Opinion: When work is never over and safety not assured

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“Contrary to other work, where after a person gets home at 4 or 5 p.m. and it is over — for me, it feels like work is never over.”

Those are the words of my network colleague, Dr. Alain Casséus, who works for Haitian humanitarian organization Zanmi Lasante — a local partner of Presbyterian World Service and Development. Between long weeks away from home for work, the struggle of balancing work and family, and risking their lives every day for the work they do, it’s hard to imagine the challenges humanitarian workers such as Alain face doing their jobs.

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Last week we acknowledged World Humanitarian Day (Aug. 19), and honoured the workers who handle extraordinary challenges to serve others in the context of humanitarian crises.

Last year was the deadliest on record for humanitarian workers losing their lives. The number of aid workers killed more than doubled, from 118 in 2022 to 261 in 2023. While we are yet to see how 2024 will fare for aid workers, one thing is certain — aid workers are paying some of the highest prices for the effects of conflict, climate and human-rights violations that plague the hunger hot spots I read about every day in my work.

From the comfort of my office in Calgary, I deeply respect the resilience and strength local partner staff such as Alain show in spite of their reality. And as a mom, I can only imagine how much more difficult it would be to parent in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.

“There is always something to do or an issue to manage, and it can impact life at home and create issues with one’s spouse for example, or make children feel like too much time is taken by the work you are doing,” says Alain.

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As he talks about long weeks away from home, I’m reminded of the personal sacrifices humanitarian workers make to serve the most vulnerable in their communities. While I’ve travelled for work, I’ve always had the privilege of returning to a safe community. For the ones who don’t, this isn’t fair. It shouldn’t be a privilege to live in safety but a human right — both for the communities served by humanitarian workers and for the workers themselves.

Crossing multiple gang-controlled areas of Haiti is a daily reality for Alain’s team, and in the face of the ongoing threat of kidnapping, “staff are leaving faster than we are able to replace them,” he says. “For those that remain, the threat to their lives remains, especially for those who are not originally from the areas in which they work and have to travel.”

Despite the challenges they face, they continue to plan and deliver desperately needed humanitarian assistance, often in complex and risky situations — all for the sake of the people they serve. In the past year, nearly 2,500 children experiencing acute malnutrition were treated in Haiti.

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Becoming a mother has given me a deeper sense of the pain and suffering that parents around the world must face when their children are suffering as a result of circumstances beyond their control. All of this added awareness gives me a sense of urgency and responsibility in my work, and a deeper sense of gratitude for the humanitarian workers who have dedicated their lives to ensuring this help is provided.

“The most fulfilling aspect is knowing we are making a difference in people’s lives, despite all the challenges both external and internal . . . (but) resources are limited and the people in need are far greater in number than we can manage,” says Alain.

This week, I’m honouring the courage and dedication humanitarian workers show every day, working tirelessly to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain the dignity of people experiencing horrific situations.

Tineh Aliu is a senior program officer working with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank on emergency food assistance, nutrition, and long-term agricultural programs around the world.

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