Polish aid

The United Nations call them ‘real life heroes’ (#RealLifeHeros). Humanitarians, as we can name humanitarian aid workers, have something in common with the Good Samaritan of the biblical parable. Alike their ancient predecessors, modern humanitarians will not pass by someone in need.

They help victims of natural disasters and catastrophes, wars, conflicts, and persecution. They run refugee camps, provide food, build shelters, teach, cure, and support the most needy.

It is a human being that is at the centre of their interest, regardless of which side he or she represents, which religion he or she practices, or which nationality he or she is. Humanitarian aid ethics is based on impartiality and neutrality as well as on the rule “First, do not harm”.

The fate of hundreds of millions of people depends on their work, commitment, and dedication.

In 2019 alone, thanks to humanitarian aid, it was possible to vaccinate almost 29 million children against measles, almost 7 million malnourished children and pregnant women were provided with medical care, and 32 million – with access to clean water. Over 71 million refugees and internally displaced persons could obtain shelter, food, and means of subsistence.

According to the UN’s predictions of the early 2020, as much as 168 million people were in need of humanitarian aid this year – the record figure for many decades. It means that every 45th person in the world can survive solely thanks to such assistance. In Yemen only, nearly 80% of the population, i.e. 24 million inhabitants, needs help. There are other ongoing humanitarian crises in Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Venezuela, or Haiti.

The UN has estimated that its humanitarian aid alone will cost USD 28 billion. However, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, these numbers became outdated and real needs increased dramatically.

At present, another nine countries had to turn to the UN for assistance (apart from the 54 that have already done it), and several dozen million people have been left with nothing to live on as a result of implementing restrictions and limiting economic activity. According to the World Bank, 40-60 million people were again forced into extreme poverty, which means they will have to survive for less than the equivalent of USD 1.9 per day. The World Food Programme estimates that the number of people who cannot meet their dietary needs will be doubled to reach 265 million. In its turn, UNICEF sounded a warning that additional 6 thousand children can die every day from illnesses that cannot be prevented, which is due to the fact that regular vaccination programme was suspended, whereas cases of measles, cholera, or other diseases became to spread fast.

The pandemic made the humanitarian aid even more needed, and at the same time, more dangerous. The humanitarian aid workers take actions on the frontline of the fight against the virus, often in conditions where neither proper hygiene standards, nor a social distance can be kept. Nevertheless, never has their mission been easy.

Every year, the number of humanitarian aid workers who suffer while helping others grows. In 2019, 483 aid workers were harmed in 277 separate attacks, including 125 who lost their lives, 234 were wounded, and 124 – abducted. Ten years earlier, in 2010, the number of attacks was halved (130 incidents), similarly, the number of affected (250 persons), and killed (73 persons). Most victims – nearly 90% – are local staff. The most dangerous places to provide assistance in 2019 were Syria, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Yemen, and Mali. In 2009, the UN announced 19 August the World Humanitarian Day to honour those who paid the ultimate price for their mission. On this day in 2003, 22 people perished in a bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, a Brazilian diplomat and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq.

Also in Poland more and more individuals and organisations are becoming involved in humanitarian aid. NGOs’ staff, volunteers, Polish missionaries, paramedics and physicians use the governmental funds, private means and public fundraising to deliver support to the most remote places on Earth. Thus, they prove their solidarity with the most vulnerable ones and responsibility for the common fate of mankind.

In 2019, Polish authorities donated PLN 65.3 million for humanitarian aid. Most of the funds were transferred to the victims of war and refugees who fled Syria to neighbouring countries (Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq). Of the amount, PLN 40 million was contributed to the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey, PLN 11.8 million supported international humanitarian agencies, and PLN 13.2 million were transferred to Polish humanitarian organisations in the region. This enabled the Polish Center for International Aid to provide shelter and improve access to education for refugees and inhabitants of Lebanon (PLN 1.5 million), and the Polish Medical Mission to improve healthcare availability for women and children in the under-developed areas of the Zarqa and Al Mafraq provinces in Jordan (PLN 0.5 million).

Polish firemen, medical staff and humanitarian aid experts of the Polish Center for International Aid were one of the first to hasten to rescue the victims of a disastrous explosion in Beirut in August 2020, where hundreds died and over 300,000 were left homeless.

The humanitarian aid of today is by no means a spontaneous spurt of a bunch of idealists and enthusiasts. It is an established field of science, professional area of services and a substantial part of global economy and politics. Critics point out the “humanitarian industry” with its faults and  unsuccessful programmes. White off-road cars of aid organisations dashing through African or Asian wilderness are sometimes criticised and envied. In her renowned book The Crisis Caravan published in Poland in 2011, Linda Polman blamed humanitarian organisations, among other things, with making people dependent on the aid, their cooperation with undemocratic regimes, or wasting resources.

Yet the criticism drives the constant change of the humanitarian sector, an increase of its efficiency and the best possible use of its resources. New methods of delivering aid (e.g. turning to money transfers rather than donations in kind) and management are implemented. Life-saving humanitarian aid is matched with development assistance (which gives a fishing rod rather than the fish) and other actions to increase peace and stability which would allow people to soon become independent of the support.

There are special studies worldwide to prepare for this kind of activity and working with humanitarian organisations often turns to be an interesting international career path. However, providing aid or managing an assistance project in unstable parts of the world requires not only appropriate knowledge and experience but also psychological predispositions such as stress resistance, courage and perseverance.

Humanitarian aid will be needed as long as there are wars, poverty and violence in the world. Courageous humanitarians will be needed as well. Climate change, spread of infectious diseases and more frequent natural disasters are likely to strike an increasing number of people. And as we may continue dreaming of a world where their work will be redundant, as for now it is worth appreciating their daily commitment and dedication.

author: Patryk Kugiel, The Polish Institute of International Affairs