The ICRC in Complex Emergencies: An Outsider or Part of a Team?

Abstract

Cooperation and the coordination of humanitarian and military activities in areas of conflict are extremely topical. Meetings, workshops, conferences and symposia gather representatives from governments, international organisations, NGOs and other collectivities interested in ‘doing something’ to relieve the suffering of innocent people. Everyone wants to be ‘humanitarian’ and is motivated to contribute his own stone to the building of a more peaceful world — according to personal or institutional ideas, interests and short- or long-term goals. Although the final aim of the endeavour might be clear in the minds of the involved actors, what is often not so clear is the way to reach this noble goal. What is not clear either is what makes the people, organisations and governments act, the drive behind this attractive ‘humanitarian screen’. It is now essential to stand beneath the banner of ‘human rights’ and it is fashionable to be ‘humanitarian’. Politicians and governments that want to be admitted to and respected in the international community (and increasingly also in the domestic arena) have to be champions of human rights — at least nominally. But human rights, international humanitarian law, democracy, peace, cooperation, solidarity and other fine principles, values and ideals are used in many different ways and contexts and for so many different purposes. Although peace is what everybody needs, the needs of everybody are not necessarily peaceful.