Sri Lanka: The best humanitarian crisis business destination
Repost This ArticleIt will not be long before areas in the north and east will be declared Industrial Zones or BOI areas, opening up opportunities for development. But wait; business is already going on there at full swing! The world’s best Humanitarian niche markets are now available in Sri Lanka and people are rushing in to supply the demand. Of course business could be done both ethically and otherwise. So let us take up the current humanitarian business market.
However before I start, one must note the emails and the stories which are also rampant in the society today generalizing and criticizing humanitarian operations. While most of these stories are flights of fancy, this article is not meant to add fuel to that fire, but to present a scathing view of some of the organizations. I must acknowledge that there are few humanitarian agencies that are doing excellent work in different sectors in Sri Lanka. These are probably the organizations that work in silence and maybe break the silence to outline the actual bad practices present. They will probably be penalized for highlighting the true state of operations, although you can visit the actual field and see the good work done by them. So I reiterate that the object of this article is only to critique some of the organizations, which are mostly hot air and nothing more.
Now these organizations that are out to make a buck on the humanitarian ‘market’ have some of the best marketing apparatus around. And their purpose is to take the plight of a few, polish it up and present it to generous donors in such a way that the money flows into their coffers. Hence the need to make the headlines and have photo-shooting sessions with flags flying high. And this gets them a hefty donation, and a pat on the back from the government for the positive propaganda. Everyone except the beneficiary is happy. Possibly the victims end up worse off with all concerns lulled by this type of coverage.
Like all big organizations whose main concern is to stay in business, the United Nations and other powerful NGOs showed the hypocrisy and the bureaucratic bungling, during the conflict.
When the government demanded that all humanitarian agencies withdraw from the war zone in September 2008, the UN led the charge by packing up what they could and abandoning everything else immediately. True business logic was shown in cutting losses, abandoning 300,000 civilians and any of their own employees who could not come out. Although with all the leverage and experience under the belt of these organizations they could very well have worked out something better, it must have been more profitable to leave this way, creating a bigger market for later exploitation. Of course valid justification is found, but justification does not make a right wrong. The humanitarian agencies were not there when it mattered. Humanitarian agencies, being the only remaining witness to the war and the only strength, help and neutral voice of the civilians left the war victims when they were needed most. They failed to help the suffering civilians, which makes the entire concept of humanitarian assistance and care void, the worst being that the UN allowed it.
But this kind of negative exposure would be bad for business, so just to keep up appearances there was wide publicity given to the few bungled attempts made. With civilians trapped inside “safe-zones” for more than five months, the ‘humanitarian’ champions of the world were shedding crocodile tears, sending their aid and sending representatives to Colombo to talk. Nothing of course came about, and the UN and the International Community failed to stop or pause or slow down the political/military agendas of both sides. As a result a lot of casualties were reported, and forgotten as they were just statistics on a page. Even now these statistics remain as just that and justice which should have been dealt out according to humanitarian principles is blocked because of these organizations being silent or quoting standards and showing the status quo as acceptable.
This article is seemingly a rant at the effective models of humanitarian operations, and some of us would discard it as non-sense, but what it highlights is the roots of humanitarian work, that have got choked over the years. While lofty aims and goals and the moral principles of societies were the starting point of seeing the value of a single human-being, and compassion to help all the suffering that takes place in the world, we must think whether the current organizations follow these goals. While many organizations have become very effective in reaching the statistics and standards, they lack the most important thing. A person working in the humanitarian field must have certain skills and competencies, but most importantly a heart for the work, for the victims and compassion. The world is full of people who are kind to financially support work for fellow human beings, but this means the humanitarian field will always be a place where money flows in. Where money flows it will attract both types of people; those who will work for money, and those with the heart for the work. More and more of the former type have now flooded in and are making decisions that only attract more of the same type. The most highly paid positions, where decisions are made are now in the hands of grossly overpaid expatriates, whose humanitarian work is mostly about traveling in luxury vehicles, having luxurious lifestyles and conducting seminars about poverty and displacement in the best hotels money can buy. Hence, humanitarian work is now a very lucrative business.
So in true business fashion, all organizations are subject to external political-social forces. Working in humanitarian work requires engaging the political regimes, and to keep the business going they have to meet the expectations of the regimes. Organizations which were meant to serve the victims, and engage in reform of systems are doing the exact opposite. They are aligning themselves with those systems (turning a threat into opportunity), and using them to let the market of victims grow. For example, comparing the current IDP camps in Sri Lanka to African camps and being satisfied is NOT the answer. This goes to show that this mentality is what would have allowed the camps in Africa to go on for so long. Standards are meant to be maintained during times of crisis, and afterwards standards are discarded to bring about normalcy.
Comparing the current camp situation to some other situation and calling it satisfactory is a major farce and hypocrisy of the United Nations. This failed organization has shown its true colors over and over again, in both the international arena and the local theatre. Malnutrition of 3% is acceptable according to UN standards?! But in humanitarian terms malnutrition of even 1 person is un-acceptable. To be satisfied now, is to say that we are forgetting who sent the people into camps, who is keeping them there, who is not providing for them, and why. Is it not simple reason or logic that malnutrition is there, is an indicator that the government did not provide sufficient supplies during the war, or that the UN did not properly monitor the whole situation? Of course asking such questions is bad for business. But that is what is needed and that is what is not done.
The humanitarian mandate has been swept under the rug by deals done with those in power over casual cocktails and dinner parties. Sri Lanka being a beautiful country with many resources and facilities along with a ‘humanitarian market’ is the best destination for business. How satisfied these businessmen are, they have lined their pockets and they have barely saved 97% of a displaced population. Why antagonize a regime that allows such good business to go on.
However injustice in any form is un-acceptable, un-justifiable and these are the reasons why humanitarian work came into being, but now enslaved by money. Shameful and shocking humanitarian hypocrisy, exploitation of suffering; and aggrandizing themselves pushing their own agendas… Who will confront the victimizers? Where is Humanitarian Justice?
Laksundara:
You have hit the nail right on the head! Many NGOs and INGOs, not all, in Sri Lanka are parasites exploiting and profiting from human suffering. A whole new disaster industry has sprung up. These folks travel from one disaster to another like vultures. Some of them even resorting to illegal activities like producing porn movies using local women. I am glad that the govt kicked them out of the conflict areas. Sri Lanka should adopt the standards and procedures used by India in dealing with NGOs and INGOs.
We should name all the NGO’s and INGO’s engaged in this shameful conduct so that donors will not be misled.
These NGOs are buffoons & JOKERS.They should go to some AFRICAN NATION but not Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka is a well behaved HUMANITARIAN BUDDHIST COUNTRY.
Interesting article Laksundara. Most people doesn’t know what is the real situation.
There is no different between the government, UN and these NGOs. All are doing the same thing, which is getting money using these poor civilians and playing around it. Only 20% of the aid goes to the victims and balance is in the pockets of the government, UN and these NGOS. So all are the same. Government doesn’t have any issues with the humanitarian agencies which doesn’t expose the real situation of the camps and the country. Now Government, UN and most of these NGOs joined hands together to talk about standards and etc… All these unqualified expatriates staff of UN and other agencies (who can’t even find a proper job in their countries) are quiet and supportive of all the activities of the government because they do not want to loose their highly paid jobs.
UN is an failed organization which admin cost is 90%. None of the local staff in the UN cannot make any decision. All made by the HIGHLY PAID foreign expatriates, who doesn’t know anything about the country and culture. UN should be restructured and have to spend at least 70% of the aid to the victims. Unfortunately at the moment the staff becomes the victims and get 70% of the aid as their salaries!!!
By the way Kurusilva, Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country only in the papers. The so called Buddhist country which preaches not to kill animals, kills human beings everyday. Before making such a comment you should first go and read what Lord Buddha actually preached. If you are a true Buddhist, you will not make a statement like that. I am ashamed to be a Buddhist in Sri Lanka. Buddhism has been misused for every little thing by these cheap politicians and ministers. Unfortunately the some of the monks are also part of it. Are the true Buddhists ready to confront the government and bring the real Buddhists values back to this country? The problem is this young generation doesn’t know what us real Buddhism!!! Who will save Sri Lanka???
NGO;s get a lot of benefits from in SL
1. check out their vehicles, all are super luxury prados’ or shara models. why cant these NGO buy basic behicles..
2. the expacts are filling all post with foreign people who have child support , relocation beenefits in USD. we should put rules for the amount of SL staff into a NGO…
3. go to arugam bay or R&B at night, see how the NGO circle is relaxing in a war torn country…
The INGOs are funded by mostly affluent christian nations of europe and the americas, ( I am not a christian ) where most citizens donate to ‘charity’ – which includes these organisations. They recruit those who are willing to go to areas of the world with minimum amenities to exist and work. Only men and women who are willing to brave the unknown volunteer. They are paid “per diem’ amounting to lower than what they could earn in their countries, and naturally have to be provided basic comforts during their sojourn abroad. What to us appears luxury, is for them basic accomodation. They cannot eat native or basic food in tents day after day, and do go out once in a week or more, to places nearest to those which they frequent back home, for a ‘sundowner’ (drink) and a good meal like what they are used to, which in sri lanka are called ‘five star hotels’ etc. They are provided new reliable all terrain vehicles, to prevent breakdowns. The locals seeing all this, get the wrong picture. I know this, as I ran a project ( I was not paid, as I was a government servant, but the locals recruited as ‘volunteers’ were paid ) jointly funded by two european voluntary organistions supported by charity, which also worked in many other countries. Locals employed by INGOs are paid reasonally well, and they earn it. I could not afford to eat with them in the ‘five star’ places ! There is a lot of ranting and raving about the ‘lifestyles’ of the NGO & INGO personnel, mostly misunderstood. This ‘luxurious’ lifestyle is what is normal for them back home – I know this too, having been abroad to study and having visited their projects, and for international meetings,seminars & training courses, funded by a specialised agency of the UN.
das, per diems dont let them go to hilton and get prado;s. your argument is flawed. if they want a better life, they wont come to a NGO and they can become bankers in their developed countries. if you come to SL, you come to do good, so its better to save money collected by well wishers by buying a double cab instead of a prado…
also, NGO expacts should be cut down and locals should be employeed, this way actual donar cash will come to SL, rather than going out back to developed coutnries..
whats the qualifications that expats have that our people dont have?
Sri Lanka pensioner, President Rajapussy government is inhuman racists which is killing helpless innocent civilians in Lanka President in their thousands.. If the other vile racists want the truth about IDPs, free the media…. But now I don’t believe your silly, unproved lies you post. Fortunately some truth is coming out, thanks to brave people. 300 000 innocent civilians continue to languished in appalling conditions in Sri Lanka abysmal concentration camps . In addition catastrophic lack of toilets and other hygiene related issues, which are becoming life-threatening. Another a huge problem is Water….water queue were seen everywhere. Pregnant women, skeletal elderly men and small babies are standing listlessly under scorching sun with thousands of small buckets by their sides and knee deep in human waste. There was dirty water mixed with human waste matter running on both sides of the road where drains have been freshly dug. The camp worker saw a thirsty, malnourished child with big, brown eyes full of painful despair, scooping water from that filthy muddy drain and take it to their tent..this is shocking !! pure hell on earth.. “ Well, welcome to Sri Lanka “ welfare villages “ by exclusive invitation from Sri Lanka President Rajapussa, who said on 19 May, “….In the past several decades those (Tamils) people did not have the right to a meaningful life. They were denied the right to life, the right to freedom, the right to development. I shall give all of that to those people. I accept that responsibility”.. Do this 300 000 innocent civilians have the FREEDOM and a MEANINGFUL LIFE there? Is this kind of “joy of life, peace, amity and prosperity” is reserved for the oppressed minority?
alan, per diem in each country is rated according to that of UN agencies and translates to a good amount in local currency. It is apart from the other amenities provided as part of the contracts entered into by these persons and is provided for such extras they need/deserve during their work. I received per diem of varying rates for postgraduate and field training in various countries in my field of specialisation. It varied with each country and was adequate for reasonable living in each country I was required to visit & train in. I received more later as a specialist and country delegate, for seminars etc. Vehicles,communication equipment etc. are decided by the principals of each INGO, which receive annual audited accounts from local accounting firms selected by them, in each country. Rates are more for consultants. The daughter and son in law of a friend, who is retired after professorship in a western country, both specialist teachers, have volunteered to teach in a central african country, funded by a christian charity organisation.