Humanitarian & Development

Geneva -- The record rise in expenditure of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for its humanitarian interventions around the world in 2008 clearly reflects the increasing vulnerability among millions of civilians affected by conflict and disaster. The impressive – if not shocking – array of facts and figures outlined in its just released 2008 Annual Report also underscores the exceptional food, medical and shelter relief provided by the Geneva-based organization for affected populations throughout such crisis zones, but also – an ICRC specialty – visiting detainees in 83 different countries. What the report does not convey, however, is that many of these operations are little more than bandaid substitutes for political failure by the international community. The collapse of mediation efforts in Sri Lanka and Somalia, but also the mixing of agendas by the United States, Europe and other players leading to increased insecurity in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan are among the most blatant examples of such failure today.

Hundreds of independent consultants and recently hired full-time staffers working for the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) are becoming increasingly frustrated if not outraged by the ongoing delays with contracts, payments, salaries, school fees and holiday reimbursements, some of which date back more than a year. A few, too, are facing severe cash flow difficulties, a situation not helped by the current financial crisis. Many working for UNAIDS, the UN agency dealing with HIV/AIDS and whose administrative procedures are run by WHO, are also affected. The bulk of these payment problems have been caused largely by WHO’s decision to implement – too hastily it appears - its new Global Management System (GSM), including the transfer of most of its accounts operations to Kuala Lumpur, ostensibly to save money.