There are currently just over 6.7 billion people on our planet. What do they think about the big humanitarian issues?

To find out, the ICRC regularly commissions survey specialist Gallup International to ask just that question. Between October 2008 and January 2009, Gallup put the following three questions to just over 52,300 people in 50 countries, on every continent except Antarctica:

• What do civilians in areas of armed conflict need most?
  
  
• What should the international community do to help civilians in areas of armed conflict?
  
  
• How can individuals best help the victims of armed conflict?

52,300 people. Surely, there will be 52,300 opinions?

Well actually, no.

For each question, the same answers came up time and again:

• People in conflict zones need food, health and security most of all.
  
  
• The international community should deliver emergency aid, provide peacekeepers and intervene militarily to stop conflicts.
  
  
• Individuals can best help by donating goods or money, and by supporting aid organizations.

See also: Our world. Views from the field. The impact of conflicts and armed violence on civilians