title: Humanitarian Daily Rations: the need for evaluation and guidelines.
abstract: Over 13 million Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) have been distributed by NGOs, international organisations and the US military since 1993. In that time, not a single technical end-user study of HDRs has been published. Nor have practical guidelines been established for HDR distribution or use. This paper seeks to establish a baseline of knowledge concerning HDRs, surveying their history, composition and distribution. Criticisms of the ration are reviewed. A comprehensive evaluation is required to understand and improve HDR distribution, end-use, perceptions, design and nutritional contents. HDRs must also be added to technical guidelines on planning nutritionally adequate rations.
authors.affiliation: Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA. bsklaver@alumni.tufts.edu
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sklaver
mesh_terms: D000346:Afghanistan; D000533:Altruism; D005523:Food Supply; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D019064:Product Packaging