The question of enhancing the protection of UNHCR and NGO Aid Workers in Conflict Zones

Chair: Yap Wern Hao

In bold and blue are the points and questions you should consider.
If your country has been mentioned as an example in this guide, you should carry
out more detailed researches on their associated points.

Why should the protection of UNHR and NGO Aid Workers be enhanced?
 In 2009, more humanitarian workers were killed than UN peacekeepers.
 The most dangerous places for relief staff are usually those where the needs are
the greatest (e.g.  Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan).
  Foreigners are automatic targets and are especially dangerous to deploy in the
field in some conflict areas.
 From 1997 to 2005, the number of attacks on aid workers has nearly doubled.
Be aware that there was a past resolution (resolution 1502 (2003) of the Security
Council) which condemned violence against humanitarian workers.
Did the resolution have any significant impact on the protection of aid workers?

A few points you might want to consider

 The International humanitarian law provides obligations for armed parties to
accept international humanitarian relief when needed and some detail of the kinds
of legal facilities providers should receive. This varies in the text of the Geneva
Conventions and their first two Additional Protocols depending on whether
recipients are in occupied territories in an international conflict, in a state party’s
own territory during an international conflict, or in a state experiencing an internal
conflict.
This could serve as another purpose for opposing parties to attack relief personnel.
Is it right for relief personnel to offer aid to opposing parties?
Are there any solutions to protect aid workers who serve parties in conflict or
should aid be stopped altogether?

 Under Article 62 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, civilians in occupied

territories are guaranteed the right to receive individual assistance ‘‘subject to
imperative reasons of security’’
What about civilians in conflict zones?
Should aid workers be permitted access to these civilians?
If so, how could this be done with lower casualties of aid workers?

 Most workers for the UNHCR in conflict zones are already aware of the extreme
dangers. (E.g. Hassan, 42, an Iraqi national working in Yemen, “takes a different
path to work every day. He hides his UN badge and conceals the nature of his
work from even his closest friends and relatives.”)
The question of enhancing the protection of UNHCR and NGO Aid Workers in Conflict Zones

The EU will table a draft resolution at the United Nations General Assembly on the
safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of UN personnel in
September this year. See if you could get more information on this.

Motives of targeting UNHCR and NGO Aid Workers in conflict zones:

 Mostly targeted as part of a political or ideological agenda (e.g. Afghanistan).
 They may be considered to be embarrassing "eye-witnesses" of atrocities (e.g.
eastern Democratic Republic of Congo)
 Profitable businesses in some places have resulted from the kidnapping of relief
workers.
 Many “civilians” function as both “militarized” actors and strategic targets in
modern-day conflicts. Factions view any kind of aid to these civilian “opponents”
as supporting the opponent.
 Goods and services can be acquired by hostile factions from local and
international NGOs and aid can be prevented from reaching the civilian
population targeted by that faction.
 To drive an international presence out and assert control over the region.
 To send a message to the government, international community or another
faction.
 Humanitarian organization ties (through donors) with enemy countries may be
viewed by combatants as a valid reason for at-tack. (e.g. U.S. government-funded
organizations operating in Iraq and Afghanistan).
 Most humanitarian aid workers have easy access to both the basic necessities and
luxury items that the majority of locals lack, often reinforcing social inequalities
in conflict-zones.
Look up other political, cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic realities and motives
which can influence the decision to attack and the choice of target.

You may also suggest that security personnel could potentially serve as a means
of protecting aid workers. However, consider that if a party initiates a successful
assault on these workers, there will be a far more detrimental result as the
number of casualties will be large.

You might find the Policy Group’s (HPG) report number 23: “Providing Aid in
Insecure Environments” useful for accurate data on the number of relief personnel
operating in the field, the absolute and relative numbers of both deliberate and
violent attacks against both local and international staff from 1997 to 2005.
(http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/download/231.pdf)
The question of enhancing the protection of UNHCR and NGO Aid Workers in Conflict Zones

Other points to consider when writing your resolution:

1. How dependent is your country on the need of aid from the UNHCR and NGO
Aid Workers?
2. Is it worth for your country to emphasize funds on the protection of AID workers
or are there other areas in which your country should focus on?
3. How many aid workers are sent away from your country yearly and where are
they sent to?
4. Does your country have an existing local regulation on the protection of UNHCR
and NGO Aid Workers?
5. Should armed militia or forces assist aid workers or should they be deployed in
conflict zones for warfare?
6. Other useful resolutions (from security council):
a. 1265 (1999)
b. 1296  (2000)
c. 1460  (2003)