Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Guest Writers

Let the experts deliver aid to Iraq

byStaff writers
15 June 2003
Reading Time: 3 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

REGARDLESS of your opinion on the war in Iraq, it is difficult to argue against the great need for granting humanitarian aid to the people of Iraq.

The coalition forces have promised it; the UN demands it; but how do we distribute it?

This has become a much debated topic lately, as the inefficiency and inexperience of military troops in handing out aid becomes evident and humanitarian organisations become reluctant to step in, refusing to participate in the effort unless they can do so completely disassociated with the military.

Military or civilian, affiliated with a coalition government or not, what is the difference so long as the aid gets out, right?

Not quite. Nobody doubts the expertise of the United Nations and its affiliated non-governmental organisations in distributing humanitarian aid. But its demand that the distribution of aid be a strictly civilian affair, to be completely disassociated with the military, is an important one.

The primary reason for this demand is a matter of trust; how can a civilian organisation win the trust of the local population and convince them that the aid is being distributed impartially, in a non-judgmental way, and that nothing is required of recipients in return?

An association with coalition troops ‘ or even with a particular country ‘ is a red flag to the local people that the aid is being distributed with political interests in mind. Pride or strong beliefs may prevent some Iraqis from accepting the aid if they see it as coming from the enemy’s camp, and the presence of heavily armed soldiers among the aid workers may scare away the very people whom often need aid the most, women and children.

Another very important consideration is the safety of the humanitarian aid workers. Distribution of aid in a war zone is hazardous enough. If these workers are travelling with and distributing supplies alongside the military, this now also makes them a fair target for attack.

Just as many journalists have died or been injured while travelling with troops, aid workers who are forced to work with the military would find themselves in the same precarious situation.

Finally there is the matter of efficiency in distribution. Throwing bottles of water off the back of a truck into a crowd of desperate people does not constitute successful (nor humane) distribution of aid.

Related Stories

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Experienced workers must be allowed to go into the war-torn areas, perform assessments to determine what the people truly need, and then, upon receiving the necessary supplies, distribute them in a humane and professional manner that ensures everything is allocated fairly.

Civilian humanitarian organisations are experts at this, with missions based on disaster recovery and emergency relief. Requiring these organisations to work with the coalition forces would result in a number of unnecessary road blocks to distributing aid.

Security fears might preclude Iraqi nationals from participating in the distribution of aid, a highly unfortunate consequence as many humanitarian organisations build trust and credibility among the local people by employing highly capable nationals to actively participate in local relief efforts.

Security concerns or hostility towards coalition troops may also limit an organisation’s access to certain parts of the country, preventing aid from reaching all who might need it.

Finally, humanitarian organisations that must align with the military will be required to answer to coalition governments on how and to whom aid is distributed, most likely resulting in bureaucracy and politics interfering with the quick and efficient distribution of aid.

The distribution of aid to Iraq is an important issue that needs immediate resolution, as the Iraqi people need the aid now.

Simply sending over food and water will not solve the problem. Supplies must be distributed quickly, efficiently and impartially to ensure that all Iraqis who are in need of aid receive it.

If the coalition forces sincerely wish to avoid a major war-provoked humanitarian crisis in Iraq, it is time for these governments’ leaders to step back and let the experts in. Leave the distribution of the aid up to the humanitarians.

Bea Przybysz is a member of the Augustinian Volunteer Program and assists in the work of St Augustine’s NGO (Non-Government Organisation) which is accredited with the United Nations. She lives in New York City. The opinions expressed in this article are her own, and are not meant to represent the views of the Augustinian NGO as a whole.

[divider]

ShareTweet
Previous Post

THE MATRIX RELOADED – High Energy Action

Next Post

Eileen’s 100th birthday bash

Staff writers

Related Posts

News

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

23 May 2022
Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition
QLD

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Next Post

Eileen's 100th birthday bash

Funding cuts hit prison ministry

Fighting child prostitution

Popular News

  • From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fr Liam receives bravery medal after shark attack rescue

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

News

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

by Mark Bowling
23 May 2022
0

ANTHONY Albanese, a self-described cultural Catholic, has been sworn in as Australia’s 31st prime minister today, after...

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Catholic relationship advisers offer five tips to look after your mental health

Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

19 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping