term impact is frequently very grave. Since everything is intended to be done as quickly as possible, it is often the case that verification of
the foster parent to be is not done thoroughly so the children would experience difficulty in their growth instead. That is also the case for
teenage girls who could be deceived by offers from irresponsible parties that would ultimately exploit them for the benefit of the
outside party. 8.
Aid program disruptive to well established habitcustomreligion At times there are also humanitarian organizations that use their
activities as a pretence to force messages that could disrupt unity and harmony of the community such as spreading a different religion.
These kinds of practice could trigger conflict with the community which would put aid programs that have been executed properly and
responsibly by other organizations at a disadvantage. On the other hand, there are organizations that truly strive to improve insensible
or obstructive customs such as exorbitant dowry, excessive burial ceremony, etc. in the community. These organizations need to be
appreciated for wanting to improve and amend traditions obstructive to the community’s rise of prosperity.
9. Humanitarian organizations competing in providing service to
community in the same region Due to lack of coordination or intent of the program running on
target, there is the possibility that two or more humanitarian organizations operate on the same region providing almost the same
services. This situation can be used by the community to compare or even put organizations in contest which would result in an unhealthy
situation. As an example, Organization A provides stipend to the first child of a family, while Organization B provides stipend to the
second child of the same family with a slightly different amount resulting in their parents complaining over difference in the services
they received. This kind of occurrence has happened in a region of service.
10. Triggering a deeper rift in areas of conflict
Humanitarian aid in recent areas of conflict could unnoticeably worsentrigger a deeper rift instead. Humanitarian aid provided to
only one of the groups would easily be perceived as being proponents of that group. As a result, the group which did not enjoy
aid provision would become more agitated and conflict could worsen.
8.4 Socialization of Ethically Conducting Humanitarian Aid Program
All parties involved in conducting humanitarian aid need to understand several negative impacts that might surface if it were not
carried out properly, namely the donorssponsors, governmentregulators, humanitarian social organizations including
NGOs, and the recipient community itself. All shareholders need to understand how humanitarian aid could be carried out responsibly, be it
aid in case of emergency, reconstruction, or long term empowerment. Hence, an intensive socialization effort is necessary to all parties
concerned in carrying out their roles and responsibilities ethically.
8.4.1 Socialization for Emergency Humanitarian Aid
Emergency aid prioritizes speed in execution with optimal impact. The process of conducting this type of aid must be organized as simple
and effective as possible. This is necessary because delay in provision of aid could have direct consequences to the lives of the victims. Several
guidelines for emergency aid have been issued by several humanitarian organizations which generally include essential issues as references. One
of the guidelines which can be used as a reference is the ‘Good Enough’ Guide book published by the Emergency Capacity Building ECB
association with the joint effort of CARE International, Catholic Relief Services, the International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Oxfam
GB, Save the Children, and World Vision International. Another humanitarian aid operational guide or standard referred by humanitarian
organizations is the ‘Sphere Standard’ which explains minimum standards in humanitarian response.
Meanwhile, basic principles of humanitarian aid is summarized in a document named ‘The Code of Conduct for The International Red Cross
and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief’ jointly published by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies with several international NGOs. These principles are adopted and signed by most organizations carrying out humanitarian aid
missions. A number of important points mentioned in this humanitarian code of ethics, among others are:
• The humanitarian imperative comes first; • Aid is given regardless of race, creed or nationality of the
recipients and without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities are calculated on the basis of need alone;
• Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint.
The community bearing impact of the disaster is the main focus of attention as the recipient of aid and benefit of the aid program, and every
men, women and children under impact are the main priority without prejudice. Therefore, as a form of aid programs executor accountability,
the community must be involved in every stages of its execution, including disclosure of information regarding what is to be done through
the aid program, who will be involved, what results are expected, and obstacles that might happen. They are given the opportunity to voice
their opinion on possibilities of changes that they will experience, on mechanism of feedback from the community throughout the program,
and on assessment of the achieved results from the aid program.
Particularly for areas of conflict, it is important to understand the concept of ‘Do No Harm’ in conducting humanitarian aid so that it does
not worsen the already difficult situation. In order to better understand the concept of ‘Do No Harm’, the book under the same title written by
Mary B. Anderson and published by Lynne Rienner Publishers can be studied.
Of equal importance is the coordination among all parties involved, such as BNPB, BPBD, SKPD, I-NGO, local NGO, UN-OCHA, etc., so
that management of aid provision does not overlap, and would mutually fill each other instead. Coordination of international NGOs is usually
executed by UNOCHA, while local NGOs by local BNPBBPBD governmental bodies. Therefore, delivery of aid could be done equally
and optimally with mutually concerted efforts. A number of disaster response humanitarian aid associations such as the ECB for
international NGO and HFI for international NGO and Indonesian NGO have implemented standard coordination in which among others
are the use of the same standard quality of aid, the mutual sharing of analysis result in order to hasten provision of aid.
8.4.2 Socialization for Long Term Humanitarian AidCommunity Empowerment
Community empowerment aid has a far more complex character and a longer time span in order to achieve the desired outcome. This type of
aid is very much connected to the change in mind-set of the assisted community group, policy patterns of the central and local government,
rules and regulations carried out by the local traditional community, and the intensity of desire and participation from the community to change
their way of life. Generally, humanitarian organizations conducting empowerment counselling have relatively limited resources and fund.
Subsequently, community participation in the program determines its success. If cooperation is fostered from the start until its execution, the
impact would be more optimal and in time would bring the community towards more independence.
The process of community empowerment counselling usually lasts between 10 to 15 years to ensure the transfer of values and skills to live
productively and independently. Support of experts in various fields, provision of supporting facilities, seeds, capital, trainings, and support of
field studies, including market demand, highly determines the increase in the capacity and income of the community. Ethically speaking, long
term empowerment aid also holds firmly to guidelines stipulated for emergency aid, such as main priority to the community interest,
disregard to the program participants’ community backgrounds, and so forth.
A critical challenge to long term community empowerment program lies in the end term of the program instead. Executing organizations
must ascertain its smooth transition of values and skills to the community so that there is no failure which could destroy their social
structure. As an example, if aid were not prepared thoroughly it could lead to a mentality of dependence towards external assistance, bring
about horizontal conflict caused by acquisition of assets left by aid providers, or discontinuation of aid program due to community’s
unpreparedness lack of skills in managing the program. Therefore, it is very important to involve the community from the
start of the programproject until its execution, namely since the planning of strategy in the aid program. Empowerment and
strengthening of community institutionsgroupsorganisations are a part of the transitional and continual process in every phase of humanitarian
aid in a service area. Continual funding must also be planned thoroughly and informed to all stakeholders, is continual funding raised by
accessing governmental budget or is it to be acquired and managed independently by the community itself. As an example: the Posyandu
and Early Childhood Education PAUD programs funding could be
acquired through the village budget, while clean water committee could be managed independently through monthly payment acquired from
community members who make use of it. The goal of the payment is not to make profit but to ensure that funding is available in maintenance and
upkeep of facilities in order to sustain its usage. The main priority of empowerment is the interest of aid recipient
community. This is why their role is of utmost importance and it highly determines the success of the aid program, both in its initial planning
and execution. Keeping in mind its long term of execution 10 – 15 years, there is enough time to prepare the community in order for them
to be able to participate in providing input on what is needed, what is expected, which part can they participate and contribute in, and how
they can take over the responsibility to manage, maintain, and ensure the continuity of the program after the aid program has ended. Program
planning needs to be in accordance to the long term plans of the government, both central and regional, so there is synchronicity,
coordination, and synergy that will guarantee effectiveness and optimum beneficial achievement of the programs applied. Therefore, it is
important to involve advocacy programs providing input to the government so that the regulations, policies, and programs executed are
truly prepared properly and responsive to the community’s needs on the field.
Ethical understanding to seriously consider the positive and negative impacts that could happen in conducting long term humanitarian aid
needs to be socialized to all parties involved, namely the government, legislative institutions, donor organizations, humanitarian aid
providingexecuting organizations, and aid recipient communities as partners who will enjoy and continue the result of the program. Through
intensive mutual socialization, long term humanitarian aid programs of better quality and synergy could be created so that the community
acquires optimum benefit and enjoys the empowerment process in its entirety.
