humanitarian space

The shared MSF / ICRC helicopter exchanging passengers in Gumuruk. In the rainy season helicopter is the only reliable way to move around Pibor County in South Sudan. Robin Meldrum/MSF Analysis

Ending the Code of Silence on Abductions of Aid Workers

11/22/2019 Fabrice Weissman

This article discusses the policy of absolute secrecy on abductions adopted by aid organisations. It argues that the information blackout on past and current cases is to a large extent a function of the growing role of private security companies in the aid sector, which promote a ‘pay, don’t say’ policy as a default option, whatever the situation. The article contends that secrecy is as much an impediment to resolving current cases as it is to preventing and managing future ones. It suggests abandoning the policy of strict confidentiality in all circumstances – a policy that is as dangerous as it is easy to apply – in favour of a more nuanced and challenging approach determining how much to publicise ongoing and past cases for each audience, always keeping in mind the interests of current and potential hostages.

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Débarquement de réfugiés érythréens à Vibo Valentia en Italie Sara Creta Video

Occupational hazards

07/26/2016 Michaël Neuman Fabrice Weissman

In recent years, fear-mongering reports based on hard data have been describing a world of ever-increasing danger for aid workers. The book "Saving lives and staying alive" explores this observation and compares it with MSF's experience of working in particularly dangerous regions.

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young men during a medical visit Siegfried Modola Articles and blog

ATHA Podcast: Michaël Neuman about "Saving Lives and Staying Alive"

05/12/2016 Michaël Neuman

In "Saving Lives and Staying Alive: Humanitarian Security in the Age of Risk Management" Michaël Neuman and his colleague Fabrice Weissman analyze some of the drivers of professionalization in the context of humanitarian security and its subsequent impact on humanitarian practices through a collection of MSF case studies.

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Queue pour la vaccination au camp de réfugiés Yida Karin Ekholm Opinion

The numbness of numbers

05/11/2016 Michaël Neuman Fabrice Weissman

We welcome Abby Stoddard, Katherine Haver and Adele Harmer's response to our critical article on the production and the use of security data in the humanitarian sector and to our book in general. In a field that has been very much lacking debate, if not controversies, we're extremely glad to see a various range of readers engaging in the discussion. 

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Un responsable MSF mène un sauvetage en Méditerranée Francesco Zizola Analysis

The State of the Humanitarian Sector

01/30/2015 Fabrice Weissman

This article is an English translation of an interview of Fabrice Weissman about the State of the Humanitarian Sector, in Revue Internationale et Stratégique (n°98, 2015/2) published by the Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques

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Les travailleurs humanitaires du Centre médical à Mingkaman au Soudan du Sud David Di Lorenzo Video

Perspectives on the future of humanitarian action

04/03/2013 Fabrice Weissman

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the ICRC (1863-2013) and in light of the recently launched issue of the Review on "The future of humanitarian action", the Harvard Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR) and the International Review of the Red Cross are pleased to co-host a Live Web Seminar on the topic: "Perspectives on the Future of Humanitarian Action"...

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MSF flag in Somalia Yann Libessart Opinion

Remote management in Somalia

01/23/2013 Joe Belliveau

Discussions on the merits of remote control management of humanitarian projects have been particularly intense over the last few years. We are pleased to share this contribution published in Humanitarian Exchange Magazine by Joe Belliveau, the operational manager for Somalia in the Dutch section of our organisation.

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Camp au Congo Lynsey Addario Opinion

Zones to Protect

03/01/2009 Rony Brauman

Humanitarian law was designed as a normative framework, not as an indictment. With this in mind, Rony Brauman tries to define what constitutes a human shield.

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