Médecins sans Frontières book reveals aid agencies' ugly compromises

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

A controversial new book produced by one of the world's best-known aid agencies, Médecins sans Frontières, lifts the lid on the often deeply uncomfortable compromises aid organisations are forced to make while working in conflicts.

How humanitarian aid organisations work – and the sometimes unintended consequences of their actions – has been brutally cross-examined in recent years, not least by the critical Dutch author Linda Polman.

MSF's collection of essays, Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed, has provided the most detailed and self-critical inside account of the deals aid agencies are forced to negotiate, often with groups and regimes which abuse human rights, to continue their work.

Launched to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the medical aid agency, the book offers a rare and unflinching portrait of some of MSF's most difficult recent operations, including in Sri Lanka, Somalia, Burma, Pakistan and Gaza.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/nov/20/medecins-sans-frontieres-book

[Jay Raskin]

1. Doctors Without Borders

These guys are so C.I.A. Just before every NATO/US war, these guys issue reports talking about terrible human rights abuses. However, when NATO/US kill 1,000 Times more people than the previous regime these guys never say a word.

[roody]

4. I hope that is not true; I donate to them.

[burrowowl]

6. It is also MSF that is revealing this

and it looks like to give aid you have to suck up to people like the CIA. The book should be very interesting.

:grr:

[Lars77]

5. Is there oxygen on your planet? nt

[leveymg]

2. Why am I not surprised by that lineup, Agent 227? 1-2-3-4-5 . . .

[madrchsod]

3. sometimes ya have to dance with the devil.....