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NGOs in the Field
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2003
In Iraq, Aid Group Favors Talk over Barbed Wire (December 18, 2003)
Many NGOs still operating in Iraq do so by seeking protection from armed guards and barbed wire. A few others employ the more risky "acceptance strategy." These NGOs hope that their reliance on consultations and good relations with local leaders will keep them safe. (Christian Science Monitor)Nepal Curbs on NGOs Leave Medicare Gash Wide Open (December 17, 2003)
Nepal’s government makes it increasingly difficult for international NGOs to operate in the country. The restrictions arise from the government’s belief that foreigners support the Maoist rebels. Some NGOs see the government’s action as a move to discourage other NGOs from serving the needy in Nepal. (One World)Bremer Puts Iraqi Civil Society and International NGOs on Probation (December 16, 2003)
The Coalition Provisional Authority “Order 45” requires all NGOs in Iraq to “register and undergo forms of control and scrutiny.” This declaration by six Italian NGOs opposes the order and demands that the United Nations coordinate NGO activities in Iraq. (Un Ponte Per, ICS, Intersos, COSV, GVC, Terre des Hommes)Afghan Promises Held Ransom by Violence (December 12, 2003)
The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan forces many NGOs to scale back their operations. In 2002 the US set up Provisional Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) to provide security to humanitarian aid workers and to carry out minor development projects. NGOs worry that the PRTs have blurred the lines between military and civilian reconstruction efforts, adding to the politicization of aid. (AlertNet)Accountability and Humanitarian Actors: Speculations and Questions (November/December 2003)
This Humanitarian Practice Network article samples four common misconceptions of humanitarian aid and discusses humanitarian accountability.Blocking Aid Workers from Israel Is a Mistake (November 9, 2003)
Israel blocks NGO aid workers from entering the country stating reasons of national security. This Hartford Courant article argues that blocking aid deepens poverty, which poses the actual threat to Israel’s security.Aid Agencies under Pressure (October 28, 2003)
Four major humanitarian NGOs talk about how deteriorating security in Iraq affects their work. Some NGOs have suspended their operations in Baghdad, unable to operate effectively and safely. Their statements paint quite a different picture from what US President George W. Bush wants the world to believe. (BBC)NGOs Face Tough Choices after Baghdad Blasts (October 27, 2003)
Major NGOs providing humanitarian assistance in Baghdad complain that the US/UK Coalition increasingly “hijacks” NGO language, calling their preemptive war a “humanitarian war.” This purposeful distortion leads to confused perceptions among Iraqis about the difference between NGO and military work. (AlertNet)EU Constitution Risks Politicizing Aid (October 24, 2003)
NGOs criticize a draft EU constitution that could turn “humanitarian aid into a political tool.” The constitution’s policies could allow the military to carry out humanitarian missions, obscuring the line between humanitarian work and military functions. (AlertNet)A Moment of Truth for the Humanitarian Enterprise (July 9, 2003)
International humanitarian organizations in Iraq forced to work together with US military units, have had to reexamine what it means to be genuinely nongovernmental. The UN’s humanitarian agencies also have had to draw a clear line between emergency assistance and the political game. (Foreign Policy in Focus)How NGOs Can Help in Disaster Recovery (May 26, 2003)
This article argues that NGOs should engage in capacity building and promote communication between communities and local governments to succeed in establishing sustainable programs of disaster mitigation. (AlertNet)Briefing note for the TFPI: B1 Visa Update and Other Access Issues (May 13, 2003)
This note summarizes the difficulties NGOs have had in gaining access to the Palestinian territories. The problems include visa denials for NGOs not affiliated with the Israeli government, screening of aid workers in the Gaza Strip and entry restrictions at Ben Gurion international airport in Israel. (Association for International Development Agencies)End of International NGO Activity in the Gaza Strip? (May 12, 2003)
The Israeli Defense Force has imposed a full closure over the Gaza Strip, preventing International NGOs from offering humanitarian and development assistance indefinitely. This move comes just 24 hours after the Israeli government promised to ease movement restrictions as a “goodwill gesture.” (Association for International Development Agencies)Rummy Invades Iraq Aid (May 6, 2003)
The Bush administration has put the Department of Defense in charge of humanitarian efforts in Iraq, ignoring NGO concerns that collaboration with the military will compromise their neutrality and place aid workers’ lives in danger. (The Nation)NGOs Say Security in Afghanistan is Still Critical in the Wake of Rumsfeld Visit (May 2, 2003)
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stated that Afghanistan is now secure and formal combat operations in the country will cease. NGOs refuted this claim, saying the country remains very unstable and that increased security is imperative to allow aid work to continue. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Relief Groups Seek to Keep Pentagon at Arm’s Length (April 16, 2003)
Some humanitarian aid groups will not work in Iraq under the Pentagon but are willing to cooperate with the US State Department. Others will only work with a UN authority in Iraq, underscoring the importance of aid workers’ neutrality and independence from belligerent parties. (New York Times)Military/Humanitarian Distinction Not Just Lofty Ideal (April 6, 2003)
Nine major NGOs call for the UN to administer post-war Iraq to ensure the best possible conditions for the countries’ reconstruction. They argue that working with a US military authority would severely compromise their independence and security. (AlertNet)Aid Groups Oppose Pentagon Control of Aid Effort (April 1, 2003)
Interaction, the largest alliance of non-government relief groups in the US, condemns plans by the Department of Defense (DOD) to control humanitarian operations following the war in Iraq. DOD jurisdiction would multiply the dangers faced by relief workers given the hostile response the US military has faced from Iraqi civilians. (AlertNet)Balance Can be Found Between Military and Humanitarian (March 28, 2003)
Many NGOs claim that the military should not participate in humanitarian operations under any circumstances. This article questions the sanctity of this principle, arguing that there is scope for cooperation between the two without compromising the neutrality of NGOs. (AlertNet)NGOs Demand Access and Transparency in Humanitarian Aid (February 17, 2003)
Representatives from the UN, NGOs and governments met in Switzerland to discuss strategies for humanitarian aid in the aftermath of a war on Iraq. NGOs stress the importance of maintaining their neutrality while continuing to press the military and belligerent governments for information. (AlertNet)We Need to Apply the Lessons of Somalia in Afghanistan (February 14, 2003)
Security forces in Afghanistan should learn from history and focus only on maintaining security rather than endangering aid staff by moving into development work. Somalia’s UN peacekeeping force also tried to expand operations to include humanitarian work and failed dramatically. (AlertNet)How NGOs and Media Can Help Banish Stereotypes (February 11, 2003)
The media often presents humanitarian crises as glib caricatures of gloom and doom. NGOs have a responsibility to make the complex causes of humanitarian disasters clear and to plainly describe the problems that aid workers confront. (AlertNet)Some NGOs Open Shop in Baghdad, Others Wait in Jordan (February 10, 2003)
This article discusses the differing strategies adopted by aid agencies to prepare for the humanitarian aid crisis from the impending war in Iraq. Some NGOs believe they will be most effective by entering Iraq on the heels of an allied victory. Others assert that complete neutrality from the military will be underscored by remaining in Iraq for the war’s duration. (AlertNet)British Stand Sparks Arms Row at Trade Fair (January 31, 2003)
NGOs criticize the British Government’s arms export agency for its presence at the Aid and Trade fair in Geneva. The dichotomy of creating weapons that perpetuate conflict and profiteering from the subsequent aid effort is abhorrent. (AlertNet)Muslim NGOs Can Help Bridge the Culture Gap (January 24, 2003)
The ability of Muslim NGOs to bridge religious and cultural gaps between Islamic communities and western aid workers gives them a unique role in humanitarian relief. Three quarters of the world’s refugees are Muslims, a fact that makes this role indispensable. (AlertNet)Agencies Should Resist Being Taken for Granted in Iraq (January 17, 2003)
This article encourages NGOs to stipulate conditions under which they will assist the aid effort in the event of war. It is argued that this radical approach would underscore the importance of NGO independence and would not provide belligerent governments with an easy justification for conflict. (AlertNet)NGOs Raise Concern over Coalition’s Aid Work (January 14, 2003)
NGOs are concerned about a recent shift in the operations of Afghanistan’s Security Coalition from maintaining the peace to engaging in aid and reconstruction work. They argue that filling the nation’s virtual security vacuum must be the Coalition’s first priority to ensure the safety of aid workers. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Security Concerns in Zabul Province (January 8, 2003)
NGO aid agencies face the difficult conflict between staff security and the dire need for humanitarian assistance after three separate terrorist incidents in Afghanistan's Zabul province in the past two weeks. Despite the danger, aid workers are determined to continue their operations. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)2002
Withholding Aid is Unforgivable (December 20, 2002)
The director of emergency response for the International Rescue Committee argues that withdrawing aid is a “particularly cruel and uncreative” way to protest negligent governments and ruthless demagogues. He calls for innovation rather than abandonment, arguing that “Smart Aid” approaches can greatly prevent manipulation of aid. (AlertNet)Commission Provides Aid for the Palestinian Victims of the Crisis (December 19, 2002)
The European Commission will channel their €10 million relief package to Palestinian victims through experienced NGOs. Nearly half of the 3 million Palestinians receive food aid from NGOs. (AlertNet)Agencies Fear Consequences, but Plan for War in Iraq (December 18, 2002)
NGOs prepare for a war in Iraq while hoping to avoid one. Years of sanctions and conflict have left Iraq’s infrastructure in ruins, and NGOs worry that civilians will starve if the oil for food distributions are suspended. They have pre-positioned food around the country and have prepared for an exacerbated refugee situation. (AlertNet)Preparing to Save Lives If War Engulfs Iraq (December 16, 2003
The president of Lutheran World Relief (LWR) discusses how LWR plans to help the great numbers of refugees and internally displaced people that would result from an attack on Iraq. The LWR will work closely with the Middle East Council of Churches and other local civil society groups to distribute food and secure shelter for people affected by the war. (AlertNet)Govts Aim for Accord on Explosive Remnants of War (December 13, 2002)
Peace organizations applaud a recent decision by the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons to begin discussions on “post-conflict humanitarian problems created by undetonated explosives, such as the cluster bombs used in attacks against Iraq.” The Convention will address states’ responsibility to clear these weapons and implement civilian education programs. (Inter Press Service)MSF Staffer Warns of Ethical Pitfalls (December 9, 2002)
Fiona Terry of Médecins sans Frontières advises aid organizations to weigh the ethical and political consequences of their actions. Reflecting on her own horrifying experience in Rwanda, she reminds aid groups that aid can potentially bring more harm than benefit. She encourages aid organizations to document the effects of their work to avoid repeating past mistakes. (AlertNet)Humanitarian Organizations Launch Global Campaign to Avert Famine in Africa (December 3, 2002)
Leaders of humanitarian aid organizations, the UN World Food Program and the US Agency for International Development came together to launch a global campaign to assist 34 million Africans at risk of starvation. They called on governments, NGOs and citizens’ groups “to join in a massive and urgent response.” (Catholic Relief Services)Amid Congo Chaos, Rights Groups Form a Vital Safety Net (December 4, 2002)
In the war-ridden Congo, local civil society groups have taken the place of the often-absent government, courts and police. They have worked with sparse funding and in extremely dangerous conditions to assist victims and raise international attention about human rights abuses. (Christian Science Monitor)Preparing for Peace Amid War (December 4, 2002)
A collective of Ivory Coast civil society groups has begun to make post-war preparations even though fighting continues. They hope to prevent people from seeking revenge after the war and “to stop the beginnings of ethnic or religious clashes.” (IRIN)War Would Threaten Iraq's Kurds and Shias (November 29, 2002)
The vice president of a Turkish humanitarian relief group describes NGOs’ preparations for a war against Iraq. He advises aid organizations to foster partnerships with local groups, carry medications in case of biological and chemical attacks, establish mobile hospitals, and warehouse supplies in advance. (AlertNet)Understanding the New Slavery (November 23, 2002)
NGOs have been responsible for much of the progress in the fight against human trafficking. In Thailand, where the government is making only minimal efforts to combat trafficking, NGOs offer villagers micro-enterprise and other economic alternatives as well as educational programs on the dangers of migration. (South China Morning Post)Many Hands on Deck for Development (November 22, 2002)
The government of Nigeria has highlighted rural development as the “backbone” of the national development strategy but has yet to allocate the necessary funds. NGOs have begun to fill this void with projects that address reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and prostitution. (This Day)Row Puts WHO Leprosy Target in Doubt (November 21, 2002)
NGOs and the World Health Organization (WHO) clash in their approach to fighting leprosy. In a politically charged debate, NGOs challenge the main assumptions upon which the WHO based its campaign against the disease, while WHO disapproves of NGO’s use of graphic photographs to get funding. (AlertNet)Ethiopian Crisis is Real but not New (November 15, 2002)
International aid groups warn that drought, increased food prices and soil erosion have placed Ethiopia’s subsistence-based communities in danger of starvation. NGOs say that both developed and developing countries must focus on the root of the problems, such as trade imbalances. (AlertNet)US Not Ready for Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq (November 14, 2002)
Aid groups worry that the US government’s resistance to working with NGOs will place Iraqi civilians in an extremely precarious position. The few NGOs located in Iraq will not be able to meet the increased need for aid in the case of a war. Meanwhile, "It infuriates the Bush administration that the NGOs are acting as if the administration has already decided on war." (Pacific News Service)Media Ignore People in Crisis, Say NGOs (November 8, 2002)
Media and aid NGOs are accountable to different groups, causing tension between them. Aid groups hold themselves accountable to the people in crisis and journalists answer to their readers. NGOs complain about the media’s short attention span and its criticism of aid work. (AlertNet)Catholics, NGOs Rally to End War in Northern Uganda (November 8, 2002)
NGOs and members of the Catholic Church in Uganda have created an alliance to help bring peace to the country and address the humanitarian crisis. This alliance reflects the “growing skepticism” about the government’s ability to defeat the Lords Resistance Army, which has fought an insurgence war over the past 16 years. (African Church Information Service)Well-Paid Development Jobs the Top Choice for Many in Afghanistan, Including State Workers (November 5, 2002)
Many Afghani people have left their jobs with the state to work for international aid groups that can pay much higher salaries. Although NGOs say they are aware of the problem and will try to avoid it, hospitals and schools remain concerned about losing their most skilled employees. (Associated Press)Local NGO Tackles Rural Poverty in Dry Zimbabwe (November 4, 2002)
AlertNet interviews Jackson Ndlovu, Christian Care’s chairman of the Matabeleland region, about the organization’s efforts in this drought-ridden area. They discuss some of the problems faced by NGOs in Zimbabwe and how to promote local participation in their programs.Relief Workers Tread Carefully in Post-Conflict Macedonia (October 24, 2002)
Over one hundred thousand refugees have returned to their homes in Macedonia after a peace agreement ended the Albanian insurgency. Humanitarian groups report that ethnic friction has hampered efforts to provide humanitarian aid; some communities resist medical teams of different ethnicities even when no other options exist. (AlertNet)Tension Reported at Peace Conference (October 24, 2002)
Tension between political leaders and civil society organizations has risen at the Somali National Reconciliation conference. Civil society groups complain that the “conference is doomed to failure,” since the faction leaders have been allowed to meet behind closed doors. (IRIN)Peace Talks: The Alternative Voice (October 23, 2002)
The Somali national reconciliation conference brought together warlords, faction leaders and members of the transitional government after months of delay. Civil society representatives offered an “alternative voice” at this meeting and led the “chorus of voices for peace and change.” (IRIN)'Think Beyond Traditional Relief', Says CARE Engineer (October 21, 2002)
In this interview, Chaungo Barasa of CARE International discusses the interrelationship between water shortages, poverty, and conflict in northeast Kenya. He discusses the origins of these problems and what he would do differently based on the lessons he has learned from his experience in Kenya. (AlertNet)'Think Beyond Traditional Relief', Says CARE Engineer (October 21, 2002)
In this interview, Chaungo Barasa of CARE International discusses the interrelationship between water shortages, poverty, and conflict in northeast Kenya. He discusses the origins of these problems and what he would do differently based on the lessons he has learned from his experience in Kenya. (AlertNet)International Aid Groups Fear New Crisis in Eastern Congo (October 19, 2002)
Aid workers warn that the situation in the Eastern Congo might further deteriorate as local militias replace foreign troops. They fear that if the peace agreement in the Congo unravels, war and instability will spread throughout the region. (New York Times)Iraqis Bracing for War's Aftermath (October 18, 2002)
A war in Iraq “will immediately result in a humanitarian catastrophe,” according to a German aid group. Aid agencies believe that in the case of a war, US pilots will knock out the electricity grid, halting sewage disposal, hospitals, water, and food imports for distribution. (Christian Science Monitor)'Humanitarian Crisis Hidden by War,' says Aid Official (October 17, 2002)
When aid agencies gained access to rural areas that the Angolan Armed forces and Unita had blocked, they discovered extremely high mortality rates and acute malnutrition. This humanitarian crisis is a result of “how the war was fought,” not from “natural disaster, drought or crop failure,” according to Dr. Morten Rostrup of Médecins Sans Frontières. (AllAfrica)Zim Bans Food Aid Charities (October 17, 2002)
President Mugabe of Zimbabwe banned Oxfam and Save the Children from distributing “urgently needed” food aid, because he deems these groups loyal to the opposition party. The US Representative to the UN Food and Aid Organization accuses Mugabe of “using state-owned food as a political weapon.” (Mail & Guardian)Plan Now to Meet Iraq’s Urgent Humanitarian Needs (October 16, 2002)
Ken Bacon of Refugees International explains that aid organizations must conduct early and careful planning in light of Iraq’s lack of infrastructure, Saddam’s potential use of chemical and biological weapons, and the possibility of war spreading to neighboring countries. (Boston Globe)Major Donor Conference Ends in Kabul (October 15, 2002)
A three-day conference on streamlining international aid to Afghanistan created a space for Afghan leaders and NGOs to express concerns and strategies for future cooperation. (IRIN)NGOs Urged to Participate in Land Reform (October 13, 2002)
An agricultural policy expert tells the National Association of Non Governmental Organizations that NGOs can do more in areas concerning displaced farm workers and the AIDS pandemic on farms in Zimbabwe. He challenges NGOs “to take up agriculture as an additional issue on their priority list.” (Sunday Mirror)Agencies Off Guard as Afghans Flock Home (October 11, 2002)
The scale of returning refugees and their migration to cities rather than rural areas has caught relief agencies by surprise. Aid groups confront complex issues such as the status of displaced ethnic minorities and the effects of aid distribution centers on migration patterns. (Reuters)South Too Far for Northern NGOs (October 10, 2002)
A Finnish study seeks to provide a Southern perspective on development aid relations with the north. The study found that while Northern groups have had significant positive impacts on the South, a lack of information about the Northern groups and power imbalances tarnish their relationship. (Inter Press Service)The Mother Teresa Society and the War in Kosovo (October 9, 2002)
When NATO bombings removed Serbian forces from Kosovo, an influx of humanitarian aid groups brought an abundance of food, clothes and other items. When the aid workers withdrew, they left Kosovans “passive and confused, with nostaligia for past abundance.” (Overseas Development Institute)Humanitarian Operations in Chechnya and Ingushetia (October 9, 2002)
Despite dangerous conditions for aid workers in war-torn Chechnya, humanitarian organizations continue to distribute food, rehabilitate schools and health institutions, and provide emergency shelter. (Reuters AlertNet)Seeking Long Term Solutions for Food Crisis (October 7, 2002)
After months of drought, people in Malawi face dire poverty and starvation. A stronger civil society could help monitor development and coordinate receipt of aid to help prevent future crises. (All Africa)Regional Experts Call On US to Bolster Civil Society (October 2, 2002)
One year after the US-led bombings of Afghanistan, experts agree that an international antiterrorist coalition can succeed – if the US fosters civil society organizations in the region. (EurasiaNet)Israel Taxes Humanitarian Aid to Palestinians - UN (September 25, 2002)
Israel’s “unreasonable and unique” policy of taxing humanitarian aid destined for Palestinian territories has cost the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) over $2.5 million. International humanitarian and human rights groups accuse Israel of “using food, water and medicine as weapons of war.” (Inter Press Service)Sept 11 Forced NGOs To Confront New Challenges (September 20, 2002)
In Afghanistan, the US military undertook humanitarian initiatives “on the basis of military or political expediency, not on the basis of need” and forced NGOs to remain in the capital. In order to address real needs, NGOs must reach an agreement with the military about how to deliver aid during a crisis. (Reuters AlertNet)Scholars Emphasize Role of NGOs in Solving Conflicts (September 12, 2002)
Peaces activists in Taiwan call on Taiwanese NGOs to work for peace in the Middle East. Humanitarian assistance will help eliminate people’s “desperation and hopelessness” given that “desperation is the breeding ground for terrorism.” (Taiwan News)Author Looks at Civil War and its Aftermath (September 11, 2002)
Samir Khalaf explains how “uncivil war” renders it difficult to rebuild a civil society. The random and reckless violence “saps” trust between individuals and “mutilates their capacity for self-organization.” He looks at both the benefits and harm NGOs can bring to the process of building a civil society. (Daily Star)The Long Crusade of a Global Women's Activist (September 10, 2002)
Susan Bazilli’s tireless work to fight domestic violence against women proves that one person truly can make a difference. Her recent work in Russia shows the cultural and economic obstacles NGOs must confront and the role NGOs can play in enacting trafficking and rape legislation. (Moscow Times)Women Aim to Increase Role as Global Peacemakers (September 9, 2002)
Women unite at a UN conference that might alter the role of women as peacekeepers. The Christian Science Monitor considers a UN conference “the latest in a series of moves to shatter the glass ceiling for women in conflict resolution.”Serbia: War Crimes Row (September 4, 2002)
The media and NGOs argue about how to contend with lingering war crime issues in an unprecedented split in Serbian civil society. (Institute for War and Peace)"CNN effect" is Not Clear-Cut (Summer 2002)
Humanitarian groups bemoan the “CNN effect,” citing its overly powerful influence on the public’s response to crises, but aid organizations are also guilty of sensationalism. The author calls for a “code of conduct” for human rights groups that would ensure respectful portrayals of the people they serve. (Humanitarian Affairs Review)Afghanistan: Escalating Attacks on Aid Workers and Civilians (June 27, 2002)
Human Rights Watch reports that “factional rivalry in northern Afghanistan is leading to a rise in attacks on humanitarian aid workers and Afghan civilians. It documents “recent cases of sexual violence, forcible recruitment, arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, and looting by armed groups in the northern part of Afghanistan.”
2001
Empowering Local Actors: The UN and Multi-Track Conflict Prevention (December 10, 2001)
The International Peace Academy addresses “some of the opportunities and challenges involved in working to prevent the outbreak of armed conflict in tandem with relevant local actors.” (International Peace Academy)Central Role in Development for Thai NGOs? (December 2001)
The experience of development NGOs in Thailand provides a unique insight into the problems experienced by civil society organizations in developing countries. Financial problems, suspicion from the public, and state dominance in development activities all hinder NGO success. (Alliance)NGOs Condemn "Confusion" Between Military and Humanitarian Goals (October 8, 2001)
Humanitarian NGOs worry about the dropping of medical and food supplies while bombing the country, arguing it is not a humanitarian but a marketing mission aimed at gathering international approval for the military attacks. (Agence France Press)
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