The umbrella

As I watch the rain falling down in London, I can’t help but think that sometimes umbrellas can cause more harm than good. Umbrellas can shelter us from the rain, but they can also be weapons, to take each other’s eyes out.

For example, imagine four dynamic international stakeholders, the pillars of every state and every community. Each has their own boundaries and address different social needs. Each must be transparent and have its own umbrella.

What would happen if someone gathered these four under a single umbrella? Some might say: “more economical – one umbrella, instead of four”. Some might say: “I’m glad they’re working together, it’s all about partnership”.
In my view, four under one umbrella means that at least one will be left exposed, out in the rain. What if I was to say to you that these four major stakeholders are: politics, security, military and humanitarianism? Poor humanitarianism would be the one standing half under the umbrella and half in the rain.

In any conflict, our lines of demarcation have to become thicker than ever, not be blurred by the umbrella. Humanitarianism doesn’t (or shouldn’t) have any political, security or military agenda. However, if we all share the same umbrella, how can someone standing at a distance see us?! They will only see some kind of uniform, even if we are wearing civilian clothes. This will endanger further humanitarian workers in conflict zones.

While decisions are being made looking at TV screens on the 25th floor of a skyscraper in a major city, aid workers are at risk of being kidnapped, or even worse, killed.

Let us each have our own umbrella and keep safe, out of the rain!