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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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Articles
2008 |2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 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)2005
Western NGOs and the Tsunami Test (December 21, 2005)
The December 2004 tsunami in South Asia resulted in one of the most critical humanitarian emergencies in contemporary times. Nearly a year later, many NGOs are being retrospectively congratulated for their role in helping people and infrastructure recover from the disaster. However, this openDemocracy article points out that NGOs were not entirely successful in their recovery efforts. In future emergencies of such a large scale, NGOs must work together to coordinate both the quality and quantity of aid that they deliver.US Forces: The World's Best Relief Group (October 12, 2005)
Robert Kaplan, an expert on US military activity, extols the virtues of military intervention in humanitarian emergencies, calling it the “world’s most effective emergency relief organization.” Kaplan concedes that US Army personnel treat NGO workers “gruffly,” but he fails to illuminate the more profound negative implications of the militarization of aid for the work of NGOs in the field. (New York Times)Aid in Burma: When It’s Time to Give Up (September 25, 2005)
This BBC article asks the question that many NGOs working in unstable areas face: “When does the situation become so bad that it is no longer worth staying?” The article addresses some of the aspects of this question through the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s experience in Burma. The Global Fund was forced to withdraw after the Burmese military government issued increased travel restrictions and began severely limiting its issuance of foreign visas.NGO Calls For Greater Facilitation For Aid Work (June 15, 2005)
According to an Italian NGO, "Humanitarian work in Iraq has not been respected to any extent by the Multi-National Forces (MNF) and Iraqi security forces." The NGO issued the statement after an incident in which MNF troops targeted one of the its clearly marked water supply trucks. The statement added that the United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) and other NGOs should establish "mechanisms and a common understanding with both MNF and Iraqi security forces to avoid such non-discriminatory military actions." (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Ongoing Insecurity Hampers Landmine Clearance (June 6, 2005)
Insecurity in Iraq is forcing many international organizations to halt their landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearing efforts. Iraq is heavily mined, especially near its border with Iran, and one organisation alone has removed more than 1,350,000 mines and UXOs from northern Iraq since July 2003. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Humanitarian Engagement with Non-State Armed Actors: The Parameters of Negotiated Access (June 2005)
This Humanitarian Practice Network paper investigates the extent to which NGOs in conflict zones can successfully negotiate with rebels and other armed non-state groups for access to civilians. In seeking dialogue with warring parties, aid agencies must consider the safety of their workers and whether negotiations could actually worsen the plight of civilians. As humanitarian organizations risk damaging their reputations and compromising the perceived neutrality of their assistance by negotiating with armed groups, the report encourages the NGOs to make agreements that are as open as possible.Divergent Views over Relationship Between NGOs and Coalition (May 4, 2005)
Aid agencies in Iraq struggle to operate in difficult security conditions. Humanitarian groups find it hard to ensure their own security without coordinating with Coalition forces or security contractors, but such cooperation leads Iraqis to question the neutrality of some NGOs. Further, the US government funds many US-based and Iraqi aid groups. Because of this, aid consultant Greg Hansen asks, "can you blame Iraqis for being thoroughly confused about who is doing what?" (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Darfur: Aid Workers Under Threat (April 5, 2005)
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports that Sudan’s government has intimidated, detained and arrested several aid workers in Darfur since December 2004. Though NGOs have kept quiet on the abuses “due to fear of further reprisals,” rebel groups supported by the Sudanese government have claimed responsibility for numerous attacks. HRW alleges that the reasons for detentions and intimidation were “hardly serious enough to warrant criminal charges,” and warns that the government must comply with humanitarian law.UN Backs Call to Accredit Aid Agencies (January 27, 2005)
In a follow-up report on the December 2004 tsunami relief efforts, Oxfam called for an accreditation system between national governments and the UN to ensure that aid agencies appropriately approach the tasks at hand. The report also urged NGOs to consult more with local communities in planning relief. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which would spearhead such a system, praised the outpouring of relief for the tsunami and welcomed the suggestions for better organization. (Guardian)2004
Ivory Coast Is a Case of Too Much UN Coordination (November 26, 2004)
The precarious situation in Ivory Coast has severely reduced the capability of humanitarian NGOs at a time when the country needs them most. Representatives of Save the Children UK say the UN’s integrated peacekeeping-humanitarianism approach, where the senior humanitarian official reports directly to peacekeeping coordinators, compromises the impartiality of aid workers. The authors hope the UN will reconsider integrated missions with the responses of independent NGOs in mind as well. (AlertNet)Dying at Gunpoint: The Humanitarian Aid Worker’s Lot? (November 15, 2004)
Though international humanitarian law deems refugee camps safe areas, the abundance of small arms puts civilians and aid workers at increased risk and inhibits relief efforts. A 2003 Center for Humanitarian Dialogue report, In the Line of Fire, details these risks and urges immediate action. This id21 guest commentary says such action must include implementation of the 2001 UN voluntary arms control agreement, legal action against illegitimate arms dealers and controls on weapons exports.Aid Agency Exit Leaves Nation Further Isolated (November 6, 2004)
Following the targeting of aid workers and the subsequent exit of humanitarian agencies in Iraq, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is the latest group to pull its staff from the country. MSF and other agencies say the military’s attempt to provide humanitarianism while fighting the war hinders the safety of independent aid workers. (Inter Press Service)Aid Workers Increasingly a Target in Conflict Zones (November 5, 2004)
The Christian Science Monitor reports that humanitarian workers in conflict areas face increasing danger because of the “war on terrorism.” The military’s “development work” waters down the notion of impartial humanitarian support, turning aid workers into targets in conflicts in Sudan, Afghanistan and Iraq.Why PRTs Aren’t the Answer (November 3, 2004)
The Afghanistan country director for CARE International says non-governmental organizations are much better equipped to handle reconstruction and humanitarian aid than international military Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). The director further asserts that the military must focus primarily on the security of the Afghan people, and that the PRT model “blurs the line between military and humanitarian action.” (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)Aid Groups in Iraq Face Mounting Obstacles (October 20, 2004)
While several aid organizations have already removed international staff members from Iraq due to increasing danger, the recent kidnapping of Care International Iraq Director Margaret Hassan—a British-Iraqi citizen who has lived in Iraq for more than 25 years—has led humanitarians to consider pulling out of the country completely. Hassan’s kidnapping adds to a string of violence, such as bombing of the UN and Red Cross headquarters, and other abductions of aid workers. (Associated Press)US 'Hyping' Darfur Genocide Fears (October 3, 2004)
This Observer article cites conflicting figures between USAID and aid workers in Sudan regarding the humanitarian crisis, stating the catastrophe has been "widely exaggerated" by the US administration. Aid workers and diplomats have expressed concern over "USAID's role as an honest broker in Darfur" and the Observer points to Washington's desire for regime change in Khartoum.Moral and Practical Challenges to NGO Neutrality (September 28, 2004)
This opinion piece outlines how different humanitarian NGOs adapt their field operations to the constantly changing political and security situations. While some NGOs remain silent about human rights abuses, instead focusing solely on helping victims, other groups do not separate activism from their humanitarian work, openly rebuking rights violators. The author concludes that although voluntary codes of conduct exist among aid agencies in conflict zones, the NGOs still need to address the underlying issues that often politicize humanitarian aid work. (INTRAC: International NGO Training and Research Centre)Humanitarianism under Fire (August 5, 2004)
The threat of armed attacks and bureaucratic obstacles imposed by warring parties blocks aid workers’ access to 10 million civilians in 20 conflicts around the world. UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland argues that states and humanitarian aid groups need to take action to clarify the blurred line between military operations and humanitarian work. (Christian Science Monitor)Humanitarian Access Denied to Increasingly Vulnerable Former Farm Workers (July 23, 2004)
The Zimbabwean government progressively reduces the operational space for NGOs by instituting new administrative requirements. Such requirements include demanding two weeks advance notices for field visits and requesting personal details on staff. NGOs that receive funding from “unfriendly” countries or those perceived as part of the political opposition, face additional barriers to their work. (Refugees International)Militias Attacking Humanitarian Convoys, Says UN (July 7, 2004)
The Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan Liberation Army disrupt humanitarian efforts in Dafur by attacking humanitarian convoys and increasing the number of road checkpoints. Attacks took place following an agreement between UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Sudanese government to remove all obstacles to relief efforts. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Pentagon Forced to Withdraw Leaflet Linking Aid to Information on Taliban (May 6, 2004)
Leaflets distributed by US forces in Afghanistan, threaten people to provide information on al- Qaeda and the Taliban or face losing humanitarian aid. The move has outraged aid organizations who argue that military operations and their involvement in aid distribution further endangers aid workers in the field. (Guardian)Two Aid Workers Killed in Attack on NGO (April 28, 2004)
Sparked by an increase in violent attacks on aid workers, the Afghan NGO Security Office called on NGOs to raise awareness and take additional precautions to protect their staff. Aid agencies say that the violence results in a vicious circle where NGOs pull out and basic needs of the people are left unmet. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Independent Aid in Iraq Nearly Impossible (April 23, 2004)
This Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) article says that the risks for international aid workers in Iraq are unacceptably high. MSF identifies the eroded distinction between civilians and the coalition forces as the main reason why Iraq has become too insecure for aid workers.Americans Around Falluja are Deaf to Humanitarian Emergency (April 19, 2004)
Assistant Secretary General of the Iraqi Red Crescent, Mohamed Ibrahim Abbas, highlights the severity of the restrictions humanitarian organizations encounter while trying to deliver aid goods in Iraq. Abbas reports that the US Marines banned most NGOs from accessing Falluja, accusing them of transporting hidden weapons in their aid cargoes. (Liberation)Humanitarians Must Avoid Becoming Tools of Power (April 2, 2004)
This Guardian article discusses the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) book “In the Shadow of 'Just Wars'.” The book assesses the distinction between the “humanitarian idea proper and the humanitarian motives or pretensions of political leaders.” The authors emphasize the need for humanitarian organizations to distance themselves from governments and limit their role as policy instruments.HIV/AIDS and Humanitarian Action (April 2004)
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has taken its heaviest toll on individuals and populations in developing countries. However, as this Overseas Development Institute report details, the effects of the pandemic have also resonated among NGOs working in the field in affected communities. The report provides information and advice for NGOs working in areas with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, as they continue to face challenges in dealing with the causes and effects of the disease.Aid Agencies Discuss Security in Dangerous New Era (March 30, 2004)
NGOs and UN agency representatives met in Geneva to highlight challenges facing humanitarian security and protection of staff in the field. Participants also discussed how to maintain humanitarian independence at a time when many regard aid agencies as complicit players in military interventions. (AlertNet)CARE Decries Murders of Aid Workers in Afghanistan (February 27, 2004)
In 2003, thirteen aid workers were killed in attacks in Afghanistan and eleven so far in 2004. CARE USA Advocacy Director, Kevin Henry, says that the “escalating pattern of fatal attacks on aid workers” demonstrates that the security situation in Afghanistan is not improving. Henry urges the US Coalition and NATO forces to transform their Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) into Provincial Stabilization Teams (PSTs). (CARE USA)Humanitarian Access to Darfur Limited, Despite Sudan’s Claims (February 13, 2004)
The Sudanese government continues to deny international aid agencies access to its war torn Darfur region. Some of these agencies have accused the government of using “what small amounts of food are getting through to advance its war aims.” (Refugees International)UNHCR and NGOs: Competitors or Companions in Refugee Protection? (February 1, 2004)
This Migration Information Source article stresses the importance of a closer collaboration between NGOs and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). As a governmental agency UNHCR’s policies often appear submissive to government wishes. NGOs, on the other hand, can positively advise and influence governments in favor of UNHCR policies.NGO Registration Causes Controversy (January 13, 2004)
The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) now requires all international aid agencies in the country to register. NGOs must now, for example, release detailed financial information and submit activity reports. NGO representatives fear the CPA could exploit the “ambiguous” registration requirements to force NGOs to leave the country. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)
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