World Humanitarian Day |30 August 2014

Why should a group of refugees stranded on a mountain in Iraq concern Seychelles?

The news recently showed the plight of the Yazidis, an ethnic minority group that was stranded on a desert mountain in Iraq. The Yazidis were before the intervention of foreign countries faced with two choices - go down the mountain and be slaughtered by ISIS, which is a radical armed group, or remain on the isolated mountain and starve. August 19 was World Humanitarian Day. The DRDM (Department of Risk and Disaster Management) in partnership with UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) organised a presentation at the Seychelles Trading Company’s conference room where various actors involved in humanitarian work made presentations and a UN questionnaire was filled out.

According to the Uppsala University’s Conflict Data Programme, there has been a recent spike in the number of armed conflict in the world.

Why Seychelles should be concerned about the conflicts in the Middle East and indeed the world? Most of the tourists coming to Seychelles are carried by airlines that either originate or make a stopover in the Middle East. The destabilisation of the Middle East region may impact on the willingness for passengers to make a stopover in that region.

Conflicts are very expensive affairs. They cause destruction of hard earned assets such as has been witnessed with buildings and homes in Gaza, Syria and Mali, planes in Libya and the deaths of thousands of people. They create a surge in internally displaced persons (IDP) and refugees. We have seen the impact of election associated conflicts in Côte D’ivoire, Zimbabwe and Madagascar. Seychelles is now reviewing its election laws.

The UN estimates that it spends around 10 billion dollars a year on humanitarian aid to conflict regions. During conflicts, governments tend to divert money to increased military spending. Ukraine for example has announced a military spending hike. Development organisations also divert their assets to conflict areas as funding policies gets re-prioritised. This dries up valuable funds that could have been used to support key infrastructure projects in other developing countries such as Seychelles.

What can Seychelles do in the face of all those conflicts? Not much really, as most conflicts are based on complex issues which the international community or the region in question needs to tackle as a block. However, Seychelles needs to craft its international policy so that it plays an effective role through multilateral organisations such as the UN, AU (African Union) and SADC (Southern African Development Community) of which Seychelles has a voice, a vote and often a role in contributing towards the resolution of disputes that drive conflicts. If Seychelles wishes to become a member of the UN Security Council, its track record when it comes to intervention in conflicts, whether it be through its voice, vote or actions will be closely verified. International laws allow the UN Security Council to intervene even in sovereign countries under the “responsibility to protect” protocol.

Seychelles also needs to keep a watchful eye on the economic and other performance indicators of its tourism client market and be ready to take action should people -- either economically constrained or in the face of fear at local, regional or international conflicts -- quell their travel plans.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play crucial roles in conflict. The Red Cross is an NGO that is active when conflict arises. Perhaps citizens can contribute by providing clothes, money or other assets to organisations like the Red Cross that could be channeled to conflict regions. Seychelles also has some obligations through protocols to contribute towards organisations that intervene in conflicts. One of the organisations is the African Union Standby Force. East African Standby Force (EASFCOM) is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Seychelles is active within EASFCOM through its military, police and civilian components. The civilian component is coordinated by LUNGOS, the national platform for NGOs which contributes volunteers to post conflict stabilisation work.

Humanitarian work also happens right here in Seychelles. NGOs such as ‘Nou La Pour Ou’ provide services which resembles street kitchen. Orphanages run by the church and the state take care of children in need. Disaster relief services are offered by DRDM and district brigades. The Red Cross of Seychelles is an active participant in various humanitarian events happening in Seychelles. The association ‘Apostles of the Sea’ intervenes on behalf of seafarers, Friends of Prison regularly visits prison inmates. LUNGOS also engages the state and development partners, nationally and regionally on policy which impacts humanitarian work.

What can citizens do? Citizens should educate themselves about the causes and resolution of conflicts and contribute towards a world where people are at peace with their neighbors. Conflicts are easily instigated when there is segregation based on beliefs, religion, culture, ethnic groups and political affiliations. A low tolerance for opposing points of view can easily spark a conflict. A well-known local judge recently reminded us during a media interview that Seychelles society is not homogenous. Diversity of thoughts, opinions and lifestyles is fairly common in Seychelles.

As for those people that are experiencing sorrow due to the various conflicts in the world, let us at the very least, remember them in our prayers.

Steve Patrick Lalande