Cambodian interventions will not ease Myanmar crisis

Significance Cambodia is the 2022 chair of ASEAN, which has a five-point plan for resolving conflict between the Myanmar junta and its opponents. Hun Sen held talks with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing but did not meet ousted State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who faces years in jail. Impacts The intensifying conflict will make it difficult to distribute humanitarian assistance and COVID-19 vaccines. Efforts by certain external players to encourage a return to elected government will likely diminish. The NUG’s commitment to violent insurgency will stop Washington, the junta’s foremost critic, backing the shadow government formally.

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 201-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasper Hotho ◽  
Verena Girschik

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to open up new lines of research into the engagement of corporations during humanitarian crises. The paper provides an introduction to core concepts in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, as well as a comprehensive overview of when, why, how, and to what effect corporations engage in humanitarian action. Design/methodology/approach Building on extant literature and policy reports, the paper synthesizes concepts and insights to map the interdisciplinary field of research on corporate engagement in humanitarian action. Findings The paper systematically reviews and describes different dimensions of corporate engagement for delivering humanitarian action and explains key complications that inspire new research questions. In particular, the paper highlights challenges associated with getting corporations to engage in humanitarian action; challenges associated with ensuring effective corporate engagement; and challenges associated with ensuring ethical engagement. Originality/value By raising new questions about corporate engagement in humanitarian action, this paper develops an original and positive research agenda for international business, management research, and related fields.


Author(s):  
Ira Haavisto ◽  
Jarrod Goentzel

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to deepen the understanding of supply chain performance objectives in the humanitarian context by striving to understand the underlying goals and conceptual variables behind the measurement of performance, such as efficiency. Design/methodology/approach – The research is an in-depth case study with one humanitarian organization. The data are gathered with mixed methods over a two-year period. Interviews were conducted in August 2010 and April 2012, and a survey conducted in October 2012. Findings – Misalignments are detected among different groups in humanitarian operations and between their goals and processes. These misalignments could possibly be corrected through long-term thinking in short-term operations by considering sustainability aspects throughout humanitarian assistance, for example. In addition, efficiency was a commonly identified objective in the case organization, although the definition varied widely and extended beyond the traditional definition of productivity to include planning, accountability and quality. Practical implications – Better communication and definition of terms is necessary to align goals and the power hierarchy in humanitarian supply chains, where operations seem to be structured more according to donor requirements then beneficiary needs. Originality/value – This is an in-depth case study, applying goal-setting theory to study supply chain performance. The study further responds to the public “aid efficiency” discussion by striving to recognize how efficiency is understood and how it can be measured in a humanitarian supply chain.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-118
Author(s):  
Abdinur Abdirisak Sofe

Purpose Corruption in humanitarian aid is one of the most worried and worst problems around the world. The existence of corruption acts in humanitarian aid delivery can endanger the already susceptible lives of the neediest individuals in the community. Amid serious humanitarian allegation in the country, this study aims to capture meaningful insights in humanitarian aid corruption in Puntland State of Somalia. Design/methodology/approach The study applied qualitative method and used interview as a technique of data collection. The information obtained through the interview was analyzed by quoting and narration forms. Findings The findings indicated numerous acts of corruption in all project stages including corruption in project granting and humanitarian staff employment, distortion of project targets and diversion of humanitarian project from targeted communities. The research also found that governmental and non-governmental actors are involved in the humanitarian corruption such as project managers and support staffs in addition to line ministries, parliament and community representatives. Research limitations/implications Corruption is a taboo and is difficult to research; people do not want to share the information for fear of victimization. Concerned institutions were not willing to provide necessary materials which led to shortage of secondary data. Another problem encountered during the study has been that the humanitarian stakeholders (for instance, government, non-government and private institutions) acted reluctantly to cooperate because of suspicion that disclosing information may lead to negative effect on their business. To overcome the challenges, the study assured the confidentiality of the members and that information collected would be used for research purposes only. The study further combined various tools of data collection so that the weakness of one tool becomes the strength of the other; while the researcher made efforts to build rapport with the research participants. Originality/value This study will contribute to the literature on corruption in the humanitarian aid. Specifically, the findings of this study will benefit academicians/researchers by giving empirical insights of corruption in the humanitarian aid in Puntland. It will benefit the government policymakers in the formulation of policies to combat corruption in the sector. Donors and aid agencies may also find the findings useful as they are key stakeholders who are interested in corruption in the humanitarian sector and finally the findings will benefit the wider society that is the primary victim of corruption in the humanitarian sector.


Subject Outlook for US policy engagement with Myanmar as the US presidential transition nears. Significance The White House is preparing to lift most remaining US sanctions on Myanmar, after President Barack Obama's September 14 announcement to this effect when he met Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. Washington will also restore Myanmar's access to the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) because of recent improvements in labour rights. Supporting Myanmar's democratic 'transition' has been a key Obama policy and the president is attempting to fix progress before his successor takes office in January 2017. Impacts Myanmar's government will deepen ties with Beijing, but not necessarily to the extent of eclipsing US ties. The Rohingya issue will still cause some friction in Myanmar-US ties. Policy gaps and delays on Myanmar between the US Congress and next president may expand.


Significance State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi is seeking a ‘21st Century Panglong’ to redress current domestic tensions. Last year was testing for her National League for Democracy (NLD), which assumed full control of the civilian portion of government in April 2016 following its landslide victory in the November 2015 general election. Impacts Naypyidaw will try to play Beijing and Delhi off against each other in their race for influence in Myanmar. Pressure on NLD unity will rise over graft allegations. Further ministerial reshuffles are likely at the national level and in state and region governments.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-73
Author(s):  
Donald V. Widener ◽  
Thomas A. Mazzuchi ◽  
Shahram Sarkani

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose an effective knowledge elicitation method and representation scheme that empowers humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR) analysts and experts to create analytic models without the aid of data scientists and methodologists while addressing the issues of complexity, collaboration, and emerging technology across a diverse global network of HA/DR organizations. Design/methodology/approach The paper used a mixed-methods research approach, with qualitative research and analysis to select the model elicitation method, followed by quantitative data collection and evaluation to test the representation scheme. A simplified analytic modeling approach was created based on emerging activity-based intelligence (ABI) analytic methods. Findings Using open source data on the Syrian humanitarian crisis as the reference mission, ABI analytic models were proven capable in modeling HA/DR scenarios of physical systems, nonphysical systems, and thinking. Practical implications As a data-agnostic approach to develop object and network knowledge, ABI aligns with the objectives of modeling within multiple HA/DR organizations. Originality/value Using an analytic method as the basis for model creation allows for immediate adoption by analysts and removes the need for data scientists and methodologists in the elicitation phase. Applying this highly effective cross-domain ABI data fusion technique should also supplant the accuracy weaknesses created by traditional simplified analytic models.


Subject Peace process and development policy update. Significance The new government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD) is moving to address long-standing ethnic and religious fissures. A conference planned for July is intended to advance the peace process with armed ethnic minority groups (AEMGs). On May 30, President Htin Kyaw signed into existence the Central Committee for Implementation of Peace and Development in Rakhine State. The committee includes all government ministers and several Rakhine officials, and is chaired by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. Impacts A rushed, non-inclusive conference could set back the peace process. Protests by religious conservatives are likely near administrative centres. Investors in development-related projects in ethnic areas face heightened scrutiny. The leadership of the Rakhine committee will not inspire international confidence, given the Rohingya controversy.


Subject Political outlook for Myanmar. Significance On April 18 as the Buddhist New Year began, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the nation, outlining the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led government's plans. She pledged a constitutional amendment to create a democratic federal union, a central demand of Myanmar's ethnic minority armed groups but one that will further strain NLD-military ties. Impacts Suu Kyi 's State Counsellor role is unlikely to be successfully challenged under the constitution. NLD plans to amend the government's ministerial structure will take time and capacity-building; policy delays are likely. Ethnicity-based parties will push back against the NLD over its chief minister appointments.


Significance Representatives from the internationally recognised government and the Huthis signed three agreements on December 13 at the end of UN-sponsored talks in Sweden. The most significant of these was for a ceasefire in the city of Hodeidah, the country’s largest port and the main gateway for much-needed humanitarian aid, food and fuel. However, some breaches have already been observed. Impacts The deal is an important breakthrough, at least symbolically, and may boost the UN's standing. The release of thousands of prisoners will help build confidence between the parties. Even if only partial, a reduction in fighting around Hodeidah could help provide humanitarian assistance to millions. The understanding on the fighting around the city of Taiz is only a first step towards action on the ground.


Significance The attacks come on the back of a general uptick in violence by the terrorist group both in north-east Nigeria and across its borders. The renewed violence suggests that even in its current degraded and divided state, Boko Haram’s various factions retain the capacity to hurt civilians and security personnel in north-eastern Nigeria and disrupt crucial humanitarian efforts. Impacts Renewed violence in north-eastern Nigeria will hamper the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance and government resettlement efforts. Despite current divisions, growing military successes by Boko Haram’s competing factions could potentially facilitate closer coordination. Growing terror attacks could reduce the impetus for the military to address human rights concerns or decommission local vigilante groups.


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