Humanitarianism Is A Complex Task

Leaving the comforts of the first world, Jessica Alexander abandons her job, fiancé, family, and home to venture into the misleading volunteer work of Humanitarian aid. Chasing Chaos: My Decade In and Out of Humanitarian Aid by Jessica Alexander is a conglomeration of stories that are written from Jessica’s memory. “It is a true account based on [Jessica’s] best recollections of the events and [her] experiences.”.

The humanitarian wanted to use government to pass stronger health and safety regulations; they saw science as a means to eradicate poverty and disease, and as professionals they sought to bring social order through the uplifting of the oppressed. They were the champions of educational programs for the immigrant, social welfare programs for the impoverished and improved health care for both. As humanitarians they sought to promote orderliness by investing in America's greatest resource-its children.

Over the recent years the military has had a greater involvement with aid programs, this was most notable from her experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Militarization of aid politicizes it for something that shouldn't be political. As the author believes humanitarian aid needs to exist in a neutral humanitarian space in order to remain its legitimacy and maintain close ties to the community level. From one example mentioned in Damned Nations, during the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, international aid agencies that worked closely with communities showed greater progress and effectiveness (Nutt, 92). In essence this administered a positive attitude towards westerners, and symbolized progress within hostile nations. Aid that is not militarized allows civilians to feel safe access to services and without the fear in putting themselves or their families at risk (Nutt, 92). In comparison military administered aid has proven to lack the same level of trust because civilians inherently become worried about being targeted as collaborators (Nutt, 92). In addition the militarization of aid proves to bring further danger towards humanitarian workers. “Over the past decade, attacks against aid workers have increased 177 percent, with reports of rape, violence, extortion, abduction, and killings” (Nutt, 94). The author states this was reflected from a misjudgment that involving armed militants into

Humanitarian action is what the world turns to in case there is a crisis in any part of the world. But as David Rieff suggests in his book, “A Bed for the Night: Humanitarianism in Crisis,” there is a crisis in the humanitarian world and space. He draws from first personal experience in places like Bosnia, Rwanda and Kosovo to tell how some of the challenges humanitarian organizations face; including their struggle to be neutral and apolitical.

For an organization whose motto is “speed saves lives,” it makes sense that there are a vast array of costs that come with the unique efficiency of MSF. After reading the section of Peter Redfield’s Life in Crisis entitled “Vital Mobility”, I was amazed by what MSF has been able to accomplish. All semester long I have learned of the intricacies of humanitarianism, how nothing is as simple as it seems. Often, I wonder why can’t it be simpler? Why do we let politics get in the way of good? Is there not a more effective way of helping distant strangers? Redfield’s focus on the mobility and efficiency of MSF seems to counteract how the rest of the humanitarian world works. No other organization can “[boast] of its ability to mobilize emergency aid to almost any part of the planet within forty-eight hours” (71). In no other way is foreign aid made to look so simple. MSF’s focus on efficiency, their

In 1997 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, MSF fights for access to Rwandan refugees and denounces massacres and human rights violations by North Korea. In the same year in Afghanistan, MSF teams in Kabul are fighting for the law that prevents women from accessing health

The Doctors without Borders organization was founded in 1971 in Paris due to the efforts of French doctors that originally worked for the Red Cross in Biafra during its civil war. The doctors were frustrated by the treatment of the Nigerian Troops’ to aid workers. Thus, upon returning to France, some doctors broke their contracts with the Red Cross and began to provide humanitarian aid not in conjunction with the regulations of the Red Cross. The doctors were firm believers that, “all people should have the right to medical care and that the needs of these people supersede respect for national borders” (MSF, 2001). During the same time period, a group of French journalists were trying to focus the attention of the world to people who were struggling and dying from natural disasters in countries like Iran and Afghanistan. These journalists believed that French doctors should help out with these natural disasters. In conjunction with the journalists, the doctors formed Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Starting from 1971, they have had a huge impact in helping shape history. A major event in the history of Doctors without Borders was helping

The debate of humanitarian intervention and the responsibility to protect have been discussed in international relations discourse more seriously within the last 60 years. The major historical developments which have led to an increase in the intensity of these debates have had beneficial and detrimental effects on Earth within the last 20 years. Several factors have contributed to this including; globalization, the rise in international accountability, an increase humanitarian consciousness to prevent major atrocities from occurring, the expansion of territorial to global responsibility of the western world, and the realization of the western world that regional sovereignty no longer accounts for national security. To develop an opinion

The goals of these doctors are, to always be their for those who are in need of medical help. Most of the MSF’s projects are in conflict zones. In these places people can’t get the urgent health care that they need. This allows MSF to work in places other organizations

Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is an excellent organization that provides doctors to people all over the world that cannot afford medical help. Our company was founded by Bernard Kouchner in May of 1968 after Paritian upheavals. The US Board of Directors is run by John Lawrence. http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/about-us/msf-leadership/us-board-directors Since then, our goal has been to provide a new concept of international aid and we have definitely worked to fulfill that goal. MSF has continually been trying to help families in Syria, as it has provided 128 families with non-food item kits like hygiene and winter supplies. As of December 15th, MSF has focused on main hospitals and has sent at least 23 cubic meters

The key objections to humanitarian intervention include the conflict of interests with the self-interested state and sovereignty, the difficulty of internal legitimacy, the problematical Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, and the debate over legality of intervention. The issue of morality stands as an overarching issue which touches on all of these. Overall, one finds that despite a moral imperative to intervene, humanitarian intervention should not occur but is perhaps the lesser of a series of evils.

Human rights violations occur all around the world on a daily basis. Despite the Universal declaration of human rights (UDHR) to safeguard the rights of all human beings, some states are still dragging their feet to implement the basic rights their citizens are entitled to. So, to advocate for people whose rights have been denied, many Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have taken upon themselves to work and promote social and political change. These NGOs play an important part in improving communities, and advocating for citizen participation. In that sense, Doctors without borders, mostly known as Medecins sans Fontieres (MSF), has gained a lot of praise for its work for helping people in need, and acting as an instrument of reducing poverty worldwide.

Although volunteers for Medecins Sans Frontiers are commonly stationed in various countries with a dire healthcare worker shortage, regions with refugee camps and internally displaced persons are also a focus for this organization. Refugees and internally displaced persons often come from war torn regions and live in close confines with poor sanitation and limited resources. These living situations become a breeding ground for diseases and other health issues like malnutrition, yet the individuals lack access to any sort of healthcare. The organization also responds quickly when regions suddenly experience an increased need for healthcare, for example in times of an epidemic or a natural disaster. Medecins Sans Frontiers’ involvement across its varying regions and their attempt to address a broad spectrum of healthcare truly show how altruistic the organization is to individuals regardless of race, gender, or religion.

TYPE A PROJECT--MSF is a neutral and impartial humanitarian organization that aims first and foremost to provide high-quality medical care to the people who need it the most. It does not promote the agenda of any country, political party, or religious faith, and, as such, endeavors to communicate its history, background, and capabilities to all parties in a given situation so that it may gain the necessary access to populations in need..On any given day, more than 30,000 doctors, nurses, logisticians, water-and-sanitation experts, administrators, and other qualified professionals working with MSF can be found providing medical care around the world..In 2012, MSF medical teams carried out more than 8.3 million outpatient consultations; delivered more than 185,000 babies; treated more than 1.6 million people for malaria; treated nearly 350,000 severely and moderately malnourished children; provided some 284,000 people living with HIV/AIDS with antiretroviral therapy; conducted more than 78,000 surgeries, and vaccinated 690,000 against measles and 496,000 against meningitis

Since 1979, Mercy Corps has responded to Global disasters, whether it’s a natural disaster, economy failure or corruption. Mercy Corps is there as a global aid to assist with shelter, food, and water. Over the years, they have provided aid for over 40 countries and try to help them build stronger communities. We believe secure, productive and just societies emerge when the private, public, and civil society sectors are able to interact with accountability, inclusive participation and mechanisms for peaceful change. The vision statement serves its purpose because it illustrates what they want to see happen by getting others to get involved to make a difference.