 Compassion and Humanitarian Action: when humanity itself is at stake 
Compassion and respect are at the heart of the principle of humanity and underpin humanitarian action. This journey of compassion in humanitarian action explores some of the practical and ethical challenges related to triage and priorities in emergencies, organizational issues, as well as compassionate and palliative care. In crises and violence, actors are confronted with the emotional costs of their activity and the risks of empathic distress. However, in the face of violence and dehumanisation, the gesture of humanity remains central. It is sometimes expressed through very small things, a cup of tea, a shared image or handcrafted object, shared moments and mutual recognition. The human encounter can open a path towards resilience and re-humanization. At a time when new challenges are posed by the use of drones or robots, humanitarian action today must restore compassion and human relationships to their fundamental role.