The armed conflict and refugee crisis situations have given rise to increased demands for emergency supplies, including internationally controlled substances for medical purposes. However, as supply is wholly dependent on emergency aid, delivery in certain areas has been inadequate or severely limited. In that context, INCB wishes to draw attention to the special topic published in its annual report for 2014 on availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in emergency situations39 and remind all States that, under international humanitarian law, parties to armed conflicts have an obligation not to impede the provision of medical care to civilian populations located in territories under their effective control. This includes access to necessary narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.