From: brett harwood <mednetbrett@juno.com>
Date: Mon Jun 12, 2000 6:10 am
Subject: Re: [streams-online] cycle of relief & development
I have not heard Warren's lecture on the cycle of relief and development
but would like to. I think I saw Warren's address on the forums list.
(Warren if you read this, would you be willing to post your notes for
us to read?)
I am assuming that a "trigger agent" is an event that prompts
emergency relief ?
The response to war and civil war would be assessed the same a natural
catastrophe. A sudden onset war (like the bombing of Yugoslavia -
Kosovo) that displaces - injures a large population would require
rapid "emergency relief". Another scenario would be a long drawn out
civil war ( Guatemala, more that 30 years) where emergency relief may
not always be appropriate or at least short lived in places where a
violent event or movement of people has occurred.
The real question for me (and has been for many years) when is the
best time to transition from emergency relief to rehabilitation ?
In some cases I think we have stopped the availability of housing,
food, and medical care in an appropriate time frame but mostly I am
sorry to confess, we provided these services way past the time we
should have. I have lived in regions where we have done this and was
able to witness how we fostered destructive dependency and other
negative problems. Greed - diminished work ethic - diminished
survival skills etc.....
It is a huge temptation for a Christian (me) to keep "giving" because
we are motivated by compassion and are close enough to be personally
affected by the suffering. I more conscious about this transition time
line but would like some guidelines on the subject -- any help would
be appreciated.
