The Business of Humanitarian Aid

In her book Crisis Caravan, Linda Polman raises multiple valid questions relating to the purpose of Non-Governmental Organizations, or NGOs, and whether they help or hinder the groups that they target. There are numerous aid groups throughout the world that purport to want to provide assistance to countries and groups of people who are unable to help themselves. However, oftentimes this task is more complicated than it seems. First, these organizations require large amounts of funding in order to operate. This is the main reason that Polman refers to aid organizations as "businesses dressed up like Mother Teresa" (p. 177). Businesses have to start off with money in order to make money. Likewise, NGOs have to receive funding and continue to receive funding in order to continue operating. This seems to put the main focus on raising money than awareness and actual assistance to those in need. Also, it is very common for organizations to have to pay the military and government officials under the table in order to even be allowed into the regions of interest, which actually undermines the assistance that the intended groups need. Furthermore, Polman states that for every dollar donated to these organizations by citizens solicited through sympathy, less than 10 cents often makes contact with those in need.

The main concerns that Linda Polman raises in her book are if and how much humanitarian aid organizations rightfully assist those who live in poverty, in war stricken societies, or under authoritarian regimes. She also suggests that more money goes into bribing than actually helping the citizens. Overall, Polman believes that humanitarian aid actually prolongs wars by rewarding the perpetrators of rebellion and conflict rather than the victims of the crimes. In the article “Does Humanitarian Aid Prolong Wars,” The Guardian writes “Polman maintains that when aid organizations don't actively discriminate, the most likely beneficiaries of war zone operations are the powerful, rather than the most needy. Not only is it the soldiers and militias who are able to levy taxes on aid, cargos and the movement of charity personnel, and to steal or divert funds, it is also these groups and the elites that have best learned the images and triggers that attract aid.” The number of aid groups have skyrocketed just within the last decade, and most of them have very little knowledge about the complexities of offering assistance to those in need.

The media, journalists, public, and governments have to be more honest about humanitarian aid as an industry in order for these groups to operate more effectively. One can easily turn on the television and see a commercial with images of starving children in Africa or soiled children in India and instantly feel extreme sympathy. However, this also may promote indifference within the same instance as the commercial is marketing the impression that all you have to do is donate a dollar and these people will receive help. It is highly misleading and does not educate viewers on the real issues affecting those children in need. Humanitarian aid groups have to be more responsible with the information that is spread, educate its donors, and keep their targeted need groups at the forefront of their initiatives instead of money and visibility. 

Source:
Does Humanitarian Aid Prolong Wars?



Misha Kelly - Blog Post #4