International emergencies have been defined as human rights violations or major disruptions endangering peace, security and stability. Without relief coordination, it is impossible to ensure that in case of natural disaster or other disaster situations, emergency relief activities of all donor sources are mobilized and coordinated so as to supply the needs of a disaster-stricken country in a timely and effective manner. Collective action is severely impeded by the principle of "non-intervention in the internal affairs" of countries. The consent of the country concerned is often a necessary preliminary to intergovernmental action. Consensus amongst the members of any intervening international body may also be required, with the unanimity rule being applied. This implies that even when a meeting is held to discuss collective action, there is no guarantee that this would lead to mediation or some other form of collective diplomacy or action.
Hard-headed governments have increasingly written off UN emergency aid because of its inability to react with speed or efficiency. Bureaucrats, afraid of offending host governments, have proven incapable of supervising distribution of relief with the same energetic commitment and brusque impatience of private agencies.