Humanitarian Medal

The Humanitarian Medal is a British award intended to recognise the efforts of those involved in providing aid and support to human welfare during or in the aftermath of a humanitarian crisis. The medal is awarded to people that have responded to emergencies both in the United Kingdom or overseas.

Not to be confused with Humanitarian Service Medal or Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal.

Humanitarian Medal
TypeService medal
Awarded forHumanitarian service
DescriptionNickel-silver, 36mm diameter
Presented byUnited Kingdom
EligibilityBritish forces and civilian personnel
Post-nominalsNone
Campaign(s)Humanitarian efforts in the UK and overseas
StatusCurrently awarded
EstablishedJuly 2023
Ribbon bar

Background

In July 2023, a new award was instituted that would recognise the efforts of workers in various types of humanitarian crisis. This award was to be awarded to people employed by various organisations, including but not limited to the armed forces, civilian services, civilian health care organisations and charities.[1]

Description

The obverse of the medal features the effigy of the sovereign, while the reverse consists of a laurel wreath interwoven with a banner containing the words "For Humanitarian Service".[2][3]

The medal ribbon, 1+1⁄4 inches (32 mm) wide, consists of a central white stripe, representing civilians and peace, with narrow stripes of red, light blue, dark blue and purple either side. The red stripe is intended to represent humanitarian organisations, light blue to represent the NHS, with the other two colours representing other services.[2]

Similar to military awards such as the General Service Medal, the Humanitarian Medal will be awarded just once, with service undertaken for different situations recognised through the award of a clasp to the medal itself.[2]

Qualification

Qualification for award of the Humanitarian Medal comes under a range of different criteria:

  • Level of Emergency - The medal is eligible to be awarded if the emergency is classed either as a Level 2 (Serious)[note 1] or Level 3 (Catastrophic)[note 2] emergency situation by the UK government.
  • Individual eligibility - Individuals need to fulfil different criteria:[2]
    • They need to have undertaken frontline service (direct contact with the affected group) during the emergency, been engaged in people-facing service (the response is focused on human welfare), or undertaking work in direct support of the population (delivering an operational outcome that directly impacts the affected population).
    • The service should be classed as either hazardous (operating in conditions that are unsafe, insecure or at heightened risk), sustained (long-term frontline service in an on-going situation) or significant (contribution characterised by a serious or immediate threat to life)
  • Organisational eligibility - Only organisations deployed by, funded by or endorsed by the UK government are eligible to have individuals in their employ receive the award.[2]

See also

Notes
  1. Level 2 is an emergency that has or threatens to have a wide or prolonged impact requiring sustained support from central or regional government, or the devolved administrations.[2]
  2. Level 3 is an emergency with an exceptionally and widespread impact, requiring immediate support from central government.[2]

References
  1. "New British Humanitarian Medal to honour UK disaster rescuers". BBC News. BBC. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  2. "The Humanitarian Medal - Command paper". UK Government. Cabinet Office. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  3. "No. 64138". The London Gazette. 8 August 2023. p. 15874.
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