• Counter-terrorism laws and other measures are having a significant impact on humanitarian action. They include provisions that criminalise the transfer of resources to terrorist groups or individuals, irrespective of the humanitarian character of such actions or the absence of any intention to support terrorist acts.
• Humanitarian funding from donor governments is increasingly being made conditional on assurances that it is not benefiting listed individuals or organisations, and that greater security checks are being placed on local partners and implementing actors. The co-option of humanitarian actors into counter-terrorism efforts directed against one party to a conflict can undermine the principles of impartiality and neutrality.
• Counter-terrorism laws and other measures have increased operating costs, slowed down administrative functions and operational response, curtailed funding and undermined humanitarian partnerships. They have also prevented access and altered the quality and coordination of assistance.
• A dialogue is needed between NGOs, UN agencies, humanitarian donors and governments in order to ensure that counter-terrorism objectives do not undermine humanitarian commitments. This requires greater clarity from donors on the scope and applicability of counter-terrorism laws and measures and the development of common principled positions among humanitarian actors.