Topic: Protecting Humanitarian Workers in Conflict Zones
Country: Lebanon
Delegate Name: Ashley Jordan
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Lebanon position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
Humanitarian aid workers are a major building block in helping countries in need rebuild their infrastructure, resources, and communities internationally. As more humanitarian aid workers are deployed, violence against these workers has also increased. Although said workers are protected legally by United Nations, there is still a lack of a plausible way to physically protect all aid workers.
Especially during the outbreak of fighting with Fatah al-Islam in 2007, Lebanon has had previous concerns regarding the safety of aid workers in this region. Two aid workers were killed at the Nahr al-Barad refugee camp, however, this was the largest incident at least in the last ten years. The Republic of Lebanon has taken steps with its military to make sure that humanitarian aid workers in conflict zones have proper physical protection to back up their protected legal status granted by the UN. Despite each nation’s individual efforts to combat the violence in their relative conflict zones, violence is on an upward trend. From 1998 to 2000 alone, which is before many conflicts through the next decade that resulted in many more conflict zones, a study shows that 198 UN civilian workers were killed.
The Republic of Lebanon believes that it is necessary to combine military force and acceptance to create a balance in which it is safe for civilian aid to conduct their work. Acceptance by the community will allow the workers to accomplish their goals without negative interference by the local population and military force will help deter any potential violent threats.
Lebanon believes it is of high priority for the United Nations as a whole and each individual country and neighboring country with any presence of humanitarian aid workers to cooperate in order to ensure the safety of those who are trying to assist.
