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Edited by Deborah Eade and introduced by Stephen Commins
Humanitarian relief has always been focused on meeting the needs of people affected by war and armed conflict. Today, the same is increasingly true of development programmes. The challenge for aid agencies is not only to apply development principles to their emergency work, but also to address the issues arising from the reality of military conflict and destruction. Working for change brings aid agencies face to face with violence: powerlessness on the one hand, and abuse of power on the other. This collection draws on the varied experience of practitioners and human rights activists in dealing with the social consequences of war, including the emotional damage done to victims and those who work with them. Alex de Waal focuses on famine as a tool for violating human rights, while Francisco Alvarez Solis and Pauline Martin writing about El Salvador show how civilian organisations mobilised for peace in the midst of war. Lucy Bonnerjea addresses the needs of children in situations where they become separated from their families, and Hans Buwalda describes work in the Philippines that helps children to come to terms with their suffering. Derek Summerfield offers policy and practice guidance to NGOs involved in conflict-related emergencies.
