Violence Against Aid Workers Escalates

Charity workers in war zones are increasingly targets of deadly attacks, reports The Economist.

According to United Nations statistics, rebels and government groups in Darfur have attacked 30 charity compounds, hijacked 29 vehicles, and killed a dozen humanitarian workers in the past six months of Sudan’s civil war. In Sri Lanka, 17 aid workers were executed despite uniforms marking them as neutral in the conflict.

The article said that the main reason for the number of attacks is that charities are sending far more people to dangerous places than they did in the past.

The article also cites statistics that question the standard assumption that natives who assist international charities are at greater risk than foreigners. Still, it notes that if a country collapses, foreign aid workers can be airlifted out, while no such option exists for natives.

Read The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s coverage of the dangers charities face in Iraq and Darfur.

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