ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the difficult but crucial question of what effective ethical responses to humanitarian crises look like, a question rendered all the more challenging by the range of complex insecurities and security interests in play. Humanitarianisms basic principle is to altruistically help others in need. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples. Finally, the chapter will turn to mapping paths for an ethical relationship between humanitarianism and security based upon shared cosmopolitan values. It will do so by focusing upon the relationship between vulnerability and agency in regards to crisis response.
