Question

How can humanitarian and military organizations best collaborate to achieve humanitarian aims while mitigating potential dangers arising from such engagements?

Answer 1

In order for humanitarian organization and military organizations to collaborate efficiently, they need to each have control over one another. An analogy of separation of power comes into mind for such arrangement. The potential danger from such arrangement is that the humanitarian organization may begin to use the military to achieve unethical objectives or vice versa. Hence an arrangement such a separation of power should be achieved. For this, there should a neutral third party with no interest in the power, for example a judiciary system or a third party humanitarian organization should have control over both the parties.

Even though there is risk, we have seen enough example of situations where humanitarian and military organization have come together to help the people of need. Natural disasters such as cyclone, tornado, earthquake, wildfire, etc. has seen organizations joining together and achieving a goal.

Another key learning from such collaboration has been that these joint efforts should have a deadline and lifetime. It cannot be an ongoing project. Then the risk of power play reduces between the organizations.