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A Film and Discussion on Humanitarian Aid

by Gabriela Escobar on November 20, 2008

GlobeMed had the opportunity to partner with the Northwestern University Conference on Human Rights to screen the film “Beyond Borders” this past Thursday, Nov. 13.  I was glad to be able to attend the screening and the discussion that followed. The film touched upon many issues affecting humanitarian work including NGO accountability, compassionate fatigue and the means taken to aid those in need.

In the opening scene a relief worker, Nick, storms a party in which a member of a group that has just pulled funding from Nick’s relief work in Ethiopia is being honored.  The money that was pulled and the party brings forth questions regarding NGO accountability.  Are NGO’s working to the best of their ability in an effective manner?  When a specific case of work in humanitarian aid is begun, how is it implemented?  Does aid end in a sustainable manner so that you do not end up where you started?  In the movie a group gave money which helped feed many in Ethiopia, but when the funding was abruptly pulled many people were once again in the same spot as before- facing starvation.  Nick interrupts a party honoring humanitarian aid.  In this case, the conscience of some people was put so at ease by a small amount of help that they were able to pull out the help once given and then spend large amounts of money to congratulate themselves in their work.

Another aspect of the movie that was brought up in discussion is how at times Nick’s actions are questionable.  In the opening party scene Nick is also with a small malnourished Ethiopian boy named Jojo.  He presents Jojo to all those present as a figure of the suffering going on in Ethiopia and what the group is no longer willing to help.  At one point he even makes Jojo act out the role of a monkey when someone throws a banana.  When Nick and Jojo are taken away and separated, Jojo finds himself alone in an unknown place and dies on the streets. Later on when funding runs out, Nick is desperate and becomes involved in arms smuggling in return for aid.  High emotions and the feeling of desperation can lead you to commit actions that may be seen as unethical.  During the discussion it was brought up that exposing someone in the way that Jojo was can be an act of taking someone’s dignity away.  Does obtaining money for aid justify arm smuggling?  Actions like this cause Nick to be taken captive and his friend to be killed when problems arise.  Again one must consider how humanitarian aid is implemented and its effectiveness.  Are situations like these the result of compassionate fatigue?

Another point in the movie that I’d like to share which deals with the issue of compassionate fatigue is when, inspired by Nick’s speech, a woman named Sarah, travels to Ethiopia. Sarah is someone new to humanitarian aid and Nick is at first very negative and rude toward her, seeing her as a silly wealthy girl only there to ease her conscience.  You learn that Nick does not call people by their names to keep detached from those around him. 

Working amid suffering can result in cynicism and a state in which one needs to feel detached to keep going. It can also lead to desperation as with the case of Jojo and the arm smuggling.  When working with humanitarian aid, how does one avoid compassionate fatigue? 

The preceding examples were just a few of the issues brought up in the movie and discussed afterward.  It was a great experience to hear the thoughts of other students in regards to humanitarian aid.

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