From news reports, the life of MSF volunteers can seem extremely dangerous. Aid workers can be killed by landmines, in accidents, and sometimes even deliberately targeted for violence.
In Iraq, where both the UN and the Red Cross offices were targeted by suicide bombers in 2003, many in the aid community believe that agencies — even the rigorously neutral Red Cross — are being targeted because they're seen as tools of the occupying coalition army. And they believe this image is the result of a deliberate strategy by the US and British governments. When Colin Powell talks about NGOs being "such an important part of our combat team," and Tony Blair says that "this war has three dimensions: the military, the political and the humanitarian one," they reinforce the idea that aid organizations are their partners rather than independent actors.
Governments seeking legitimacy by associating their work with that of aid organizations do so at great potential cost to those who are working for independent humanitarian relief efforts. MSFers tell of places where soldiers have begun adopting the habits of aid workers—driving the same vehicles, dressing in the same style of clothing—leaving aid workers and soldiers indistinguishable to the eyes of local residents.
The experience of seeing disease, corruption and disaster can make the transition back to "normal" life extremely hard for the organization's volunteers. Do you tell people about the horrible things that you've seen or do you spare your friends from the trauma of the gruesome tales? And how do you handle the inevitable "fridge" conversation, where you talk about your experiences in a ravaged landscape and someone follows up by telling you that they bought a new fridge. Many volunteers find that it's easier to be away, easier to be with people who understand, than to try and explain to people who haven't experienced what they have.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
Nice review, on an extremely worthwhile topic. Thanks!