Guide to Nongovernmental Organizations for the Military: A Primer for the Military about Private, Voluntary, and Nongovernmental Organizations Operating in Humanitarian Emergencies Globally

摘要

The Guide serves as an overview for the military on nongovernmental organizations' (NGOs') structure and capacity in conflict zones, peace keeping missions and humanitarian crises. The Guide highlights strengths NGOs have over the military during these campaigns, including greater flexibility, efficiency and the perception of being politically neutral. 'With staff members immersed in local populations, NGOs can absorb information faster than militaries can, often because militaries are isolated by force protection requirements,' the Guide acknowledges. However, military forces have their advantages too when responding to a humanitarian crisis. Superior logistical and communications capabilities 'can provide extensive intelligence information about population movements, security conditions, road, river, and bridge conditions, and other information pertinent to conducting humanitarian operations.' The Guide has four main sections: The first section identifies NGOs as 'a major component of the global aid system' and describes how they follow 'codified, well-tested international standards of care.' The second section examines the capacities and services of NGOs, describing them as 'quick, nimble, and largely free-roaming organizations strapped only by their budgets or self-imposed mandates.' This section examines the wide variety of services and missions NGOs have. The third section focuses on the importance of NGOs coordinating their activities with different groups including the military and United Nations to maximize efficiency and capacity. The fourth section includes a list of selected NGOs and their areas of expertise, resources for humanitarian aid, and dispels myths about the United Nations and the Red Cross and Red Crescent system.