Abstract
A humanitarian corridor aims at facilitating the transportation of charitable supplies like food, clothes, medicines, and hospital services such as ambulances that are directed to the local population in times of crisis in conflict zones. It is set on a specific route for a given time. Humanitarian corridors are limited in space, time and scope: they take the form of neutralized and negotiated itineraries that can only be used to help the civilians, during times of conflict or crisis. The concept of humanitarian corridor originates from the international humanitarian law (IHL), with the idea of right of access to victims. It was then recognized by various UN resolutions, under the influence of the movement promoting the right to intervene. Also, it takes a leaf out of the Law of the Sea when it comes to the access to maritime zones within the limit of national jurisdiction, with the concept of "harmless passage". In the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, article 23 states that "Each High Contracting Party shall allow the free passage of all consignments of medical and hospital stores and objects necessary for religious worship intended only for civilians of another High Contracting Party, even if the latter is its adversary. It shall likewise permit the free passage of all consignments of essential foodstuffs, clothing and tonics".
