IASC Task Force Report, Guiding and Operating Principles for the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Support of Humanitarian Operations, 1995

The report outlines the use of military and civil defence (M/CD) assets to provide humanitarian assistance where this is requested by a humanitarian organization and where assets requested are likely to be perceived as military in nature. The Principles and Guidelines covering cooperation with the military in integrated operations under the authority of the Security Council, including those where the military are providing protection to humanitarian assistance, are set out in the Oslo Guidelines and other documentation prepared within the framework of DHA’s MCDA project.

The report from the Task Force on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Support of Humanitarian Operations (1995), establishes six general operating principles. These operating principles relate to the use of all military assets in support of humanitarian actions.

The six general operating principles are as follows:
1) Decisions to accept military assets must be made by humanitarian organizations
2) Military assets should be requested only where there is no comparable civilian alternative and only the use of military assets can meet a critical humanitarian need
3) A humanitarian operation using military assets must retain its civilian nature and character
4) Countries providing military personnel to support humanitarian operations should ensure that they respect the code of conduct and principles of the humanitarian organization responsible for that deployment
5) The large-scale involvement of military personnel in the direct delivery of humanitarian assistance should be avoided
6) Any use of military assets should ensure that the humanitarian operation retains its international and multilateral character