Wars

War is a unique type of disaster that brings a unique set of challenges to humanitarian responders. War was the catalyst for the development of organized emergency relief. The tactics of war constantly change, requiring humanitarian actors to adjust their response tactics to remain effective. War takes a tremendous human toll, especially among civilians. Because they are sparked from intense anger, self-interest, or tribalism, and often prosecuted with wanton brutality, conflicts result in a unique kind of deep emotional trauma that impedes a society's ability to move forward. Wars leave emotional scars for generations after the fighting ends.

When armed fighting occurs in countries already suffering from a previous disaster, the violence exacerbates problems such as displacement, lack of healthcare, lack of education, separation of families, and food insecurity. Particularly savage conflicts often devastate a community's physical infrastructure and can create conditions that lead to the eventual elimination of cultural norms. Because of this, entire societies have been destroyed by long-term hostility.

The devastating consequences of violent conflict served as the primary impetus for the genesis of the humanitarian relief movement in the late 19th century, and perhaps more than any other type of emergency, war remains the catalyst for the evolution of disaster relief guidelines. The history-making publication A Memory of Solferino, written by Jean-Henri Dunant in 1862 as a testament to the horrors of war, became a revolutionary call to action that inspired the creation of the International Red Cross and the drafting of the Geneva Conventions.

After witnessing the horrific aftermath of a brutal confrontation between Italy and Austria near the Italian town of Solferino, Dunant mobilized the local citizenry to serve the thousands that lay dying on the battlefield. The residents were initially reluctant to care for the ‘other side's’ wounded, but Dunant was insistent that they serve everyone. A Memory of Solferino is a richly detailed account of the trauma he witnessed, as well as his vision for humanitarian assistance that remains at the core of most relief organizations today: ‘Would it not be possible in time of peace and quiet to form relief societies for the purpose of having care given to the wounded in wartime by zealous, devoted, and thoroughly qualified volunteers?”

The principles of humanitarian relief put forth by Dunant and others are now almost universally accepted by emergency responders. In most cases of natural disaster, when the entire population has fallen victim to forces outside of their control, these standards are still easily upheld. Divisions between groups of people often disappear as everyone suffers equally. Even in places that have experienced sustained civil conflict, tensions often subside in the wake of natural disasters as assistance is given to those in need. This was the situation immediately following the tsunami that struck southeast Asia in 2004, when rebels in the Indonesian province of Aceh laid down their weapons so that the government and international agencies could provide relief to the survivors.

The disaster of violent conflict between groups of people, however, presents unparalleled challenges. This is especially true today as relief agencies work in a constantly changing battlefield environment. From World War I to the present, the percentage of civilian war casualties (to total causalities) has increased from 5 to 90 percent, making humanitarian assistance more essential than ever before. At the same time, the lack of clearly defined battlefields and the overwhelming number of noncombatants affected by the fighting further complicate emergency response efforts. Although there are difficulties involved in any humanitarian relief operation, there are certain recurring issues that arise when providing aid to victims of war.

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