed mechanisms to respond to these. What is different with the concept of complex political emergencies is the additional element of internal conflict.