HUMANITARIAN WORKERS FACE GREAT OBSTACLES, U.N. OFFICIAL SAYS
USIA
22 September 1998
HUMANITARIAN WORKERS FACE GREAT OBSTACLES, U.N. OFFICIAL SAYS
(Number of internally displaced persons increasing) (840)
By Julia Burdsal
USIA Staff Writer
WASHINGTON-- Humanitarian workers worldwide are facing overwhelming
obstacles, as human rights violations soar and the number of
internally displaced persons (IDPs) rises constantly, a United Nations
official warns.
Kevin M. Kennedy, director of the U.N.'s Emergency Liaison Branch,
made that point at a September 21 press briefing at the Brookings
Institute called "Global Hot Spots: Humanitarian Crises Around the
World," while noting that the number of IDP's totals about 20-25
million worldwide.
"Such humanitarian crises have political root causes," Kennedy
stressed. "What we see and what we treat are really the symptoms.
Food, clean water, medicine, shelter -- are only the visible symptoms
of a much larger problem. More than relief aid is needed to protect
people's lives. Humanitarian actions must be part and parcel of
efforts to achieve a lasting peace, provide a secure environment for
the vulnerable and insure respect for human rights."
Members of a panel which discussed global humanitarian problems were
Julia V. Taft, assistant secretary of state for population, refugees
and migration; John C. Andrews, Washington correspondent for The
Economist; Roy W. Gutman, diplomatic correspondent for Newsday; John
P. Prendergast, director of African affairs at the National Security
Council; Lionel A. Rosenblatt, president of Refugees International;
and Roberta Cohen, specialist in human rights issues.
In his remarks, Kennedy presented what he characterized as a
"depressing narrative" of the situations in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DROC), Angola, Sudan, Afghanistan and Kosovo.
In terms of the humanitarian and security situations, the eastern part
of Congo is very difficult, Kennedy said. Most international
organizations have been evacuated from the area, he said, while
cautioning that the operational abilities of those organizations who
remain is severely limited by the looting of vehicles, communication
equipment, and destruction of offices and warehouses.
Humanitarian personnel in the Congo also are fewer because of safety
issues, and the humanitarian situation is steadily deteriorating,
Kennedy stressed.
In Angola, meanwhile, the situation threatens to "spin out of
control," Kennedy warned. He recalled an attack on an humanitarian
convoy which resulted in the death of one driver and the wounding of
seven others. He also pointed to increased military activity this
summer.
"Human consequences are appalling," in Angola, said Kennedy, where
about 60 percent of the population lives below the poverty line and
one-third of all children do not live to see their fifth birthday.
The estimated number of recent IDPs in Angola totals about 225,000,
largely a result of fighting over the last several months. They have
joined an already existing Angolan population of IDPs numbering around
one million, he said, adding that "many have been displaced more than
once in their lives."
"Ironically, all this takes place in a country with potential enormous
wealth in oil and diamonds," he said.
Turning to Sudan, Kennedy noted that in 1998 the Sudanese government
banned humanitarian flights into the southern part of the country.
Relief agencies currently are trying to meet the needs of
approximately 2.6 million people there, he said. The largely airborne
relief effort is anticipated to last into the fall of 1999 at a cost
of about $1 million each day, he said.
"One has to wonder how long such an operation [the relief effort] can
be sustained without a political settlement of some sort," Kennedy
speculated.
Turning to Afghanistan, Kennedy called the situation there
frustrating. "There is a lack of access to populations deliberately
cut off by fighting, and the extremist Taliban movement severely
restricts women and children's access to health care and education,"
he said.
Another speaker, Roy W. Gutman, diplomatic correspondent for Newsday,
said that the main priority in Kosovo is stabilizing population
movements before winter, but he noted that access to populations is
restricted because of fighting. Gutman estimated that about 20 percent
of the population are IDPs. People are fleeing for their lives, he
said, but closed exits prevent IDPs from leaving the country.
"Nothing could happen without (such) international acquiescence,"
Gutman added.
Kennedy pointed to a few actions, which if carried out, would help
humanitarian efforts to conclude so that "people could get on with
their lives."
The first thing would be to strengthen regional organizations, he
said. "It's not a perfect solution, but regional organizations have
made substantial contributions to ensuring peace and stability." The
second thing, Kennedy added, is for the diplomatic engagement of
leading member states in regional problems. Finally, development is
essential, he added. "All too often development gets pushed to the
side" and it is so important to the peace process, he said.
Concluding, Kennedy reminded everyone that humanitarian efforts need
to be part of a larger strategy to resolve what are essentially
political crises.
"Humanitarian assistance, to be effective, must be complimented by
actions from diplomatic, political and security spheres," he stated.
"Without a comprehensive approach, the actions [of humanitarian
agencies worldwide] are analogous to a young boy trying to put out a
fire with a water pistol. It is well-intentioned for sure, but limited
in reach and effect."