Humanitarian Aid Programs Research Articles

The right to education under the conditions of martial state

The right to education is one of the fundamental human rights approved in the Constitution of Ukraine. However, the war conditions taking place on the territory of Ukraine create significant challenges for ensuring this right. In this article, we analyze the problems that arise in the context of ensuring the provisions of Article 53 of the Constitution of Ukraine in conditions of war and offer ways to solve them. This article highlights the importance of ensuring the right to education under martial law in Ukraine and suggests practical measures to achieve this goal. The study of this topic contributes to the development of effective strategies for managing educational processes in wartime conditions. Ensuring the right to education in the conditions of martial law in Ukraine becomes a particularly acute problem due to active hostilities and occupation of territories. Military operations are accompanied by violations of human rights, including the right to education, which is contrary to international standards. Military aggression forces the evacuation of schools, universities and other educational institutions, which disrupts the educational process and creates difficulties for obtaining an education. The results of military operations have serious psychological consequences for children, youth and teaching staff, which negatively affects their learning and work capacity. The article analyzes the problem of ensuring the right to education under martial law. The challenges faced by Ukraine in providing educational opportunities during the war are investigated. Special attention is paid to strategies for protecting the right to education, including the role of international law, humanitarian aid programs and innovative approaches to education. Based on this analysis, recommendations are provided to improve the situation with the right to education in the conditions of military conflict. The problems of education during the legal regime of martial law are analyzed, the need to continue measures to guarantee the constitutional right to education is emphasized, since education is considered extremely important for the progress of society, the future of the country directly depends on the level of education, talents, culture and consciousness of the young generation.

Challenges Associated with Persons Internally Displaced by Boko Haram Insurgency in Yobe State

This study investigates the challenges confronting individuals displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in Damaturu Local Government Area, Yobe State, shedding light on the broader impact of global terrorism and insurgency. The research objectives focus on understanding the reasons for displacement and identifying obstacles faced by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in accessing essential/everyday life items. Using a mixed-method approach, including surveys and in-depth interviews, data was gathered from 805 respondents for the survey and 5 participants for the IDI in 5 IDPs’ settlements including Abbari YBC, Abujan Mai-Mala, AMG Farm, Kasaisa and Kukareta. Key findings reveal that 99.0% of respondents attribute their displacement to Boko Haram, with 50.2% experiencing the loss of family members. Challenges in accessing basic necessities are prevalent, with 93.9% reporting difficulties, particularly in food (78.8%), toiletries (61.1%), and clothing (77.9%). The demographic profile highlights a higher representation of women (61.5%) and a younger demographic. The study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive support mechanisms, including humanitarian aid, enhanced security, psycho-social support, tailored education, and sustainable livelihood programs. Vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth, require targeted interventions. In conclusion, the study emphasises the necessity for coordinated efforts to address the multifaceted challenges faced by internally displaced persons in Yobe State, ensuring their survival, dignity, and future stability in the aftermath of insurgency. Recommendations of this study include intensified humanitarian aid, collaboration with security agencies, psycho-social support programs, tailored education initiatives, sustainable livelihood support, and facilitation of collaboration among governmental agencies, non-governmental organisations, and local communities.

The impact of humanitarian aid on financial toxicity among cancer patients in Northwest Syria

IntroductionThe ongoing crisis in Syria has divided the country, leading to significant deterioration of the healthcare infrastructure and leaving millions of people struggling with poor socioeconomic conditions. Consequently, the affordability of healthcare services for the population has been compromised. Cancer patients in Northwest Syria have faced difficulties in accessing healthcare services, which increased their financial distress despite the existence of humanitarian health and aid programs. This study aimed to provide insights into how humanitarian assistance can alleviate the financial burdens associated with cancer treatment in conflict-affected regions.Materials and methodsThis research employed a quantitative, quasi-experimental design with a pre-test-post-test approach, focusing on evaluating the financial toxicity among cancer patients in Northwest Syria before and after receiving humanitarian aid. The study used purposeful sampling to select participants and included comprehensive demographic data collection. The primary tool for measuring financial toxicity was the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (FACIT-COST) tool, administered in Arabic. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS v25, employing various statistical tests to explore relationships and impacts.ResultsA total of 99 cancer patients were recruited in the first round of data collection, out of whom 28 patients affirmed consistent receipt of humanitarian aid throughout the follow-up period. The results of the study revealed that humanitarian aid has no significant relationship with reducing the financial toxicity experienced by cancer patients in Northwest Syria. Despite the aid efforts, many patients continued to face significant financial distress.ConclusionThe research findings indicate that current humanitarian assistance models might not sufficiently address the complex financial challenges faced by cancer patients in conflict zones. The research emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive and integrated approach in humanitarian aid programs. The study highlights the importance of addressing the economic burdens associated with cancer care in conflict settings and calls for a re-evaluation of aid delivery models to better serve the needs of chronic disease patients. The findings suggest a need for multi-sectoral collaboration and a systemic approach to improve the overall effectiveness of humanitarian assistance in such contexts.

Manajemen Risiko Penyaluran Donasi Infaq dan Sedekah Ke Palestina pada Lembaga Kemanusiaan Mer-C Indonesia: Medical Emergency Rescue Committee

Donation or donation is a voluntary element and does not expect a return of service or voluntary reward to have a noble value. It’s more of a human or human interest. A gift that is generally material or non-material. This study discusses the risk management of the distribution of donations to Palestine at the humanitarian agency MER-C Indonesia. This research was carried out with the aim of finding out the process of donation distribution and risk management of the distribution of donations to Palestine by MER-C Indonesia. Djohanputro defines risk management as a structured and systematic process in identifying, measuring, mapping, developing alternative risk management and monitoring and controlling risk management implementation. (2019:112) The type of research used is a descriptive qualitative approach. The data used in this study are primary data in the form of interviews with staff or employees of MER-C Indonesia and secondary data of scientific journals. Data collection using triangulation techniques; i.e. observations, interviews and documentation. Further data processing techniques used in this research include editing, organizing and discovery of results. As for the results of the research, donations were distributed to Palestine through two programmes, the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza development program and the humanitarian aid program. Moreover, risk management of donation distribution is carried out MER-C by sending Indonesian volunteers to Palestine, making Egypt an alternative in channeling essential aid from outside the Palestinian territory, cooperating with various media partners and constantly updating through social media in the distribution of donations to Gaza, Palestine.

Living, Caring, Learning – Collaborating across borders to support a haemophilia patient with a rare complication

Abstract Cyrus, a haemophilia nurse in Kenya, reflects on his experience of treating a patient with a rare complication of haemophilia in a setting with limited access to treatment. The patient developed a debilitating abdominal pseudotumor following an inadequately treated traumatic bleed. After consulting with experts in other countries, surgery was deemed too great a risk. Initiating FVIII prophylaxis with the aim of shrinking the pseudotumour was identified as the most appropriate approach to treatment, however supply issues made it difficult to maintain a prophylactic regimen. When the pseudotumour continued to grow, posing a risk to adjacent organs, an international partnership enabled the initiation of emicizumab prophylaxis through a clinical trial. It was hoped that emicizumab would prevent further bleeding into the pseudotumour and allow it to shrink over time. The patient continued to experience breakthrough bleeding and was withdrawn from the trial after 2.5 years. By this time the supply of FVIII to Kenya through the through the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program had increased and the patient was able to resume FVIII prophylaxis. The pseudotumour is now stable and he continues to be cared for by the same nursing team. Reflecting on this case, Cyrus highlights the value of sharing expertise across borders and working in partnership to try to ensure the best treatment outcome for a patient with a rare complication in a resource-constrained setting. He also reflects on being compassionate in his practice and the importance of a holistic approach to patient support.

How Stakeholder Pressure Affects the Effectiveness of International-Local Nongovernmental Organization Collaboration in Localization of Humanitarian Aid

Collaborative engagement between international and local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) has recently been promoted as an effective strategy to enhance internal process strengths but less as a strategy to localize humanitarian aid programs; a grand strategy that aims to strengthen local capacity, develop local capabilities, and boost regional humanitarian project performance. While stakeholders deem to play an important role in leveraging the efficiencies of such collaborative engagements between international and local actors, there is limited empirical knowledge about how stakeholder pressure affects the association between the collaboration–performance association within international and local NGOs. Drawing on stakeholder theory, we propose a model to examine the role of donors, media, and governments, three major stakeholders noteworthy because of their power and legitimacy to moderate the collaboration–performance association in this NGO context. We test our hypotheses across a series of samples collected at both international and local NGOs in 2015 and 2020. From a practical perspective, we discuss how the traditional role of NGOs as implementers of aid programs is shifting toward a new role as conveners and capability builders.

Ageing in displacement and gaps in support: support for older people in protracted displacement in New-Kuchingoro IDP camp, Abuja, Nigeria

PurposeThis study aimed at exploring support for older people in protracted displacement in Nigeria, emphasising the available support and the gap in the support provided to them.Design/methodology/approachQualitative interviews were used to collect data from ten displaced older people in New-Kuchingoro internally displaced persons (IDP) camp Abuja, Nigeria. The collected data were analysed thematically with NVivo 12.FindingsResults show that older people received material, emotional and psychological supports from their families, neighbours, friends, religious organisations and non-governmental organisations. Several gaps were identified in the support provided to displaced older people. For example, their special nutritional or medical needs were neglected, and their support was primarily material, sporadic and spontaneous, as there is no existing framework guiding the care and support of older people in displacement.Research limitations/implicationsThis study provides a foundation for further research on older people in displacement, an area that has received minimal scholarly attention.Practical implicationsThe paper recommends that researchers and displaced persons’ care providers should pay more attention to the peculiar support needs of this less visible vulnerable group and adopt the internal displacement policy for the long-term protection of older people in displacement.Originality/valueOlder people in displacement remain less visible as humanitarian aid programmes and research focus more on women and children. This lack of attention may put older people in displacement at more risk as their peculiar needs may not be met. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the gap in support for older people in displacement in Nigeria.

Theory of change and strategic priorities of the world federation of haemophilia.

The World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) is a global network of national member organizations (NMOs) that advocate, collectively and individually, to improve lives of people with inherited bleeding disorders. The WFH vision of "Treatment for All" speaks to a future in which all people with an inherited bleeding disorder will have access to care, regardless of their gender or where they live. Over the last several years, initiatives including the WFH Humanitarian Aid program, the World Bleeding Disorders Registry, and Guidelines for the Management of Haemophilia and von Willebrand disease have significantly changed how the WFH and its partners work to improve and sustain care for people with bleeding disorders. Following an extensive consultation that included over 200 stakeholders from 70 countries, a Theory of Change was developed, and strategic priorities identified, to clearly define the WFH's intended impact and point of accountability to its stakeholders, and to determine how and through who those goals will be achieved. Both should help the WFH better support its NMOs and healthcare providers around the world in their efforts to improve access to diagnosis and care, as new therapies revolutionize the treatment landscape and the fallout of the global pandemic continues to challenge the ways in which we work and connect. Global collaboration of all stakeholders, based on their resources, objectives and skills, will be required to achieve these goals and to ensure more people have reliable access to safe treatment and care, regardless of their bleeding disorder, gender, or where they live.

Sustainable Development Goals and Islamic Social Finance: From Policy Divide to Policy Coherence and Convergence

This study aims to show how Islamic social finance (ISF) instruments can contribute to achieving SDGs and to filling the gaps in pressing humanitarian crises, such as refugee protection. ISF institutions enjoy sufficient financial capacity to bridge the gaps and realize the most relevant and urgent SDGs. However, due to policies and other constraints, their participation in international development aid programs is limited. Accordingly, this study explores the existing policy divide between Western and Islamic countries regarding the use of Faith-Based funds in international humanitarian and development aid programs. Through case studies, this study demonstrates that ISF instruments have the potential at national and international levels to mobilize resources to support marginalized groups in society in various countries. The analysis indicates the need to develop a framework that helps to build cooperation among local and international actors to mobilize ISF funds for cross-country development and humanitarian aid, which accelerates the achievement of the SDGs. This paper studies ongoing dialogues among various stakeholders to create policy convergence and to use ISF instruments towards SDGs. This study suggests that the dialogue should be more inclusive by including all potential stakeholders, including Muslim leaders, policymakers and Shariah Scholars, to narrow policy gaps and to draw policy coherence for using ISF tools in the duality aid programs and for creating synergies towards achieving the SDGs.

Emicizumab state-of-the-art update.

IntroductionEmicizumab is a bispecific monoclonal antibody developed to address the unmet needs of clotting factor replacement therapy and has become the benchmark for optimal prophylaxis in managing patients with haemophilia A with inhibitors. We describe the emicizumab rollout and pharmacokinetic strategies and their use in paediatric patients.MethodsThe evolving real‐world experience in using emicizumab has confirmed its safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetic profile in paediatric, adolescent and adult patients receiving emicizumab at various prophylactic dosing regimens. The emicizumab current global rollout includes over 100 countries with 29 low to middle‐income countries accessing emicizumab through the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) Humanitarian Aid Program. The diversity of emicizumab dosing and pharmacokinetic tools such as the Calibra® and the WAPPS‐Hemo platforms make it possible to achieve prophylaxis goals in line with the WFH Haemophilia treatment guidelines recommendations, with minimal drug wastage. The emerging experience from long term clinical trials and long‐term real‐world follow‐up confirm the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic profile of emicizumab in paediatric haemophilia A patients. A few questions, including inhibitor recurrence, concurrent use of emicizumab with various replacement therapies and inhibitor eradication, are being addressed through multiple ongoing clinical studies.ConclusionThe current global rollout of emicizumab is remarkable, and versatile dosing regimens and evolving pharmacokinetic tools such as the Calibra® and WAPPS‐Hemo platforms make it a treatment choice available also for pharmacokinetic guided personalised treatment. Data from paediatric studies are consistent with those seen in adolescent and adult Haemophilia A.

Managing invasive procedures in haemophilia patients with limited resources, extended half-life concentrates or non-replacement therapies in 2022.

New treatment possibilities and modalities are now available globally for patients with haemophilia requiring surgery or invasive procedures. The first is the appropriate application of low-dose protocols of clotting factor concentrates (CFC) achieving adequate perioperative haemostasis in resources constraint environments. The increasing availability of CFC through humanitarian aid programs allows more invasive surgeries to be performed for which efficacy and safety data should be more widely collected and reported. Second, extended half-life CFC that are increasingly available in many countries represent valuable alternatives to standard half-life products in surgical patients allowing reduced number of infusions and lower consumption, in particular for extended half-life factor IX. Third, in the era of recently introduced nonfactor prophylaxis, some minor surgical procedures can now be performed without additional haemostatic treatment, others with few low-dose administrations of CFC or bypassing agents. Additional factor VIII/IX or recombinant activated factor VII has proven to be safe and effective in association with emicizumab for major surgeries and it was effectively given at low doses in association with fitusiran (including activated prothrombin complex concentrate). No thrombotic complications have been reported in the surgical setting so far. A multidisciplinary team/facility remains crucial to manage major surgery in patients on prophylaxis with these new agents.

Cultivating Cotton in the Red Earth of Kampong Cham: Self-Sufficiency, Alternative Modernities and Wartime Refugees in Cold War Cambodia, 1955–1970

ABSTRACT This article argues that Cambodia’s postcolonial cotton ‘push’ was integral to its ultra nationalist vision of modernity and how Cambodia sought to survive within an increasingly acerbic Cold War landscape. In turn, Cambodia’s attention to its cotton and textile industry transformed its foreign policy, student study abroad destinations, state labour apparatuses and humanitarian aid programmes. Norodom Sihanouk’s Sangkum Party used the cotton industry to increase its national legitimacy and visibility, which was intended to help Cambodia gain traction in the Cold War ‘living standards race’. This history sounds innocuous enough except that the Party sustained its cotton push by drawing its labour pool in part from refugees and other marginalised communities. That these refugees were forced to work in Kampong Cham and Battambang cotton fields contradicts the rhetoric of the Buddhist–Socialist politics promulgated by the Sangkum Party. Consequently, the history of Sangkum cotton is at once a history of Cambodia’s early postcolonial period, the American War in Vietnam, and the internationalisation of the Cold War during the ‘Decade of Development’ in the 1960s.

The Political Spirituality of Buddhist Volunteerism in Contemporary Vietnam

ABSTRACT This article examines the role of religion in global trends toward economic privatization by analyzing Buddhist volunteerism in Vietnam. Government officials in Vietnam propose that policy shifts toward privatization are part of a broader move toward “socialization” (xã hội hóa). Under socialization, the nation’s citizens have a responsibility to accumulate and use private wealth to support one another. Buddhist charities have subsequently become a popular means for citizens to channel private capital into non-state humanitarian aid and development programs. In this article, I trace how lay Buddhist charity organizers assert that socialization ultimately creates opportunities to advance Buddhist spiritual development. I use Michel Foucault’s concept of “political spirituality” to consider how volunteers employ practices of ethical citizenship encouraged by the state to cultivate a Buddhist moral “heart-mind” (tâm). My study thereby shows how local actors claim agency in national economic and political trends by overlaying their participation with religious significance.

Feasibility and outcomes of low-dose and low-frequency prophylaxis with recombinant extended half-life products (Fc-rFVIII and Fc-rFIX) in Ivorian children with hemophilia: Two-year experience in the setting of World Federation of Haemophilia humanitarian aid programme.

In sub-Saharan Africa, access to clotting factor concentrates (CFCs) is often extremely limited and published data on people with haemophilia on prophylaxis are almost not existent. To assess the feasibility, barriers and outcomes of a low-dose and low-frequency prophylaxis with extended half-life (EHL) recombinant Fc fusion FVIII and FIX in Ivorian children on a two-year period in the setting of the World Federation of Hemophilia's (WFH) humanitarian aid programme. Twenty-five boys with haemophilia were included. Mean (SD) age at inclusion was 5.6 (2.5)years. The median [range] follow-up duration was 17 [11-24]months. Regimen of prophylaxis was 20IUkg-1 1×/week in haemophilia A and every 10days in haemophilia B. We observed a maximal reduction by 87.6% of the annual spontaneous joint bleeding rate and a slight decrease in the total HJHS scores (p=.047). Adherence problems related to parents' low education level and shortage in CFCs were the main issues to carry out the programme. Inhibitors occurred in 12.5%. This study confirms the feasibility and efficacy of low-dose and low-frequency prophylaxis in young Ivorian children with haemophilia treated with EHL CFCs donated through the WFH humanitarian aid programme. This work also highlights the crucial role of adherence and the need for appropriate education to achieve prophylaxis. Finally, it reminds the paramount objective of achieving self-sufficient, sustainable and available haemophilia replacement therapy for all worldwide.

Anthropology and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: A 2018 Interdisciplinary Observance in Solferino, Italy

When I attended the annual memorial in 2018, 159 years had passed since the 1859 Battle of Solferino in a small town (“paese”) of the province Mantua in the northern region of Lombardy. Solferino is so small that Italians from elsewhere in the country will not recognize the name unless you mention the Battaglia (di Solferino), the last engagement of the Second Italian War of Independence. 300,000 soldiers—deployed from the Austrian Empire, the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Kingdom of Hungary, and the Second French Empire—clashed on June 24th, leaving many nations' blood on the Italian hills. With 6,000 soldiers dead and another 40,000 wounded, little did the rulers of that time know the devastating bloodshed at Solferino would inspire one of the largest humanitarian aid programs in the world and bring the once‐battling nations harmoniously together (ICRC, 1998). Henry Dunant was struck by the plight of Solferino veterans and in 1859 founded the Red Cross to provide for victims' families and bring nations together in both war and peace. A century and a half later, over 10,000 volunteers from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), representing seventy‐six nations, gathered in Solferino to memorialize the battle and celebrate Dunant's recognitions. The importance of anthropology represented here is commemorated by the annual unification of nations from all over the world in a common purpose deeply supported by the history of Solferino. Dunant's impact on Solferino has not only brought cultural awareness to the town but has also brought many nations together in universal humanitarianism through his memoir A Memory of Solferino.

Invasive procedures in patients with haemophilia: Review of low-dose protocols and experience with extended half-life FVIII and FIX concentrates and non-replacement therapies.

The performance of surgery and invasive procedures in patients with haemophilia is currently facing new challenges globally. The first is the appropriate application of low-dose protocols of clotting factor concentrates (CFC) achieving adequate perioperative haemostasis in resource constraint environments. The increasing availability of CFC through humanitarian aid programmes allows more invasive surgeries to be performed for which efficacy and safety data should be more widely collected and reported. Second, extended half-life CFC that are increasingly available in many countries represent valuable alternatives to standard half-life products in surgical patients allowing reduced number of infusions and lower consumption, in particular for extended half-life factor IX. Third, in the era of recently introduced non-factor prophylaxis, some minor surgical procedures can now be performed without additional haemostatic treatment, others with few low-dose administrations of CFC or bypassing agents. Additional factor VIII or bypassing treatment has proven to be safe and effective in association with emicizumab for major surgeries, and it was effectively given at low doses in association with fitusiran. No thrombotic complications have been reported in the surgical setting so far. A multidisciplinary team/facility remains crucial to manage major surgery in patients on prophylaxis with these new agents.

Low‐dose surgical prophylaxis: Optimization of use of World Federation of Hemophilia Humanitarian Aid donated clotting factor concentrates to developing countries

Patients with hemophilia (PWH) might need surgical interventions during the course of their lives. Such medical interventions pose hemostatic challenges and requests infusion of clotting factor concentrates (CFCs) during peri and postoperative for variable periods to prevent bleeding and until complete wound healing. Access to CFCs to PWH living in resource limited settings is usually a challenge which makes surgical interventions either risky or not practical. Recently World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) started a humanitarian aid program to channel CFCs into resource limited countries and which allowed the possibility to perform surgical interventions for PWH in these countries. To study safety and efficacy of using lower doses of CFCs for surgical prophylaxis. Review of literature and our center experience to demonstrate safety and efficacy of low dose surgical prophylaxis using CFCs RESULTS: Several elements can help using lower doses of CFCs for surgical prophylaxis in resource limited setting. These elements include severity of hemophilia, type of surgical procedure, the use of hemostatic surgical techniques, the type of CFCs, the mode of infusion of CFCs and finally the use of adjunctive therapies CONCLUSION: Management of surgical procedures for PWH in a multidisciplinary specialized hemophilia treatment centers with proper understanding of hemostatic and surgical challenges of the procedure can allow for safe and effective use of lower doses of CFCs for surgical prophylaxis.

What users of global risk indicators should know

There is growing public awareness of global risks that are related to land degradation, poverty, food security, migration flows, natural disasters and levels of violence and conflict. In the past decades, a wealth of performance databases has become available, and these are used to quantify those risks and to influence governance globally. We name the monitoring of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the establishing of priorities in humanitarian aid programs and the design of early warning forecasting systems. This article addresses a question that underlies the social and political application of risk indicators, namely: how reliable are such data that can be accessed or downloaded ‘in a few mouse clicks’? Reliability is an important issue for users of these data since poor data will lead to poor inferences. In addition, flawed data are usually related to poor and fragile countries, countries that need humanitarian aid and financial investments the most. In order to get a grip on this reliability issue, we explore the possible uncertainties attached to global risk-related indicators. In this article we (i) provide an overview of available data sources, (ii) briefly describe the way institutes aggregate risk indicators from an underlying set of basic indicators to form composites, and (iii) identify various sources of uncertainty related to global risk indicators and their composites. Furthermore, we give solutions for coping with uncertainties in the partial or complete absence of such information. We acknowledge that these solutions are insufficient to quantify all (cascading) uncertainties concerning global indicators, especially those related to ‘Campbell's law’. Therefore, we applied a ‘ringtest’ across data from leading institutes as for five open access risk indicators: governance, impacts of natural disasters, conflicts, vulnerability/coping capacity, and all security risks combined. We find that the coherence between indicators from different organisations but with identical definitions varies enormously. We find that indicators denoted as ‘impacts of natural disasters’ are almost uncorrelated across four organisations. However, indicators denoting ‘governance’ or ‘all security risks combined’ show remarkable high correlations.

Private humanitarian responses to disaster vulnerabilities: The Chernobyl children from Belarus in Italy

This article aims to understand how children’s vulnerabilities function in humanitarian aid programmes. Different types of vulnerabilities that emerged as a result of and in response to the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster (1986) during recuperation of the affected children from Belarus in their Italian host families are examined. It is shown that while the initiation of aid was based on directly disaster-related vulnerabilities (radiation-related vulnerabilities), the outcomes of this aid were influenced by indirectly disaster-related vulnerabilities (social vulnerabilities).

Contributions of experimental approaches to development and poverty alleviation: Field experiments and humanitarian assistance

Abstract The work of Nobel Laureates Banerjee, Duflo and Kremer has centered around the use of randomized control trials to help solve development problems. To date, however, few field experiments have been undertaken to evaluate the effects of humanitarian assistance. The reasons may lie in challenges related to logistics, fragility, security and ethics that often loom large in humanitarian settings. Yet every year, billions of dollars are spent on humanitarian aid, and policymakers are in need of rigorous evidence. In this paper, we reflect on the opportunities and risks of running experiments in humanitarian settings, and provide, as illustration, insights from our experiences with recent field experiments of large-scale humanitarian aid programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo.