NGO’s deal with the state

The power of the state is important when analyzing the interaction between humanitarian aid organizations and the state they are attempting to serve.  There are numerous examples of how state power has the potential to limit or inhibit the roles of humanitarian agencies within a country.  By having a secure, legitimate government in place, the [...]

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The effects of the International System

Both the WHO and the Red Cross provide humanitarian services to a multitude of countries throughout the world: the WHO has 193 member states, and the Red Cross has a permanent presence in 60 different countries and conducts operations in 80. The dynamic of the international system therefore affects the missions and operations of both [...]

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NGO’s in Kenya–update

…Well, the references to Red Cross involvement in American news only seem to be a small, scattered amount of field reports/statistics. Some others have been concerning.  In Naivasha, for example, there was a massacre which took the Red Cross 3 days to respond to, according to a Kenyan citizen. While they were immediate responders to [...]

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NGO aid in Kenya–or the lack thereof

The current conflict in Kenya has provided a few insights for our understanding of NGO’s and how they operate. Personally, I always assume that when conflict occurs, the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, or some other organization will have an immediate response to the crisis. This stirring quote made me realize that NGO’s are not always [...]

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