Reference no: EM133503906

Question 1: A couple of points that we found to be important from this week's readings, specifically from Harrell-Bond's "Can Humanitarian Work with Refugees Be Humane?", was the language that was used to describe how humanitarian organizations often prioritize donors' satisfaction over the needs of the individuals they aim to assist (p.72). Through this language, Harrell-Bond describes an imbalanced power dynamic between the donors, humanitarian organizations/actors, and refugees. By stating that "assistance to refugees is conceived of in terms of charity rather than as a means of enabling refugees to enjoy their rights" (p. 52-53) it demonstrates how humanitarian aid is not always as helpful as it is made out to be.

This led us to ask:

Considering that humanitarian organizations tend to be more responsive to donor interests rather than the needs of the affected population, what potential implications does this have on the effectiveness and ethics of humanitarian work with refugees?

How can humanitarian organizations effectively navigate the challenge of satisfying donor expectations to secure funding, while also ensuring that the needs and rights of the refugee population are genuinely prioritized and effectively addressed?

Question 2: To be critical of humanitarianism is to hold those who practice it accountable; power dynamics within humanitarianism are a key factor discussed throughout the materials this week. More explicitly, the readings situate those dynamics within an overtly racialized context. This is an important practice when looking at the accountability of those providing-or not providing-aid. For example, In Harrel-Bond's work, she describes power dynamics as a symbiotic-natured relationship and includes the quote, "One Mozambican refugee in Malawi, having been denied her ration, articulated this relationship clearly as she cried out for all to hear: 'Remember, you have your job because we are here'".

Is this a valid point made by the refugee? In these humanitarian contexts, which party ultimately has the power and why?

Moreover, when considering the racial implications, which power dynamics shape the experiences of African expatriates in humanitarianism and refugee work, and how have these dynamics been affected by the "Migrant Crisis" and racial politics in Europe? How can humanitarian efforts be improved to ensure that black lives are not only recognized but also respected?

Question 3: We found many central themes to this week's readings but we will focus on the following two, 1) the treatment of the potential recipients of aid and 2) humanitarian aid effects on host countries.

How does the hierarchy of race, gender, and geographical location impact the urgency, quality, and type of humanitarian intervention given to possible recipients of aid impacted by the disadvantages of colorism?

How does asymmetrical humanitarianism affect recipients of aid ability to communicate grievances?

Contemporary humanitarianism is highly transactional in practice. How does the transaction of humanitarian intervention to populations in immediate need impact the legitimacy of the host country.