| Background. Health professionals and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from industrialized countries are involved in humanitarian relief efforts throughout the world. However, to date, limited data exists to define the population of workers and professionals who engage in international humanitarian aid work, or how they incorporate personal and professional standards and ideologies into their practice. Methods. A qualitative study was developed to consider these questions. We conducted comprehensive, semi-structured interviews with 30 experienced humanitarian aid workers, evaluating their motivations, perspectives, experiences and beliefs regarding the humanitarian work. Interviews were recorded, coded, and analyzed, and themes were developed. Results. Two-third of respondents were female, mostly from North America and Western Europe from major international humanitarian non-governmental organizations. Overwhelmingly, participants felt that their organizations were well-received by the populations they served, and that relationships between beneficiaries and the organization were strong. Several core themes were identified, including: the importance of 'rights' and 'solidarity' as motivational ideologies; a strong sense of self-identification with the mission and directives of operating NGOs; tensions between moral ideologies and humanitarian operations; concerns over high rates of burnout among aid workers; anxiety over a perceived dilution of humanitarian principles; and the uncertainty of the future of the humanitarian space. Conclusion. Despite significant use of the language of rights and solidarity, tension exists between the philosophy of rights and inclusion and the realities of incorporating rights-based frameworks in operational and program management. Recommendations include increased emphasis on the use of humanitarian principles, ethical practice, and character-building for both individuals and organizations, the development of strategies for retention of experienced workers that address burn out and psychological stresses, and active attention to the militarization and politicization of humanitarian aid work. |
