Mennonite
Central
Committee

Erosion of trust, effectiveness feared as military adopts humanitarian role

Gladys Terichow
April 3, 2006

Having the Canadian military combine military, diplomatic and humanitarian activities in Afghanistan could compromise the effectiveness of Canadian humanitarian agencies elsewhere, says an international development worker in Winnipeg.

Humanitarian agencies working in conflict situations want to be perceived by local people as independent agencies that provide impartial assistance to all people affected by the conflict, said Willie Reimer, coordinator of the MCC Canada Food Disaster Material Resource department.

"We strive for independence, impartiality and neutrality," said Reimer, who worked in Sudan and East Africa, 1986-1995.

"Our agenda is determined by the needs of the people. At the heart of our assistance is our involvement with local people. We don't independently implement programs. We work in partnership with local people to assist them to get to a place where they can have a say in their future."

MCC's Assistance

Working in collaboration with a number of non-government organizations in Afghanistan, MCC has provided $7.9 million Cdn./$6.8 million U.S. assistance since 1996. This assistance includes shipments of wheat, beans, lentils, canned meat, blankets and school kits.

MCC assistance also includes working with local partners to rehabilitate underground water streams, helping widows find a source of income and promoting health care. "We walk hand-in-hand with our local partners as they bring hope to the people," said Reimer.

Damaging Canada's international reputation as peacekeepers

Reimer, who has a masters degree in peace studies, said Canada's integrated mission in Afghanistan is not only damaging Canada's international reputation as peacekeepers, it also affects the work of MCC and other Canadian humanitarian agencies.

"Combining humanitarian and military activities blurs the lines. It changes how we are seen and how we are accepted, not only in Afghanistan but also in the rest of the world."

The challenge for MCC, he added, is to maintain a clearly articulated identity as a faith based agency that chooses to build long-term and trusting relationships with people living in communities experiencing war and social disruptions.

"It is important to work with all people affected by conflict—those in areas controlled by the government and also those in areas controlled by non-government forces."

"The peace agenda should be driven by the countries in the region"

His experiences with wars in Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Rwanda helped him appreciate the role that MCC and other international organizations can play in the peace process. "Those directly affected by the conflict must be allowed to participate in mitigating the conflict," he said, explaining the role of international development agencies is supporting local organizations as "friends of the peace process" but the "peace agenda should be driven by the countries in the region."

Separating army and humanitarian roles

Military forces, meanwhile, have a political agenda that undermines the values of impartiality, working with local partners and helping local people take ownership of the conflict and peace processes.

"The military is trained to provide security—that's their job, that's their training," he explained. "In extreme circumstances it may be necessary for a foreign military to combine active combat and humanitarian assistance but as a general rule it is best to separate the activities of the army and humanitarian agencies.

"The motives of a foreign military are clearly questioned when they get involved in humanitarian work."

 

Gladys Terichow is an MCC writer