Mmegi

Consequences of humanitarian aid in war zones

Humanitarian action has evolved, even before Henry Dunant started the International Red Cross movement. In its early stages, humanitarian aid was provided to alleviate suffering and save lives, upholding the principles of humanitarian action, including humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

These principles were established so that humanitarian action would be separate from politics and could not be politicised. Over time, another approach emerged from Woodrow Wilson, who believed that humanitarian aid in disaster and conflict crises could not be short-term assistance alone.

In 1990, humanitarian organisations began to direct humanitarian action towards resolving the root causes of a crisis, bringing action into the process of transformation and politics (Barnett, 2005). This kind of action is expected to bring society into a state of positive peace, so that reforms are needed in each field to prevent similar crises from occurring by entering the realm of politics and development.

Editor's Comment
Kudos to Botswana Police Service, other security entities

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing.”– Theodore RooseveltThrough the two-day event, over 700 athletes from 40 countries, and multitudes of spectators gathered in Gaborone to witness a world-class sporting spectacle.Beyond the medals and performances on the track, Botswana won something equally important: international respect. One of the key pillars behind the success was the sterling work done by the...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up