These Principles and Rules for Red Cross and Red Crescent Humanitarian Assistance govern National Societies and their International Federation in international humanitarian assistance (excluding armed conflict, internal strife and their direct results). They:

• recognize the importance of strengthening organizational, coordination and delivery capacities of National Societies, to respond to the increasing number and complexity of disasters and the growing number of vulnerable people
• call for greater collective learning, adaptation, innovation and leadership to ensure that the Movement achieves greater humanitarian impact
• encompass preparedness for response, disaster relief and early recovery activities
• complement commitments to disaster risk reduction and seek to encourage National Societies to link relief, recovery and development
• establish a coordinated and agreed approach to quality and accountability, and recognize partnerships with public authorities, humanitarian actors and other organizations external to the Movement