Home › Blogs › Marc Hanson ›

Blog Posts by Marc Hanson

Educating Syria's Children
April 29, 2013 Marc Hanson Syria, Turkey, Humanitarian Response, Middle East, Women & Children

An edited version of this piece appeared on The Hill's Congress Blog.

Syrians Falling Through Cracks as Refugee Crisis Grinds On
March 28, 2013 Marc Hanson Iraq, Syria, Humanitarian Response, Middle East, Protection & Security, Women & Children

This post originally appeared on The Hill's Congress Blog.

Last week in Iraqi Kurdistan, two solemn anniversaries were being commemorated: the chemical weapons attack on Halabja 25 years ago and the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. However, there was another anniversary that went largely unnoticed: the second anniversary of the conflict in Syria.

Sequestration Means Fewer Lives Saved, Less American Influence Abroad
March 01, 2013 Marc Hanson Humanitarian Response, Women & Children

Today is Congress’s last chance to pass a budget deal. Failure to act will result in across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration.

While the American people rightly view this as another manufactured crisis from Washington, these capricious cuts could do real damage. If sequestration is allowed to occur, a wide range of programs from education to air travel will be affected, and our fragile economic recovery could stall. Abroad, our reputation will suffer as nations wonder if America really can govern itself.

"I Want to Work!"
August 24, 2012 Marc Hanson Colombia, Americas, Humanitarian Response, Protection & Security, Women & Children

Steady, gainful employment is an important part of of resolving Colombia’s IDP crisis. In most cases of forced displacement in Colombia, families flee their homes in rural areas for the relative safety (and anonymity) of larger cities. In the process, they leave behind their agricultural livelihoods, assets, and social networks.

Time for U.S., Colombia to Deliver for Conflict Victims
July 31, 2012 Marc Hanson Colombia, Americas, Humanitarian Response, Protection & Security

This post originally appeared at The Hill's Congress Blog.

“I will never be the same. I am not the same as before. That’s the hardest thing.” With these lines Paula, one of Colombia’s more than 4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), started to recount the most excruciating part of her life’s story.