Introduction
In a world plagued by conflicts, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises, we often turn to aid organizations as beacons of hope. These organizations promise to alleviate suffering and bring relief to those in dire need. But what if the reality of humanitarian aid is far more complex and problematic than we imagine?
Linda Polman's "Crisis Caravan" takes a deep dive into the world of humanitarian aid, exposing its dark underbelly and challenging our assumptions about its effectiveness. This eye-opening book forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about the aid industry and question whether our well-intentioned donations are truly making a difference.
The Commercialization of Humanitarian Aid
One of the most startling revelations in "Crisis Caravan" is how modern aid organizations have strayed from their original principles. The book traces the roots of humanitarian aid to the founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1863. The ICRC established core principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence that were meant to guide all humanitarian efforts.
However, Polman argues that today's aid organizations often fail to uphold these principles. Instead, they have become commercial enterprises, more focused on securing donor contracts and competing with each other than on providing effective aid.
The Rwandan Genocide: A Case Study in Misguided Aid
To illustrate this point, Polman delves into the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In this horrific event, Hutus slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Tutsis. When Tutsi forces fought back, many Hutus fled to neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, where they set up refugee camps in Goma.
What happened next was a stark example of how aid can go wrong. Over 250 aid organizations descended on Goma, providing food, shelter, and medical care to the refugees. However, these camps became strategic centers for armed Hutu forces, who used them to continue their campaign of violence against Tutsis.
The aid organizations were aware of this situation but failed to maintain neutrality. Instead, they effectively sided with the Hutus by continuing to provide aid without addressing the underlying issues. This case study highlights how the competition for donor funding can lead aid organizations to compromise their principles and potentially exacerbate conflicts.
The Abuse of Humanitarian Aid in Conflict Zones
Polman's book reveals how warring factions often manipulate and abuse humanitarian aid for their own purposes. This abuse takes various forms and creates significant challenges for aid organizations trying to operate in conflict zones.
Negotiating with Armed Groups
In many crisis areas, aid organizations must negotiate with armed groups to gain access to those in need. These negotiations often involve compromises that can undermine the effectiveness of aid and even indirectly support violent actors.
For example, after the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka, Caritas International had to negotiate with the Tamil Tigers, a guerilla force seeking independence, to carry out reconstruction efforts. The Tigers imposed a 25% tax on all building materials imported by Caritas, effectively using the aid to fund their operations.
Similarly, during the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) had to surrender 30% of their aid supplies to armed Serb forces at roadblocks. These examples show how aid can inadvertently fuel conflicts instead of alleviating suffering.
The Problem of Refugee Warriors
Another significant issue highlighted in "Crisis Caravan" is the phenomenon of refugee warriors. These are fighters who hide out in refugee camps, using them as bases for regrouping and launching attacks. Polman estimates that refugee warriors make up 15-20% of the total population in refugee camps worldwide.
This situation creates a dangerous environment for civilian refugees, who become human shields and "aid bait" for these armed groups. In Sudan, for instance, rebel refugee warriors used camps in Ethiopia as strategic points for fighting against their government, putting civilian refugees at risk and complicating aid efforts.
The Politics of Aid Distribution
Polman's book reveals that the distribution of humanitarian aid is far from impartial. Instead, it's often influenced by political considerations, media attention, and the self-interest of aid organizations.
The Aid Lottery
The author compares receiving international aid to winning a lottery, where only one out of 25 equally desperate groups can receive help each week. This analogy underscores the arbitrary nature of aid distribution and the fact that many crises go unaddressed.
Aid organizations often choose which crises to focus on based on their own cost-benefit analysis. They're more likely to invest in regions that attract more donors, which typically means areas that receive more media attention. This creates a vicious cycle where certain crises are overexposed while others are neglected.
The PR Battle for Aid
As a result of this dynamic, countries in crisis areas are now forced to engage in PR battles to gain international attention and support. Polman cites the example of Palestine, where press officers are employed specifically to highlight the plight of the people and attract aid.
This situation raises serious ethical questions about how aid is allocated and whether it truly reaches those most in need.
Media Manipulation by Aid Organizations
"Crisis Caravan" exposes how aid organizations often manipulate media coverage to gain attention for their missions and increase donations. This manipulation takes various forms and can lead to distorted perceptions of crises.
Exaggeration of Crises
Polman provides a striking example of this manipulation during the cholera outbreak in the Goma refugee camps following the Rwandan genocide. Aid organizations began competing to present the highest death tolls, causing the official number of daily deaths to skyrocket from 600 to around 3,000.
This exaggeration was driven by the need for media attention, which translates into more donations. However, it also distorted the reality of the situation and diverted attention from other important issues, such as the ongoing violence within the camps.
Influencing Journalists
The book also reveals how aid organizations cultivate cozy relationships with journalists to ensure favorable coverage. They often provide free flights, expensive chauffeurs, and interpreters to journalists, embedding them in their missions to witness the suffering firsthand.
While this approach may seem benign, it compromises journalistic neutrality and can lead to biased reporting. Journalists who develop close ties with aid organizations may be less likely to critically examine their work or report on their failures.
The Problem of Unqualified Aid Workers
One of the most concerning issues raised in "Crisis Caravan" is the prevalence of unqualified amateurs in humanitarian missions. Polman introduces the concept of "My Own NGOs" or MONGOs, which are small, often amateur-run organizations that attempt to provide fast and cheap aid.
The Rise of MONGOs
The author argues that the well-publicized failures of major aid organizations have led some individuals to believe they can do a better job on their own. These MONGOs often lack the experience, resources, and cultural understanding necessary to provide effective aid.
For example, Polman cites religious American MONGOs in Afghanistan that distributed Bibles along with meals, creating tensions with the Islamic Afghan government. Such actions can exacerbate conflicts and undermine the overall aid effort.
Lack of Accountability
Perhaps most troubling is the lack of accountability for these amateur aid efforts. Polman points out that there are no laws regulating the quality of humanitarian aid, leaving crisis victims unprotected against well-intentioned but potentially harmful interventions.
The author provides a poignant example from Sierra Leone, where MONGOs and private individuals took child amputees away from their families under the guise of providing better medical treatment abroad. In reality, these children were already receiving appropriate care in the camp, and their removal caused unnecessary trauma.
The Failure of Aid in Post-9/11 Afghanistan
Polman dedicates significant attention to the humanitarian aid efforts in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks, using it as a case study of how aid can fail on a massive scale.
The Problem of Intermediaries
One of the main issues identified is the use of multiple intermediaries in aid projects. Organizations often subcontract smaller groups to carry out their work, and these groups may subcontract again. Each intermediary takes a cut of the funding, leaving less money for the actual project.
Polman cites a USAID project to build a road from Kabul to Kandahar. After passing through several intermediaries, each taking 6-20% of the funding, there was only enough money left to build a low-quality road that was barely an improvement on what it replaced.
Lack of Supervision
The book also highlights how fear of terrorist attacks leads aid organizations to keep their projects secret and avoid on-site supervision. This lack of oversight creates opportunities for funds to be misspent or diverted.
The Blurring of Military and Humanitarian Objectives
Another significant problem in Afghanistan is the blurring of lines between Western military strategy and humanitarian aid. Aid organizations are expected to act as "force multipliers," supporting military objectives alongside their humanitarian work.
This politicization of aid has made aid workers targets for groups like the Taliban, forcing them to seek military protection and further blurring the lines between aid and military operations. The result is a vicious cycle that compromises the neutrality and effectiveness of humanitarian efforts.
The Need for Critical Examination of Humanitarian Aid
In the final sections of "Crisis Caravan," Polman argues for a more critical approach to humanitarian aid. She believes that blind adherence to the principle of giving aid at any cost can lead to disastrous consequences.
Learning from Past Mistakes
The author points to the Red Cross's cooperation with Nazi Germany during World War II as a prime example of how strict adherence to principles of neutrality and impartiality can lead to tragic mistakes. The Red Cross knew about the Holocaust but remained silent, fearing that speaking out would cost them access to Nazi-controlled territories.
Polman argues that we must learn from such mistakes and be willing to question the core values of humanitarian work when necessary.
The Need for Transparency and Accountability
The book calls for greater transparency in humanitarian aid efforts. While many organizations promise to learn and improve with each campaign, Polman notes that there's often no coherent means of assessing their performance.
She cites the Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP), founded in 1997 to address this issue. However, after 11 years of monitoring, ALNAP concluded that humanitarian aid work still lacked effective accountability measures.
The Role of Journalism
Polman sees a crucial role for journalists in improving humanitarian aid. She argues that journalists must resist the benefits offered by aid organizations and maintain their neutrality. By providing critical, unbiased coverage of aid efforts, journalists can help hold organizations accountable and drive improvements in the sector.
Conclusion: A Call for Informed Giving
"Crisis Caravan" concludes with a sobering assessment of the state of humanitarian aid and a call for change. Polman argues that we need to fundamentally rethink how aid work is carried out, moving away from the current model of commercial enterprises competing for donations and media attention.
The author emphasizes the need for better organization, more accountability, and a willingness to critically examine the impact of aid efforts. She calls for protection for the victims of unqualified aid and a reevaluation of how we respond to humanitarian crises.
Ultimately, "Crisis Caravan" is a wake-up call for anyone who has ever donated to a humanitarian cause. It challenges us to look beyond the heart-wrenching images and emotional appeals and ask hard questions about where our money goes and what it actually achieves.
The book doesn't argue against humanitarian aid altogether but rather for a more thoughtful, critical approach to giving. Polman encourages readers to research organizations thoroughly before donating, to understand where their money will go, and to make informed decisions about their charitable giving.
By shining a light on the complex realities of humanitarian aid, "Crisis Caravan" aims to spark a conversation about how we can do better. It's a challenging read that forces us to confront uncomfortable truths, but it's also an important one. As global crises continue to unfold, the lessons from this book become ever more relevant.
In the end, Polman's message is clear: if we truly want to help those in need, we must be willing to critically examine our methods and constantly strive for improvement. Only by facing the hard truths about humanitarian aid can we hope to create a system that truly serves those it aims to help.