By April Naturale, PBB CEO
Historically, Humanitarian Aid workers and others, like journalists, who go into high-risk areas affected by disaster and war have been somewhat protected. While there certainly were some accidents and a few isolated incidents of being targeted by terrorists, these groups were untouched–allowed to move into affected areas to provide health care, food and shelter, a shoulder to cry on and emotional support. The legal basis for protection of humanitarian workers in conflicts is contained in the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the related Protocol of 1977.
Such protection, while still the legal ruling, seems to no longer be the case on the ground. A scheduled training by Psychology Beyond Borders for the aid workers in the Central African Republic was canceled earlier this year as the country was no longer safe for those bringing much needed help. Aid workers in Darfur have been attacked, detained and arrested while entire organizations have been expelled from the country.
Just as the U.S. was shocked by the murder of almost 3,000 civilians in the terrorist attacks of 2001, many countries continue to see such incidents in public places. The bombing in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday, July 17th was the first the area has seen in over three years. Still, it’s shocking.
The building next to the Australian Embassy in Jakarta affected by the bombing.
A doctoral student from the University of California, Irvine, acting as a volunteer for Psychology Beyond Borders, was actually scheduled to depart from the Jakarta airport that morning. Because we needed her to bring medical equipment into Yogyakarta and it was easier to have our University of Sanata Dharma partners meet her there, her flight was changed to leave directly out of Yogya. How fortunate is she?
Humanitarian aid workers, researchers, our colleagues in the fields of public health and journalism. We have new and serious considerations to make when engaging in international work. Natural disasters and terrorism are on the rise. Armed conflicts continue to threaten many nations. Our work is needed more than ever.
How do we protect ourselves when the Geneva Conventions aren’t even being adhered to?
Are agencies seeing fewer workers and volunteers willing to enter high-risk areas? Do we need to change our policies about volunteers vs. staffs and begin integrating security staffs into our budgets? (As if we could!)
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