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Dare you be an aid worker?

By Sarah Oughton
August 19, 2009 at 4:45 pm

Did you know that last year 122 international aid workers were killed? In fact, the stats show you’re less likely to die as a UN peacekeeper than an aid worker.

I’ve just read an article on the BBC website about the UN holding its first ever World Humanitarian Day to honour international aid workers.

The BBC has also started a discussion about the importance of aid workers, whether they need better protection in conflict zones and how best to deliver aid in these situations. If you want to join the discussion then visit their Have Your Say page.

Last week in Yemen, 15 Red Crescent workers were taken hostage from a refugee camp, but fortunately they were quickly released. Earlier this year three Red Cross workers in the Philippines went through a more gruelling ordeal but were also eventually released. And Somalia is notoriously dangerous for aid workers.

Not that I can claim to speak for every aid worker in the world, but I’m guessing they don’t do it for the money or for the recognition – nice as it is of the UN to create this day.

So how about you? Fancy a job as an aid worker in Afghanistan?

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 at 4:45 pm and is filed under Emergencies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • Andrew S.

    I’ve often tried to find information on how to become an aid worker in one these troubled countries. What qualifications do I need, besides a willingness to live in an exceedingly dangerous place? Where can I find more information?

    – Andrew S.

  • Andrew S.

    I’ve often tried to find information on how to become an aid worker in one these troubled countries. What qualifications do I need, besides a willingness to live in an exceedingly dangerous place? Where can I find more information?

    – Andrew S.

  • http://redcross.org.uk/ Sarah Oughton

    Hi Andrew

    Yes it is frustrating when you’re first starting out wanting to become an aid worker as it can be really difficult to work out what you need to do.

    Assuming you are talking about a career as an aid worker and not just being a short term volunteer then it is definitely a case of needing more than just the willingness to go – you do need to have some specific skills and/or experience to offer.

    But if you don’t have a background in development work there are a lot of other routes. For example aid workers play a number of roles in the field, including communications (both in terms of media or IT), logistics, finance, project managers.

    I suggest you look at ReliefWeb which is a great resource for humanitarian workers and has one of the most comprehensive listings of job vacancies.

    Get hold of job descriptions to find out both what sounds interesting to you and what experience and qualifications are needed.

    If you don’t have any field experience at all then I would suggest you try and get some through volunteering. You could look at the Volunteer Services Overseas website – they often have open days where you can go and talk to them about volunteering to get some more advice.

    Hope this helps.

    Sarah

  • http://redcross.org.uk Sarah Oughton

    Hi Andrew

    Yes it is frustrating when you’re first starting out wanting to become an aid worker as it can be really difficult to work out what you need to do.

    Assuming you are talking about a career as an aid worker and not just being a short term volunteer then it is definitely a case of needing more than just the willingness to go – you do need to have some specific skills and/or experience to offer.

    But if you don’t have a background in development work there are a lot of other routes. For example aid workers play a number of roles in the field, including communications (both in terms of media or IT), logistics, finance, project managers.

    I suggest you look at ReliefWeb which is a great resource for humanitarian workers and has one of the most comprehensive listings of job vacancies.

    Get hold of job descriptions to find out both what sounds interesting to you and what experience and qualifications are needed.

    If you don’t have any field experience at all then I would suggest you try and get some through volunteering. You could look at the Volunteer Services Overseas website – they often have open days where you can go and talk to them about volunteering to get some more advice.

    Hope this helps.

    Sarah

  • Andrew S.

    Thanks for the information!

  • Andrew S.

    Thanks for the information!

  • Andrew denny

    Interested in helping out in phillipines floods

  • Andrew denny

    Interested in helping out in phillipines floods

  • http://redcross.org.uk/ Sarah Oughton

    Hi Andrew

    Sorry for the late reply been really swamped with launching all the appeals for the Asia Pacific disasters.

    The British Red Cross doesn’t send volunteers abroad (because as a global organisation there are always local volunteers who are best placed to respond to disasters), but if you are interested in applying for a job then keep a look out for vacancies on our website http://www.redcross.org.uk/TLC.asp?id=80865

    Also to find out more about the different types of roles available you can read our delegate diaries and listen to my podcast about our logistics emergency response unit http://blogs.redcross.org.uk/emergencies/2009/08/logistics-of-disaster-relief-%E2%80%93-part-one/

    Hope this helps!

    Sarah

  • http://redcross.org.uk Sarah Oughton

    Hi Andrew

    Sorry for the late reply been really swamped with launching all the appeals for the Asia Pacific disasters.

    The British Red Cross doesn’t send volunteers abroad (because as a global organisation there are always local volunteers who are best placed to respond to disasters), but if you are interested in applying for a job then keep a look out for vacancies on our website http://www.redcross.org.uk/TLC.asp?id=80865

    Also to find out more about the different types of roles available you can read our delegate diaries and listen to my podcast about our logistics emergency response unit http://blogs.redcross.org.uk/emergencies/2009/08/logistics-of-disaster-relief-%E2%80%93-part-one/

    Hope this helps!

    Sarah

  • http://blogs.redcross.org.uk British Red Cross

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  • Veronikawyse

    Hi my name is veronika wyse and i have worked in care for nearly 20 years  .I am very interested to provide my care experience to the very needed in this world and i would love to be able to make a difference to some ones life . I hope that you be able to give me that changes . Thank you and i hope to hear from you soon

    veronika

  • Abby Mackay

    I feel like you are highlighting the dangers aid workers face without giving the other side of why some people actually become aid workers. Becoming an aid worker is a choice and the people in this profession are aware that they face risks. I feel the rewards of aid work far outweigh the risks and have made International Development and Aid one of the most competitive professions. I travelled to Rwanda earlier this year to provide Aid on the D.R. Congo border and can say 100% that the weapons were scary and the danger was real, but that it was 110% worth it to be able to help people who warmed my heart with their thanks. 

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Sarah Oughton

Sarah Oughton

Sarah writes about all things international for the website and publications at the British Red Cross.

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