a guide to peace support operations - The Watson Institute for ...

Part II, Section 1, paragraph 2
2. The Operational Environment
a. Loss of Impartiality
Humanitarian assistance is supposed to be neutral and impartial. This precept is
fundamental to the whole humanitarian ethos. However, the reality is that, no
matter how neutral and impartial one might wish humanitarian assistance to be,
it is increasingly perceived as biased and partisan. The reason for this changing
perception reflects to some extent the very nature of complex emergencies.
More and more, conflict associated with complex emergencies stems from deeply
felt ethnic, economic, and social tension. The resulting violence increasingly
involves civilian populations, the direct targets of other groups of civilians. Men,
women, and even children are perpetrators as well as victims of large-scale
violence.
There is growing cynicism, even among beneficiaries, about humanitarian aid’s
alleged impartiality and neutrality; those who provide such assistance find
themselves increasingly at risk. The relief worker is seen as aiding and abetting
the enemy. As a result of increased risks and growing animosity, the UN Security
Council is often compelled to ask for peacekeeping or enforcement forces to
protect international aid workers. The growing gap between those who provide
humanitarian assistance and those for whom it is intended is perhaps one of the
most fundamental changes in the operational environment.
In a number of instances, humanitarian assistance operations take place in the
midst of conflict, or in situations where affected populations can be reached only
by crossing battle lines. In such circumstances, access to those in need may
require extensive negotiations not only with government forces but also with the
opposition. Again, the supposed impartiality of humanitarian assistance is put
into question by each side, since each perceives any concession as a benefit to the
other.
b. Host Governments
Often the attitudes of the local population to the personnel of civil agencies and
to the entire international humanitarian operation depend upon the host government.
From the perspective of the host government, or the government of the
nation in crisis, there may be a variety of reasons for a negative attitude toward
foreign humanitarian intervention, no matter how well intentioned.
Humanitarian intervention confronts national sovereignty. Well intentioned
foreign relief officials may inadvertently fail to respect the political sensitivities
of host governments. Agency officials may assume that the priority of their
humanitarian tasks will be clearly understood by their government hosts. Often
32