Canadian Consortium on Human Security
January 2007 I Vol.5, Issue 1
The Delivery of Humanitarian Assistance in Afghanistan: A Human Security Dilemma for Canada
Dear Reader,
CCHS presents a new version of the Human Security Bulletin. The current edition looks at the militarization of the delivery of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan and the human security challenges this poses for Canada.
Today in Afghanistan, Canada finds itself in a dilemma. The Canadian government defines its mission as a “whole of government” approach through the combined 3D (Defense, Diplomacy and Development) paradigm. However, key NGOs are objecting to the delivery of assistance by the military to the point of refusing to work with them in the areas they occupy. But at the same time, NGOs and groups with humanitarian aid delivery mandates are dependent on both the foreign and local military for protection. Moreover, in keeping with the 3D approach, the military very much want to be seen to be providing assistance to engage the local population.
In this edition of the Bulletin, we take up this issue with editorials from leading scholars that expose various points of view. The debate is a complicated one as several of the leading international NGOs in Afghanistan now operate with multiple mandates. The result is that they face serious dilemmas as to the nature of their role with respect to the government, the foreign military and donors, as Lara Olson points out. François Audet of CARE Canada places Canadian policy in Afghanistan in a larger context while reminding us that the intervention is still in an experimental stage. Whereas field research by Norine MacDonald of the Senlis Council indicates that “the level of human suffering in the region has in fact increased as a direct consequence of the military campaigns conducted by Canadian soldiers”, Arne Strand cautions that NGOs have much to do in “informing Afghans of their intentions and programmes and to stick to the promises made”. Finally, Cheshmak Farhoumand-Sims sets up an interesting comparison of the negative effects of the militarization of aid with traditional post-conflict initiatives.
We have also provided a brief background to the human security implications of the involvement of the military in the delivery of aid. What is more, CCHS has compiled an annotated list of the most recent and relevant reports, analysis, and data sets on the issue of military involvement in the delivery of aid in Afghanistan.
This issue also includes a new section citing a few key human security events and publications. Of particular note is the pilot launch of the Afghanistan section of the online web resource, Peace Operations Monitor, a project of the Peace Operations Working Group of the Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee (CPCC). This project maps out the Canadian mission in Afghanistan where the new models of military-humanitarian relationships known as Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) have created much debate and controversy.
CCHS is grateful to the contributors for providing their thoughts and research to this edition of the Human Security Bulletin. Special thanks go to Cameron Ortis of the Centre for International Relations and Robert Hartfiel of the Human Security Centre for sharing their invaluable ideas with us.
We hope you enjoy this edition of the Bulletin and welcome your feedback.
Mrinalini Menon
