The irony of wars and humanity

Humanitarian heroes

Today is World Humanitarian Day - a day where the humanitarian sector celebrates itself by celebrating the people who has lost their lives in their effort to render support in some of the worst crisis in the world.

Today is also the day where a friend of mine has told me, that one of her colleagues is threatened with being fired for refusing to go back to a conflict zone until the organisation has proper security measures in place (the same conflict zone where she was recently caught in a cross fire...).

Somehow the irony is overwhelming.

I do recognise the fact that the people who accept to work in some of the world’s most dangerous contexts like Somalia, Iraq, Syria etc (very time contextual – in 6 months these might have been very different examples), are taking immense risk and giving up on a number of ‘comforts’ that most people who enjoy them daily don’t even think about.

But this is only recognised, because they have the choice. If I was a Somali woman born in Baidoa – my life would have been war. I would not have had a choice; I would be in a context where the comforts of other parts of the world are unknown.

So what makes a humanitarian hero – the choice? If I chose to go and work in Somalia I potentially become a humanitarian hero, as I chose to risk my life on a daily basis… Yes I would do so in an effort to right some of the many wrongs that is otherwise taking place in that and many other countries.

The wars of the world

The wars of the world, is contrary to what is often reported in mainstream media, not secluded to a confined geographical area. The wars of the world are global. They might physically be taking place in CAR, Somalia, Afghanistan or a fourth country, but that is the least part of it. Wars are an instrument of money and power, and the tools to gain the two are human beings.

So in my thinking - Humanitarian heroes are, in fact, people who have made an active choice to partake in trying to correct some of the wrongs we are doing – all simultaneously. It is even highly likely that we are using the same money we made of this conflict, in trying to ‘help’ the people who have fallen victim to it.

Again the Irony is profound.

Cynicism and principle

I do not mean to be cynical about this. I do really respect the work of so many people on the ground fighting, to improve the lives of those with less fortune, on a daily basis. But it is a choice and it is the right thing to do. Even if I am not actively handing out guns or mines to the fights of the conflict, I am possibly investing in the manufacturing of these through my bank, or my governments investment policies. That makes me a stakeholder, and thereby I have to take responsibility. This doesn’t mean however I should throw myself in front of a bullet any given day  - how can I help anybody if I am dead?! But it does mean I have to take a stand and take part in righting the wrong I am partaking in (possibly without knowing, because I have decided that ignorance makes me happy and content).

It boils down to principle. If I do something wrong I should try, to the best of my abilities, to rectify the mistake. Does that make “me” a hero, in the commercial understanding of the word– no it makes me a righteous human being- Which actually in turn might mean ‘hero’ as it seems not to be the way of the world to do what is right.

In most conflicts or disasters help comes first from those who are closest. Several studies (incl the Local to global) have shown that, yes humanitarian agencies provide aid – but they are rarely the first ones to take action. They don’t throw themselves in the middle of a fight to try to end it and protect the innocent victims. What they do is to step in as soon as possible after the damage is done, and make an effort to help those who fell victim. That is very different from how people in the context react, both in terms of action, but also in terms of timeline. How effective is an emergency response if the application process and approval takes 3 months? Just wondering…

I do believe we should honour the Humanitarian heroes – all of them; the refugees, the internally displaced, the children, the elderly and also of course the humanitarian workers. And I must admit – I am proud to know quite a number of people I would qualify as humanitarian heroes.

Happy Humanitarian day.