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NGOs in the Field
NGOs increasingly work "in the field," providing humanitarian relief and development assistance in countries around the world. As they carry out their work, they face many serious problems. Governments or rebel groups deny them access to those in need, corrupt officials or warlords demand payoffs, and local violence threatens the safety and even the lives of field personnel. Donors also subject these NGOs to political pressure, diminishing their neutrality. Such pressure most often comes from governments of rich countries that provide a large percentage of these NGOs' funding, but negative influence comes from corporate and individual donors as well. Military forces increasingly distribute humanitarian assistance to civilians in countries they occupy, blurring the traditional military/humanitarian distinction and making civilian humanitarian workers targets for resistance fighters. In the 1990s, a problematic new doctrine of “humanitarian intervention” arose, giving a humanitarian rationale for armed conflict. Some NGOs have uncritically embraced this doctrine, which further erodes humanitarian neutrality and blurs the longtime distinction between humanitarian action and the anti–humanitarian nature of warfare and organized violence, as carried out by the most powerful states.
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NGOs and Humanitarian Intervention
Articles
2008 |2007 | 2006 | Archived Articles
Humanitarianism Sacrificed: Integration’s False Promise (Fall 2004)
Recent efforts to integrate humanitarian aid with conflict resolution goals such as peace, justice, development and political representation compromise the ideals of humanitarian aid, says Carnegie Council’s Ethics and International Affairs. In Afghanistan and Iraq, the US military’s political motivations have increased targeted attacks on aid workers and caused several agencies to leave these conflict zones completely. This article believes humanitarian aid must be unconditional and impartial, as it is “ethically untenable” to put unknown future benefits before saving lives.
This report examines peace-building efforts throughout the world, highlighting the unique role civil society organizations can play in achieving peace. It also provides recommendations to the UN on improving collaboration with civil society groups at UN Headquarters and in the field. (Conflict Transformation Working Group)
This comprehensive report by the Overseas Development Institute covers a wide range of humanitarian aid issues, including financing of aid, trends in EU and US aid policy as well as topics within the UN humanitarian system.
On launching of the report “The Responsibility to Protect,” Médecins Sans Frontières Delegate to the UN Catherine Dumait-Harper draws attention to the increasingly “blurring lines” of humanitarian and military interventions. While the report is important in addressing this confusion, concerns about the protection of populations are still “less important than other concerns like ‘national interest.’” And, unless the international community shows political interest to respect and carry “human protection interventions,” these concerns will remain unaddressed.2008
NGOs Withering Under Foreign Currency Shortages (April 24, 2008)
NGOs in Zimbabwe face collapse because they cannot withdraw funds from the Zimbabwe Reserve Bank (ZRB), where the government requires they hold all currency. Many NGO staff have not received wages since 2007 and healthcare charities cannot buy antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS relief. Some fear that if the government-controlled ZRB continues to “financially throttle” NGOs, they will close en masse by the second half of 2008 amidst a humanitarian disaster. (Plus News)ANSO Quarterly Data Report (Q.1 – 2008) (April 2008)
NGOs in Afghanistan have experienced more frequent and fatal attacks by Armed Opposition Groups (AOGs) than in previous years. Abduction and murder by AOG-contracted criminals remains the primary threat to NGO workers, with 12 people kidnapped in the first quarter of 2008. This report argues that attacks have increased because armed groups have lost respect for NGO political neutrality. As the conflict has escalated, Coalition Forces have increased their reach and made insurgents distrustful of any foreign presence in Afghanistan. (Afghanistan NGO Safety Office)2007
Afghanistan: NGOs Question New Government Directive on Armed Escorts (August 2, 2007)
This Integrated Regional Information Networks article argues that “humanitarian space” is “diminishing” in Afghanistan, as foreign aid workers face increasing danger. The Afghani Ministry of Interior now demands that armed escorts accompany NGO personnel outside of Kabul, but NGOs fear that the security measures will make them a “legitimate target” for insurgent groups who will associate them with the government.Darfur Advocacy Group Undergoes a Shake-Up (June 2, 2007)
Save Darfur, the most prominent advocacy group speaking out on the conflict in Sudan, has aggravated many aid groups working in the region. Aid workers suggest that Save Darfur’s conspicuous ad campaigns, which often call for intervention, occasionally bend the truth and make negotiation with Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir more difficult. Save Darfur is beginning to respond to these criticisms by reorganizing and changing their tactics. (New York Times)Delivery of Aid Still a Problem Four Years after US Invasion (March 21, 2007)
After four years of US occupation, the vulnerable groups in Iraq still do not have access to humanitarian assistance due to the fragile security situation and the killing of aid workers, which has caused many NGOs to flee the country. According to the NGO Coordinating Committee in Iraq (NCCI), the number of aid workers killed since 2003 has reached 83 – the highest in any single country worldwide. Iraq’s humanitarian emergency has reached a crisis level, but the international relief system has not been able to respond accordingly. (Integrated Regional Information Network)Iraq: Fighters Fill Humanitarian Vacuum (February 14, 2007)
In the face of continued violence and the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Iraq, many international aid agencies scaled down – or even abandoned – their operations in the country, leaving militias and insurgents to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians. However, due to deep sectarian divisions in Iraq, armed groups only offer aid to their supporters. The catastrophe in Iraq illustrates the need to ensure the neutrality of humanitarian action. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Impact Measurement and Accountability in Emergencies: The “Good Enough” Guide (February 9, 2007)
Drawing from the experiences of a number of international aid agencies, this guide outlines how NGOs can assess the effectiveness of their responses to humanitarian crises. This report emphasizes the need for an assessment system to enable the people affected by emergencies – as well as donors and host governments – to hold relief workers to account for their activities. Further, with evaluations that more accurately reflect the impact of their work, NGOs can improve existing field operations and better prepare for future unforeseen disasters. (Oxfam UK)Increasing Risks to Aid Workers? Part II (January 11, 2007)
This Globalist piece outlines the second part of a joint study by the Center on International Cooperation and the Humanitarian Policy Group on the safety of aid workers. The study disputes the notion that local humanitarian workers in violent settings face lower risk than international staff “because they are of the place.” According to the research results, national aid workers constitute 80 percent of victims of violence in the world’s major trouble spots. The author calls on NGOs to adopt equitable security policies that assure the safety of all their personnel – local and foreign.Increasing Risks to Aid Workers? Part I (January 10, 2007)
This Globalist article summarizes the findings of a two-part study which contests the widespread public perception that violence increasingly disrupts the operations of NGOs in crisis zones. While recognizing the perils of aid work, the report argues in favor of “a far less dramatic” rise in the number of attacks relative to the number of relief workers. Furthermore, the report finds a 77 percent growth in the world’s number of humanitarian personnel between 1997 and 2005.2006
Iraqi Red Crescent: US Is Biggest Humanitarian Threat (December 16, 2006)
Dr. Jamal al- Karbouli vice president of the Iraqi Red Crescent has said that harassment from the US-led military poses a greater problem to its relief operations than attacks by Iraqi insurgents. Dr. al Karbouli further stated that Red Crescent offices had been “repeatedly attacked” by US-led forces. The Geneva Conventions on warfare – that protect the Red Crescent as an international humanitarian organization – prohibit such acts and consider them illegal. (Associated Press)Humanitarian Work is the Task of Aid Workers, Not Soldiers, Security Council Team Told (November 16, 2006)
Alarmed at how military forces increasingly encroach upon their working space, local NGOs in Afghanistan have called for “a clear line between [NATO] soldiers and aid workers.” Critics argue that military involvement often impedes, rather than complements, the work of aid agencies. The army’s use of aid as a tool to generate negativity towards insurgents actually increases the security risks of aid workers and ultimately harms those who need help the most. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)International Aid Work a Deadly Profession (November 10, 2006)
While trying to help those recovering from dire humanitarian disasters, aid workers often encounter potentially life-threatening situations involving physical attacks, kidnappings or harassment. Furthermore, in some cases, local governments aggravate these security risks by restricting NGOs’ access to the civilians needing assistance or by denying the workers their rights to protection, as stipulated by international conventions. This Inter Press Service piece highlights some of the safety challenges facing humanitarian personnel in the field.Aid Train Runs Off The Rails (September 25, 2006)
After the December 2004 Asian tsunami, NGOs, private donors and aid agencies responded promptly to the ensuing humanitarian crisis by providing food, health supplies and financial assistance as well as rebuilding homes. Yet nearly two years later, poor planning and “simple incompetence” have undermined relief and reconstruction efforts, reports this Associated Press article. Learning from this failure, NGOs should increase coordination amongst each other and with local governments to avoid delivering low-quality aid or engaging in projects that exceed their capacity.Aid Workers Threatened by Sectarian Violence (August 16, 2006)
As international aid agencies increasingly withdrew their staff from Iraq for security reasons, local NGOs assumed a greater role in helping sick, displaced and hungry Iraqis. But now these local humanitarian groups “also have become victims” of sectarian violence, with volunteers under personal threat. The dire situation highlights the need for greater security so that Iraqi NGOs can deliver aid to those who need it most. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Turf Wars “Mar Disaster Effort” (August 14, 2006)
Medical relief groups such as Medecins Sans Frontieres seek to provide immediate health aid in emergency situations, whereas development agencies, NGOs and governments aim to develop long-term, sustainable healthcare systems. Health Action Network, a group of leading medical charities, has called for integration of these conflicting goals as well as better communication among health development groups. While their priorities may differ, relief providers and development agencies “meet the need of reducing poverty and suffering.” (BBC)Global Aid Workers Walking a Tightrope (August 9, 2006)
AlertNet examines the killing of 17 NGO humanitarian workers in Sri Lanka in light of the larger process of aid politicization. With governments increasingly moving into the humanitarian sphere, NGOs constantly have to "negotiate simply to have the space in which to operate." In Sri Lanka, foreign donors have favored working through NGOs rather than directly with the government, giving rise to the anti-NGO sentiment. The massacre of the Action Against Hunger workers illustrates the difficulties of balancing humanitarian work with local politics.Role of NGOs in Conflict Prevention Crucial (May 2, 2006)
This Kenya Times opinion piece discusses the important role of NGOs in defusing conflicts, addressing human rights violations and post conflict reconstruction. The author reports that NGOs have developed monitoring skills and opened dialogue between adversarial parties. Many NGOs have field operations and local contacts that give groups access to information not available to governments. But the author warns that NGOs must not “institutionalize these ties” with national policy makers.Darfur: Humanitarian Aid Under Seige (May 2006)
This extensive Human Rights Watch report details how the Sudanese government and rebel groups have prevented humanitarian aid organizations from reaching hundreds of thousands of civilians in Darfur. Workers have faced harassment, arbitrary detentions, intimidation by officials, administrative regulations and armed attacks. In late 2005 an increase of armed clashes and criminal activity also caused organizations to evacuate many locations. Although special procedures for aid work were introduced in 2004 in Darfur, the Sudanese government has since rolled back these gains.Fighting "NGOism" (January 13, 2006)
NGOs and aid workers in Afghanistan have unfairly found themselves a target of anti-NGO political rhetoric. Misconceptions concerning donor money and equating NGOs with the slow reconstruction process has fuelled these opinions. Furthermore, targeted attacks on NGOs have resulted in workers leading an “insulated” life, preventing integration with the local population and hence causing anti-foreigner attitudes. (Hindu Business Line)
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