ABSTRACT
In this chapter the author reflects on their own experiences as a humanitarian professional, and the importance of several key humanitarian principles in shaping the field and their understanding of their role within it. The reflections largely focus on examples from the 2010 Haiti cholera epidemic, and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, with examples from both being used to highlight themes around the principle of “Do No Harm”, and associated concepts around effective coordination, knowing the context, and resilience building. The author argues that only through continual reflection and dialog around these principles can humanitarians improve the effectiveness of humanitarian interventions.
