SONGSOPTOK: Let us forget for a moment the UN definition of
‘humanitarianism’. What is your personal definition? In what context would you
apply the word?
SILAS: ‘Humanitarianism’ is a concept
that revolves around humanitarian principles and practices of giving and
helping the needy; in a broader way, humanitarian concept anchors on these four
elements-ethics, theology, philanthropy or benevolence, and welfare of
humanity. The etymological origin of “Humanitarianism” came from “humanitarian”
sometimes in 1794 as a “Christian Theological Position” on a particular belief
or doctrine adopted by the Church. From
1844, the term assumed a more sociological construct than theology. Tersely,
humanitarian means “philanthropy and benevolence, a charitable impulse towards
unfortunate from those capable of alleviating poverty, disaster, or war. It
suggests a benign doctrine, even a profession of faith”; humanitarians are
people who seek to promote human welfare, or being concerned with affairs of
humankind in a warmly or sympathetic manner. On the other hand, humanitarian is
the service provided, to help, improve, alleviate suffering of fellow humans without
anticipating anything in return; but with a possibility of facing a difficult
and challenging situation in the course of providing the noble service.
Humanitarian is applicable to all socio-cultural and political activities with
direct bearing on man, when a sympathetic cause, care, and love to those
without one are involved.
Humanitarian became very popular among neoliberal theorists of
1930s, who believed in a middle way between the two conflicting philosophies of
20th century: Classical Liberalism and Socialist Planning.
SONGSOPTOK: What, according to you, are the specific types of events that
call for humanitarian actions?
SILAS: I have identified seven deadly
sins of man; these sins pose a great threat to humankind collective existence.
Greed, corruption, indulgence, in-equalities, hate, racism, and injustice; collective
actions are required to combat the negative effects of these sins before they
destroy life and consume man’s home-the Earth.
SONGSOPTOK: Why, in your
opinion, do countries and societies even need humanitarian actions, often
initiated and coordinated by the so called first world economies?
SILAS: Countries and societies worldwide
need humanitarian actions to give succor to the victims of crises and disasters,
protect life wherever possible, and to promote international concord, harmony,
and unity through a good cause.
1. Our world
has become a global village, no thanks to modern communications and
transportation systems that keep shrinking, reducing, and shortening the
distance among nations, developments
that have made every living soul a neighbor; which means, whatever affects
a country has a direct impact on another nation. For instance, a war caused by
inordinate ambition of a group in one country no doubt will affect millions of
lives elsewhere. Organized crime by a
cartel or mafia for illicit material gains in one place will have direct effect
on socio-economic and political activities of other nations.
2. Hate,
racism, religious bigotry created for both political and economic gains in one
country will certainly have ripple effects nearby or far off.
These
reasons explain the need for a concerted effort to promote humanitarian actions,
more so, synergize with people of goodwill on a global level to reduce evil.
3. More
important, humanitarian actions should be a combination of assistance and
positive steps to reduce triggers of crises.
SONGSOPTOK: Can individuals play a significant role in initiating or
participating in humanitarian actions? In what way?
SILAS: Yes, individuals, groups,
organizations, bodies, and societies can initiate, promote, and run a
humanitarian cause. For individual, by means of education and communication,
humanitarian services, which are more than physical or material needs, can be
provided. For instance, educating people
on their rights will result in empowering every social unit (man and woman) that
constitutes a society. Communicating social values, promoting friendships among
people of different backgrounds, focusing on what unites, down play differences
are humanitarian activities-superior to material provision, the intellectual
and capital development needs, for society’s continued existence.
SONGSOPTOK: What should be
the role of the world community, especially organizations like the UN, to
encourage humanitarian actions in different countries, especially those
suffering from internal war or external aggression? Do you think that their
efforts are sufficient? If not, what else should be done to help the countries
/ societies / populations in need?
SILAS: United Nations, super-power
nations, strong economies, regional, and continental bodies should be more
involved in humanitarian activities to reduce the negative effects of crises
and disasters on victims. Moreover, countries, societies, United Nations, should
go beyond material and financial provisions, which are the primary focus during
crises or disasters. Humankind need more than foods, blankets, medicines,
water, temporary shelters, and clothing; even their needs go beyond emotional
and psychological provisions in times of crisis and disaster. In the face of evil from terrorism to
nations’ balkanization by resistant armies, environment-created-hazards, man-made,
and beyond-human-competence-and-solution-problems, world communities and United
Nations, should develop multipronged approach to eliminate crises where
possible and reduce disasters where applicable, rather than focusing on
humanitarian efforts alone.
1. Through proactive
approach, societies, countries (governments) should be prepared and ready to
manage crisis with consequential effect on humans.
2. The world
should and must always unite to fight against evil, rather than being divisive
or speak with different tongues, as it always happen among United Nations’
members because of economic and political reasons.
3. Perpetrators
of evil should not be shielded or spared, no matter how highly placed
individuals or groups may be; justice must be served.
4. Acts of
Aggression by nations, groups, corporate entities, and individuals must be
condemned. Aggressor nations sanctioned.
5. International
Criminal Court (ICC) should do more than what it does at present. The idea where non-signatory nations to its
conventions and agreements are left unprosecuted for crimes against humanity
desire a second look.
6. Terrorists,
sponsors, host nations should be treated same way.
At present, local and
international humanitarian
efforts are not enough, granted, needs are many, resources are few; many a time, global
response to humanitarian needs of war, crisis, and disaster victims is very
slow. More so, the politics of material
and financial provisions, preferential treatment by regions, and lack of follow
up always make humanitarian efforts come to naught.
SONGSOPTOK: What should ideally be the role of the governments in
humanitarian actions – both in afflicted countries and in the other countries
of the world? Are government activities sufficient in this context?
SILAS: The major responsibility of any
government is to protect life and property; where and when a government fails
in this regard, such a government loses right to rule, loses right to demand
obedience and loyalty, loses right to impose and to collect taxes.
Granted, even in a near-perfect situation one cannot rule out
crisis, but what matters most, is the level of preparedness, the extent and the
quality of assistance the afflicted ones receive in times of trouble. If government
meets people’s needs, that will be good, but if it fails, trust, confidence,
and loyalty from citizens may be withheld. We have seen this happened
severally, in most, if not in all cases-governments have failed their citizens
with dire consequences of losing at polls, or when people react through
protest.
The situation is worse in Africa (especially in sub-Sahara,
Central, East and Southern Africa), South American continent, Southeast Asia,
India subcontinent, Middle East, and the Persian Gulf region.
SONGSOPTOK: In your opinion, do religious institutions
play an important role in humanitarian actions? In your own experience, what
kind of actions have you witnessed that have been pioneered by religious
institutions?
SILAS: Yes, religious bodies have
continued to play major role in humanitarian efforts and services for decades
in every region around the globe. In fact, it could be said, religions these
days are more into social and liberal gospel, or humanitarian theology than
ecclesiastic activities. Through faith-funded organizations and charities,
humanitarian services are felt worldwide.
Prominent among these bodies are:
1. International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
2. Doctors
without Borders
3. World Food
Program (WFP)
4. Cooperative
for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE)
5. Oxfam
International
6. Action
Against Hunger
7. One World
8. Save the
Children
9. UNICEF
10.World
Vision
These are global humanitarian armies with thousands of their
soldiers or workers in social and economic trenches around the globe providing
and supporting good causes from simple inoculation to capital development
programs. Some of the services provided
are: women’s empowerment, feed the world, portable water, economic development,
poverty alleviation, social justice, youth empowerment, girls’ education,
maternal health, violence against women, HIV & AIDS, child marriage,
climate change, and many more. More than Peacekeepers, they sustain and give
hope to the hopeless, they bring succor to depressed souls, and help creating a
new future for victims of crisis.
However, help from these bodies come rather too late, and too little; moreover, humanitarian
services are hampered by little
accessibility to victims of crimes against humanity, thereby creating serious
humanitarian crisis such as in Syria, Congo, Iraq, and Afghanistan,
SONGSOPTOK: Non Governmental
Organizations (NGO) are often in the forefront of humanitarian actions and yet
there have been widespread criticism about the efficacy and utility of NGOs in
different countries, especially in Asia & Africa. What is your own
experience? Should NGOs be given more power and independence where humanitarian
actions are concerned?
SILAS: As said previously, Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGO) are great, but when
one considers the little they do, or would have done when there is crisis; most
likely, one believes, they might have
done much better, but for these reasons:
1) Inaccessibility
to the victims of crises;
2) 2) Little
resources, but more demands and needs;
3) 3) Human
failure–since these organizations are managed and run by humans-structural or
organizational defect, technical difficulties and unforeseen occurrence always limit their operations,
which in turn affect results and
successes that would have followed.
4) Their staffers suffer so
much from inclement weather to hostile environment, security and safety
challenges, cultural and language barriers; NGOs’ personnel need more protection,
because they work mostly in hostile and dangerous environment. In addition, supporting/ancillary
workers (interpreters, informants, tour guides, and local vendors) should enjoy
some degree of protection, where threat and intimidation occur; identity of
these individuals should always be made secret.
5) All parties to conflicts where humanitarian
organizations operate must honor international agreements and protocols to
create enabling environment for NGOs to perform their statutory duties.
More
important, United Nations should pass a Special Resolutions making it a crime
to kill humanitarian workers in lands or territories of operation; accused
person or persons be made answerable to applicable local laws, or international
laws should there be an escape from
where murder is originally committed; also, residences and offices must carry
diplomatic status of inviolability.
SONGSOPTOK: What should be
the aim of humanitarian actions in afflicted countries – short term relief or
long term actions that would help societies build up their own strengths and
resources? Please share your knowledge or experience about long term actions
undertaken anywhere in the world.
SILAS: Since crisis is an integral part
of human socio-political experience, society or country with high
susceptibility to violence should be ready and prepared for crisis management.
Emergency needs and supplies must be in place to cater for
victims of crisis.
More important, Crisis-Detection-Control-Management-Mechanism
(CDCMM) should be in place; a four-way-approach to crisis, which cares for both
the short and long actions in preventing crisis and limiting the effects any
time, there is one.
The synopsis of this approach is be ready for crisis, quick to discover or detect crisis, swift to
nip it in the bud (control), and be a good manager should there be a conflagration.
It is reasonable to prevent crisis than to wait for it to happen,
because the cost is great, healing/recovery takes a long time. If crisis
control mechanism is available, it saves a lot.
More important, supporting and promoting certain civil and
political institutions such as The Police, Judiciary, Military, Civil Liberty
Bodies, will help sustain long-term actions for the society’s efforts to reduce
crisis
However, these institutions will be more effective upon these
conditions:
· Corruption
free,
· Enjoys
political stability and independence
· Personnel
owe no political, cultural, religious allegiance to anyone except to the
nation.
SONGSOPTOK: It is often seen that the strongest help and support comes from
within the communities affected by conflicts or natural disasters. How, in your
opinion, can communities be empowered to successfully face such situations?
What, in this context, could be the role of formal or informal grassroots
organizations?
SILAS: No doubt, 60-70 percent of help
comes from affected communities, which means, crisis-prone communities
anticipate crises and disasters.
To help community cope or better prepared, these are some
suggestions:
1) Education-
provide education on the causes and
effects of crises and disasters;
2) Provide
training on how to cope when crisis or disaster occurs.
3) Provide a
safe haven in crisis prone areas, more so,
have-a-stand-by-first-crisis-responder to reduce loss or heavy casuality.
4) Encourage,
promote, support community based grassroot organizations to facilitate
cross-cultural activities that may reduce or limit crisis.
SONGSOPTOK: Women and children are most vulnerable in situations of
conflicts or disasters. What, according to you, are the specific actions that
need to be taken to ensure the safety and security of women and children?
SILAS: True, women, children, and people
with mental and physical challenges are major victims of crisis, even if we
cannot stop crisis, we can reduce it, in order to protect the vulnerable.
Ways to protect the vulnerable are:
1) Teach them
to know and quickly identify red flags of crisis.
2) Provide safe
haven in a violent-prone society.
3) Provide friendly
community based security forces or agencies.
4) Synergize
and partnership among grassroot organizations and security agencies.
SONGSOPTOK: How do you, as an individual,
practice humanitarianism? Is it an important part of your value system &
mental make-up? Please share your thoughts and experiences with us.
SILAS: My support and practice of
humanitarian are based on these three related, but distinct activities:
1) Through
advocacy–support for mentally, physically, and emotionally challenged
individuals.
2) Education-
provide education for women, teach them their rights, infringements, and legal
instrument to defend these rights. Teach women society imposed cultural
barriers and how they can fight them.
3) Promote knowledge through teaching/training,
research, and writing on crisis red flags and how to
avert them.
SILAS OLA ABAYOMI:
Poet, Historian, Cultural Anthropologist,
And Author. Assistant Professor: Mass Communication & Journalism,
University Of Lagos, Nigeria.
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