ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a critique of the recommendations that Tom Weiss makes. It discusses the interaction of humanitarians with other actors within and outside the aid system. The chapter looks at the diversity coupled with occasional overlap of different types of crisis. The actual type of crisis sets the parameters for both humanitarian action and its instrumentalisation. The chapter describes that which alternative, non-humanitarian approaches exist to address crises. It assesses to what extent these alternatives offer feasible solutions. The chapter provides an overview of different scenarios brings out that single-mandate humanitarian agencies are particularly prominent in open, violent conflict, whereas in all other types of crisis multi-mandate organisations appear to be more dominant and may generally be better suited to provide services. While biological, chemical or nuclear disasters occur in the future and no doubt raise humanitarian needs, and there is almost no preparation for these types of disaster.
