Relisten | Fuel to the flames: What if humanitarian aid prolongs conflict

The first and foremost goal of humanitarian aid is to save lives. But what if humanitarian action becomes an element in a conflict? During this second edition of Hot Humanitarian Topics, we talk with the South Sudanese scientist Jok Madut Jok about the unintended consequences of humanitarian aid during the conflict in South-Sudan and other African countries.

In 2017 humanitarian organizations warned for a severe famine in South Sudan.In The Netherlands, Giro555 organized a campaign to raise money. But according to Jok Madut Jok, executive director of the South Sudanese think tank Sudd Institute, the activities of the international (humanitarian) organizations in South Sudan are keeping up the war in South Sudan, and therefore should stop. Aid gives the political leaders of South Sudan an alibi for their failure to take care of the welfare of their people. And it also feeds the armies that fight with each other: “If the international community did not help, my assessment is that political leaders no longer allow people to die, and they would stop the war.”

During this edition of Hot Humanitarian Topics Jok Madut Jok gives a short keynote speech, addressing the unintended consequences of humanitarian aid in South Sudan and other African countries. His keynote speech is followed by a discussion with him and speakers from the humanitarian sector.