A/HRC/28/76 can include environmental degradation, pollution, accidents and the impact of climate change.15 21. In the present report, the term “natural disaster” includes both sudden and slowonset natural disasters. It is important to understand, however, that the magnitude of the consequences of sudden natural hazards is a direct result of the way individuals and societies relate to threats originating from natural hazards. The magnitude of the consequences is, thus, determined by human action or the lack thereof. 16 B. Terms used in the context of humanitarian response Humanitarian crisis 22. An event or a series of events representing a critical threat to the health, safety, security and/or well-being of a community or other large group of people, usually over a wide area. Armed conflicts, epidemics, famine, natural disasters and other major emergencies may all involve or lead to a humanitarian crisis that extends beyond the mandate or capacity of any single agency. An emergency is a large-scale crisis that destroys the lives of individuals, wrecks communities and overwhelms their ability to cope.17 23. Humanitarian crises can be grouped under three categories: Natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, storms and volcanic eruptions); man-made disasters (conflicts, plane and train crashes, fires and industrial accidents); complex emergencies (when the effects of a series of events or factors prevent a community from having access to their basic needs, such as water, food, shelter, security or health care). According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, such “complex emergencies” are typically characterized by extensive violence and loss of life, the displacement of populations, widespread damage to societies and economies, the need for large-scale, multifaceted humanitarian assistance, hindrance or prevention of humanitarian assistance by political and military constraints, particularly in post-conflict situations, and significant security risks for humanitarian relief workers in some areas. 18 24. These three kinds of emergencies can have an impact on millions of people in a number of countries. In addition, there are increasingly new concepts for categorizing emergencies related to climate, technology and health pandemics. Humanitarian action, humanitarian aid, humanitarian assistance 25. The terms “humanitarian action”, “humanitarian aid” and “humanitarian assistance” are often used interchangeably in post-disaster or post-conflict situations where the principles and rules of humanitarian response are applied. For instance, according to the World Health Organization, humanitarian assistance can be divided into three categories: direct assistance, which is the face-to-face distribution of goods and services; indirect assistance, which is at least one step removed from the population and involves such activities as transporting relief goods or relief personnel; and infrastructure support, which involves providing general services, such as road repair, airspace management and power generation that facilitate relief, but are not necessarily visible to or solely for the benefit of 15 16 17 18 A/66/285. Protecting Persons Affected by Natural Disasters, Inter-Agency Standing Committee Operational Guidelines on Human Rights and Natural Disasters, 2006. See Covenant Social Service, Disaster Relief: What is an emergency? (www.cssind.org/disasterrelief). International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, “Complex/manmade hazards: complex emergencies” (available from www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/aboutdisasters/definition-of-hazard/complex-emergencies/). 7