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The question of being

‘This question of ‘being’ is not a complex, ontological question, ‘the meaning of my life’, the Cartesian type stuff- it’s not all about me, Emmanuel Levinas believes that the whole question of ‘being’ is instantly informed, it only becomes a question, when faced with face of the ‘other’. ’Being’ is then not an existentialist question, but an ethical, a moral question. We as humanitarians, I think that’s where we start, what we believe: that when we face the face of the other, this other, who is like us, it brings about what some would call this imperitive, to recognise the preciousness.’

- Dr Hugo Slim,  ‘Being Humanitarian: Personal Morality and Political Project in Today’s Wars’ lecture, Oxford Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (iTunes U)

Four ways to think about the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet

I’m published! (At least a tweet of mine is)

Below excerpts taken from Four ways to think about the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet 

 ’1. Africa is not a country

It is vital that we control our assessment of the crisis to the affected individual countries within the north-east region of the continent of Africa. Context is everything. The nature of the political, economic, cultural, historical and security situations within Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea, Uganda and the newly formed South Sudan are quite different. While regional stability in the continent’s north-eastern states, or lack of, is a factor in this crisis, painting all of Africa with the same broad brushstrokes is getting kind of old and we really should move on from doing so.

2. While the images we see on our screens capture very real suffering, they don’t capture the immense dignity of those who are affected

These beautiful people have incredible dignity and are the types of wonderful human beings who would offer you their last cup of tea. This is the way they carry themselves. One aid worker in Dadaab reported that as he handed out a package of food to one woman, he said, “I’m sorry it’s small, but there are lots of people to feed.” The woman then offered half of her allocated food back. Surely, such decorum demands nothing but the utmost respect.

3. Thoughtful emergency relief will ease the suffering

Obviously, we must give humanitarian assistance to deal with the immediate need, and do so urgently, but also thoughtfully.

In events like these, all manner of newly formed charities and organisations quickly appear out of nowhere to ‘help’, and suddenly the circus is in town.

However, only local and international organisations that champion the rights of those who are suffering, and who understand the power those who are affected already have, must be central to the operation in order to bring long-lasting change. There are communities in certain pockets of Ethiopia, for instance, that have proven to be resistant to this crisis thanks to the ongoing work of local and international rights-based organisations.

4. The drought didn’t cause this famine. It only compounded existing systemic problems

This crisis is regarded as a “slow onset” disaster. As Raj Patel says in his book Stuffed and Starved:

When flies buzz around the eyes of starving Africans on screens in the Global North, it is when they have officially been declared to be in a state of emergency … What is rarely reported when the tragic pictures are beamed is that getting to the tipping point takes time.

Author and academic Edward Carr recently posted an article on his blog highlighting that this famine should not be simply attributed to the weather. Carr argues that collapsing local and global markets, and a dysfunctional government in the state of Somalia are the main reasons for the crisis, and he is right.’

(Julie CowdroyThe Drum)