SINCE when has doing good for the needy become dangerous?
Doing good induces others to reciprocate, said Arthur P. Ciaramicoli, an author. But in humanitarian work, goodness and goodwill may not always follow. Sometimes, threats also lurk.
Humanitarian work is at its height in Marawi City and the surrounding municipalities following the siege in the city in May 2017. Aside from the government agencies and offices that are pouring relief goods, services, and trainings for the IDPs and others who were affected by the war, non-government organizations are also there to offer a helping hand.
Some staff members of these organizations came from other parts of the country. Some have chosen to leave home and their families to come to an unfamiliar land just to extend a helping hand to the IDPs.
Marawi was not just struck by natural disasters nor by famine. Armed conflict has just happened in there. What’s worse is that news about remnants of the terrorist group are still in the air. Danger might just be around the corner.
Yet, humanitarian groups still penetrate through the area to provide what they can for those in need.
However, because of the misconception that humanitarian groups are loaded with resources, they are also a susceptible to attacks or control. Bad elements would attempt to make the resources, influence and credit theirs.
However, humanitarian groups continue to exercise the four core humanitarian principles. These principles will distinguish them from other actors in the community and in the field: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.
The principle of humanity states that human suffering must be addressed. There is a need to protect lives, alleviate suffering, and ensure that the rights and dignity of the people kept. This further commissions humanitarian workers to provide humanitarian response whenever it is needed.
The principle of impartiality dictates that the provision of humanitarian assistance should be carried out by needs alone. Aid is given to the distressed and vulnerable without distinction for the persons’ nationality, race, gender, class or religious and political beliefs. Also, the support to be given out is based on assessments made by the organization.
The principle of neutrality states that humanitarian actors should not be colored by politics or by sides. They cannot be engaged in hullabaloos of political, racial, religious, or ideological nature.
Lastly, the principle of independence states that a humanitarian organization must be autonomous from the political, economic, or military influence or bodies. They can coordinate with these parties, but they cannot allow themselves to be used by others or by them.
These principles enable humanitarian workers to access populations in need. It also allows them to gain acceptance for humanitarian presence and operations in crisis settings; and, in part, enable the security of humanitarian personnel and their beneficiaries.
While the elections in the country is creeping close, some elements and parties may have ploys to use the humanitarian services to forward their political agenda. This is just me thinking out loud, but I cannot do away with the possibilities of some groups blocking the distribution of aids from IDPs who may not support them during the elections.
They might target the humanitarian groups to establish patrol-client relationship with the IDPs, since they are still a compelling population of voters for the upcoming national and local elections.
Gun violence and harassment may also be present during these times when some political parties become too desperate to win for the elections.
I would like to appeal to the government and the local government units to further boost their assistance and support for the humanitarian groups working in the different parts of the country, including in Marawi. Do not allow these groups to be used for political reasons.
Let them do their duties in peace and keep them away from danger and from political involvements. rizsunio@gmail.com