Sphere HandBook / Preparedness Pocket Book

The Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response

In a remarkable international initiative aimed at improving the effectiveness and accountability of disaster response, the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response sets out for the first time what people affected by disasters have a right to expect from humanitarian assistance. The cornerstone of this book is the Humanitarian Charter, which is based on the principles and provisions of international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, and on the principles of the Red Cross and NGO Code of Conduct. It describes the core principles that govern humanitarian action and asserts the right of populations to protection and assistance. The Charter is followed by minimum standards in five core sectors - water supply and sanitation, nutrition, food aid, shelter and site planning and health services.

A.) The Sphere HandBook 2004 revised edition: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response. (in English .pdf file)

B.) Sphere Preparedness Pocket Books:
India has the most valuable depth of experience in disaster response but it is seldom used as a tool for disaster mitigation or preparedness. To fill the gap and provide disaster managers with handy information on various aspects of disaster mitigation, Disaster Mitigation Institute (DMI) publishes this series of Preparedness Pocketbooks in English, Hindi and Gujarati.

DMI also publishes two Gujarati newsletters, Hindi quarterly and Information Sheets in English, apart from developing various tools for information and experience exchange.

Just click on the links below to download the Preparedness Pocket Books

1. The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (in English PDF file)
   
   
2. The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (in Hindi PDF file)
   
   
3. The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (in Gujarati PDF file)

(Please note that you will need winzip)