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Can Aid Ever Be Neutral Or Impartial Essay

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Can aid ever be neutral or impartial? Should it? Founded by Henri Dunant in 1863, the International Red Cross movement forms one of the oldest and the largest humanitarian movements in the world. In principle, like many other humanitarian organisations, it is impartial, neutral and independent (“Who We Are”, 2017). Modern humanitarian organizations have largely been born out of waror battles (SLIM, 1996) and humanitarian action seems to ensue military action. While aid in principle should be impartial and neutral, foreign policy is not. Aid inevitably is often inseparable from international politics. Aid, although a humanitarian gesture by nature, is often forced to be selective, choosing to target its limited resources firstly to those who can benefit and be saved, and putting aside for later those who may not have hope (DE WAAL, 2010).Aid itself isvolatile and limited, …show more content…

After the tsunami in Indonesia,among the hurdles that had to be crossed were the safety of the aid workers, mobility and ability to reach the most affected areas, and working in the same geographical space alongside thousands of other foreign humanitarian workers (SMIRL, 2008). In many ways, the work of aid workers and what soldiers do can draw parallels (SLIM, 1996), as both are connected by their opposite roots in war.That is not to say that they are alike. While soldiers may find it acceptable to carry out humanitarian work, aid workers and agencies do not find it morally right to be militaristic and violent. However, the common agenda that follows in the wake of war is an area that has potential for discussion and coordination between the military and humanitarian agencies. Many humanitarian agencies make an effort to remain neutral, but the reality on the ground and the reality of global politics often renders that impossible. Humanitarian organizations often make choices about where to draw the line of

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