Why is humanitarian work so difficult?
Why is humanitarian work so difficult in Somalia, and why has it become apparently acceptable to operate there outside of our normal values, principles and systems? The answer to the first question is primarily related to issues of accessibility. Security for aid workers, both Somali and foreign, is extremely poor, with intimidation a daily occurrence, whilst kidnapping and assassination are increasing. Getting access to communities in need, and then focusing on serving the most vulnerable, is often not possible, as powerful armed actors impose restrictions on aid delivery: illegal taxation of aid agencies, help with beneficiary selection, coercion during recruitment and forced contractual relationships with certain service providers are just some of the many methods that reduce aid effectiveness. This way of working has existed for almost two decades, and the obstacles preventing access to people are only increasing. The answer to the second question may be related to the depth of the
