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From Afghanistan, Unfiltered: Traveling in Kabul
Mon, 11/01/2010 - 00:00
Arriving in Kabul, one is deposited in a small, bare airport terminal missing the usual hubbub of travelers and shopkeepers. Passengers quickly leave the terminal as security staff, who are everywhere, quickly pinpoint anyone standing about; “why are you waiting here?” they ask without informing you that those greeting guests must wait outside in a parking lot. Barriers around the terminal prevent travelers from re-entering or even walking close to the VIP area. It is a very small airport for the capital of a country receiving large amounts of international aid and numerous contractors.
From Pakistan, Unfiltered: Livelihoods Washed Away
Fri, 10/01/2010 - 11:28
Sukkur, Sindh Province, Pakistan -- On the way from the airport into the town of Sukkur you can see them camped along the road – thousands of people who fled the floods, now living in tents and makeshift shelters. In some places, a group of families have found a spot of empty ground; in others, formal camps have been set up separated from the road by plastic sheeting.
From DRC, Unfiltered: What's Next?
Mon, 08/30/2010 - 10:34
I am just getting back to the U.S. after several weeks traveling around the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Matt and I set out at the end of July to identify the priority issues that need to be addressed in the DRC before the UN peacekeeping mission (formerly called MONUC, and now re-named MONUSCO) begins to withdraw.
The peacekeeping mission has – in one form or another- been present in DRC for over a decade. The peacekeepers – military, police and civilians – have been tasked with protecting civilians, supporting the rag-tag Congolese military, developing good governance structures and state authority, and generally bringing stability, security and democracy to a place where all of these things are unfamiliar in the extreme.
The peacekeeping mission has – in one form or another- been present in DRC for over a decade. The peacekeepers – military, police and civilians – have been tasked with protecting civilians, supporting the rag-tag Congolese military, developing good governance structures and state authority, and generally bringing stability, security and democracy to a place where all of these things are unfamiliar in the extreme.
From DRC, Unfiltered: The Voiceless?
Mon, 08/16/2010 - 12:46
When was the last time you heard someone refer to the “voiceless,” either in the context of their work, (e.g., “I am an advocate for the “voiceless”) or in reference to the plight of a specific group of people, likely in a developing country?
I remember hearing the “voiceless” narrative as a kid and thinking (if I’m being honest here) of African refugees, sitting in camps, waiting around silently and helplessly for someone to rescue them, without capacity to speak up for themselves.
And in my time working in the policy and advocacy fields in Washington, I have heard this portrayal repeatedly. Certainly not from ill-intentioned people. Heck, I’m sure I myself have been guilty of this sort of talk before. But I think it’s time that we – particularly those of us working to influence humanitarian policy issues in Washington –disassociate ourselves from this type of language and way of thinking.
Why, you ask?
From DRC, Unfiltered: A place that defies simplification
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 15:59
When people think of violence, chaos and suffering, there is a tendency to oversimplify, to make firm distinctions between “perpetrators,” “victims” and “heroes”. But reality is never that cut and dry. Conflict is messy, and the people involved often defy easy categorization.
On Saturday, Matt and I set out to visit a community of displaced people south of Bunia town in Oriental province (eastern DR Congo). It is a community that muddies each of these categorizes.
To the naked eye these people – currently numbering about 475 in all – fit the popular definition of “victim”. After years spent surviving in brutal forest conditions they took advantage of a humanitarian corridor created by the Congolese military to come out of the woods and seek assistance. Most of the new arrivals at the makeshift displacement camp are suffering from ailments like malaria, parasites and diarrhea. Almost all of the new arrivals are malnourished and while they have received pots and utensils, as well as some blankets, plastic sheeting, and other “non-food items” from an international aid organization, they have not yet received food. Even the emergency rations – delivered to the weakest among them - have already run out.
On Saturday, Matt and I set out to visit a community of displaced people south of Bunia town in Oriental province (eastern DR Congo). It is a community that muddies each of these categorizes.
To the naked eye these people – currently numbering about 475 in all – fit the popular definition of “victim”. After years spent surviving in brutal forest conditions they took advantage of a humanitarian corridor created by the Congolese military to come out of the woods and seek assistance. Most of the new arrivals at the makeshift displacement camp are suffering from ailments like malaria, parasites and diarrhea. Almost all of the new arrivals are malnourished and while they have received pots and utensils, as well as some blankets, plastic sheeting, and other “non-food items” from an international aid organization, they have not yet received food. Even the emergency rations – delivered to the weakest among them - have already run out.
From DRC, Unfiltered: Not an Easy Set of Tasks
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 15:36
Hi folks, sorry for the delay in posts. We’ve been running all around the eastern Congo for the last several days and haven’t really had access to reliable internet. We’re now in Goma, where we’ll be staying for the next 6 days, so I’ll be posting with a bit more regularity.
Much has transpired since I last wrote you from Kinshasa. We finally made it out on the UN flight to Kisangani, and arrived there in the early afternoon on Wednesday. In Kisangani, we met with representatives from MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission, UN agencies (UNICEF, OCHA, and UNDP), and an NGO to discuss the latest changes to MONUSCO’s mandate and the future of the mission in DR Congo, and also to get a read on the current humanitarian and security conditions facing civilians in the area.
From DRC, Unfiltered: Notes from Kinshasa
Wed, 08/04/2010 - 10:59I'm writing to you from our hotel lobby, running on three hours of sleep, with my second Nescafé of the afternoon in hand. So forgive me if I sound tired. Why only three hours of sleep, you ask? Well, my colleague, Erin, and I had to get to the airport by 5:00am this morning in order to attempt to board a UN flight to eastern Congo. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of outbound flights and the overwhelming demand for an extremely limited number of seats, we were unable to make it on board. However, we were lucky enough to get tickets for the flight out tomorrow. Although getting "lucky" means we'll have to endure another 4:00 am wakeup call. C'est la vie.
We've taken advantage of the extra time here in Kinshasa (we've now been here for five full days) to primarily meet with UN officials to discuss the latest changes to the UN's peacekeeping mandate here in DRC, and the impact of those changes on Congolese civilians. While I have enjoyed my time in Kinshasa, I have to admit, I am looking forward to heading east to carry out our meetings and field interviews with humanitarian organizations, displaced Congolese people, local NGOs, UN field staff, and other members of the so-called international community.
Refugees International (RI) advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.