Speaker at the 14th International Humanitarian Conference

Bellevue, Switzerland - Sitting in on the 14th International Humanitarian Conference, entitled Facing the Psychological Impact, I was struck once again by the wealth of human resource at our fingertips here in Geneva.

The conference, which began yesterday, February 26, and runs through today, is co-organized by Webster University Geneva, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other Geneva-based institutions.

Thematic discussion for this year’s conference includes:

• The Foundations, Ethics and Practice of “Humanitarian Psychology”
• The Psychological Vulnerability of Individuals and Communities at risk
• “Helping the Helpers” – Psychosocial Care for Humanitarian Workers

Chechen refugee family in the Republic of Georgia on World Refugee Day 2005 - Photo ®Jared Bloch

As an independent consultant and refugee advocate living in Geneva, the conference represents an opportunity to listen to leaders in the field discuss challenges faced in addressing the psychological impact of humanitarian crises on those directly affected as well as on humanitarian aid workers.

The topic is one close to my heart, having worked for many years with refugee individuals and families, often survivors of multiple trauma, who recounted for me in painful detail their life experience.

Even in the best of settings, psychosocial screening, referral and treatment services for refugees and other victims of humanitarian disasters, are in short supply. This in spite of the overwhelming need documented by psychosocial practitioners; a torture and trauma counselor and colleague involved with a national resettlement program once commented that up to 50% of newly arriving refugees could benefit from psychosocial services due to their traumatic experiences. In acute situations, the need is dire.

Dermot Carty, Deputy Director for the UNICEF Office of Emergency Programmes (Emops), cited a recent World Health Organization field mission to Gaza identifying between 25-50,000 individuals there in need of mental health interventions. And this among a population that has shown itself to be amazingly resilient throughout years of being enveloped by armed conflict. But at what cost?

Refugee, Republic of Georgia - Photo ®Jared Bloch

This last question was raised by several presenters who provided examples of the psychological impact of humanitarian crises and conflict on individuals and groups. These ranged from Post Taumatic Stress Disorder/Stress Syndrome and related chronic health problems, to the perpetuation of fear and subsequently aggression amongst both perpetrators and victims. One presenter noted, in the case of Gaza, that “Psychological healing may be an even larger challenge than reaching a peace agreement.”

Several of the presentations during the first day also dealt with the evolution of International Humanitarian Law in responding to humanitarian challenges. These include the post-Cold War emergence of a doctrine of pro-active or “muscular” peacekeeping activities, and the concept of Responsibility to Protect or R2P. These can be seen roughly as tools for the protection of human rights, developed by the international community following a paradigm shift in conflicts characterized by irregular combatants, ill-defined boundaries of conflict and attacks on peacekeepers and humanitarian workers.

Refugee children on World Refugee Day, Republic of Georgia - Photo ®Jared Bloch

The second day of the conference is focusing largely on self-care of Humanitarian Workers, by individuals and the organizations they work for.

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