What are the rules on humanitarian assistance in armed conflict?
Humanitarian assistance in situations of armed conflict is primarily regulated by international humanitarian law. In international armed conflict, the basic rule is that a state must accept relief actions for the civilian population of any territory under its control (other than occupied territory, mentioned below) when the population is not adequately supplied and when relief, which is humanitarian and impartial in nature, is available. Refusing a relief action is thus not a matter of discretion and agreement could be withheld only for exceptional reasons. In any event, offers of relief shall not be regarded as interference in the armed conflict or as unfriendly acts. The basic rule with respect to occupied territory is that the occupying power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population and that it should bring in the necessary foodstuffs, medicine and other articles if the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate. If, however, the whole or part
