International Civil Society Responses To Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

"The aim of this thesis is to look at and understand the way the international community responds to complex humanitarian emergencies, with Rwanda as a case study. It explores the ways in which the international community can play a role in contributing to, or exacerbating the conflict at the centre of the complex humanitarian emergency. In particular the author looks at the importance of civil society and institutions and how they respond to complex humanitarian emergencies. The responses are discussed in terms of various approaches and models, each with a different area of focus, such as power sharing, constitution building, security and poverty. The thesis then examines apporaches that deal with a complex humanitarian emerency overall, such as the 'disaster situation' framework. By placing the case study of Rwanda within the context of the framework, it identifies crucial areas where the international community can potentially exacerbate the conflict. The two major problems in terms of international community responses (while far from the extent of the problems) lie in the way that the international community responds far too late. By not intervening in good time and appropriately before the conflict escalates to a point where genocide can occur, the conflict becomes more complex and requires a more complex and intrusive response. The second is the failure to sufficiently acknowledge the importance of local civil society in the conflict and the important role it plays, particularly where the conflict stems from ethnic, racial, religious, and other such tensions. However, while the international community attitude has changed on paper since the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the situation in Sudan illustrates that there is still a long way to go before it changes sufficiently in practice to deal with conflicts appropriately to avoid further tradgedies such as the Rwandan genocide"--Abstract.

Why Humanitarian Emergencies Occur explores reasons why emergencies have been so substantial in the 1990s. It uses economic analysis, as well as political analysis, to explain the causes of humanitarian emergencies & how failures of democratization & the lack of development of a civil society contribute to an increased incidence of humanitarian emergencies.

A comprehensive, best practices resource for public health and healthcare practitioners and students interested in humanitarian emergencies.

Includes statistics.

This book introduces the four principal sets of institutions that engage in bringing peace and relief to societies mired in violent conflicts and humanitarian crises—the United Nations and other international bodies; non-governmental organizations; civilian government agencies; and militaries. Because these institutions have distinct goals as well as overlapping mandates and activities on the ground, they do not always collaborate effectively, due in part to a lack of familiarity with how the other institutions are organized, make decisions or act on the ground. Despite declining public support for large-scale, state-building missions recently, more complex interagency efforts have evolved in partnership with host country governments. Numerous third parties continue to undertake peacebuilding, stabilization, and humanitarian relief measures around the globe. This book is intended primarily for those serving in the field, but it is also helpful to headquarters personnel and policymakers, as well as military and agency trainees and university students.

This publication contains 18 papers which explore the challenges, posed by states involved in civil conflict, for the UN, individual countries and non-governmental organisations, whether acting as providers of humanitarian assistance or agents of political and social reconstruction. Issues discussed include: the dimensions of state disruption and the roles of the international community in responding to it; military doctrine for dealing with disorder and humanitarian emergencies; mechanisms for ending violence and delivering justice in post-conflict times; problems of rebuilding trust and promoting democracy; reconstitution of the rule of law; and the re-establishment of social and civil order.

Employing a combination of extensive personal experience in Africa, former Soviet Union, Asia and Europe, and field research, interviews and in-depth literature review, this study offers a multi-level analysis of complex emergencies. The unprecedented number of civilians exposed to violence in today's crises has exceeded the bounds of conventional humanitarian assistance in the demands for greater understanding of community level consequences, and for psychological, social and political solutions. In the interdependent post Cold War world, the international community is equivocal about how to respond to this increasing number of internecine conflicts. Using case studies such as Rwanda, Tajikistan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Georgia, Liberia, and Bosnia, this study critiques conventional notions of conflict, disaster and aid, and offers new perspectives in light of today's conditions.

Statement of responsibility from p. [2] of cover.