The Politics Of Humanity
The Reality of Relief Aid
1st Edition
Published on 1. March 2013
416 pages
978-1-78185-208-8 (ISBN)
Description
John Holmes was the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs from 2007 until 2010. His work took him to some of the most troubled areas of the world: to Sri Lanka, Darfur, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among other places, and exposed him to the harsh realities of humanitarian aid.
Frequently he found that the UN's humanitarian programmes in these hotspots were tolerated but consistently undermined and mistrusted by both sides in any conflict, and its efforts to protect civilians and provide humanitarian relief frustrated by people working for purely political ends.
Clear-eyed about the realities of development aid, Holmes realised early on that his role was to be a voice to the voiceless. THE POLITICS OF HUMANITY exposes, in often depressing detail, how difficult this job is, as well as analysing and exploring in great depth the wider policy questions of his role.
Frequently he found that the UN's humanitarian programmes in these hotspots were tolerated but consistently undermined and mistrusted by both sides in any conflict, and its efforts to protect civilians and provide humanitarian relief frustrated by people working for purely political ends.
Clear-eyed about the realities of development aid, Holmes realised early on that his role was to be a voice to the voiceless. THE POLITICS OF HUMANITY exposes, in often depressing detail, how difficult this job is, as well as analysing and exploring in great depth the wider policy questions of his role.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
ISBN-13
978-1-78185-208-8 (9781781852088)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
03/2013
Head of Zeus
€44.80
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Person
John Holmes worked in the Foreign Office for 34 years, finishing as Ambassador in Paris, before taking up the role of UN USG for Humanitarian Affairs in 2007.
Content
- Intro
- Welcome Page
- Dedication
- Maps
- Introduction: An accidental humanitarian
- 1: The Secret Life of an Emergency Relief Coordinator
- 2: Darfur: how not to solve a crisis
- 3: South Sudan: the (unmade) road to independence
- 4: Sri Lanka: the end of the LTTE
- 5: The Democratic Republic of Congo: not losing hope
- 6: Somalia: endless night
- 7: Myanmar: cyclone strike and government obstruction
- 8: Gaza: collective punishment, conflict and controversy
- 9: Afghanistan and Pakistan: safeguarding humanitarian space
- 10: Earthquake horrors in Haiti
- 11: Food Insecurity: country lessons and the 2008 food crisis
- 12: Prevention is better than cure: acting before disasters happen
- 13: Humanitarian Intervention, and protecting civilians in armed conflict
- 14: Humanitarianism in the twenty-first century: rising needs and declining security
- Glossary
- Index
- A, B, C
- D, E, F
- G, H, I
- J, K, L
- M, N, O
- P, Q, R
- S, T, U
- V, W, X
- Y, Z
- About the Author
- About this Book
- About Head of Zeus
- Contents
- Copyright
