UN Humanitarian Chief Gets Visa Lesson, Unaware of NGO List in Chad Aftermath

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, November 16 -- In continuing inquiry into France-based NGO Zoe's Ark's attempt to take over 100 children to Europe, characterized by both Chad and Sudan as kidnapping, the UN's agency for children told Inner City Press that a "junior" international staffer erred by not checking a list of NGOs maintained by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. When asked for more information about this list, and its own safeguards, UNICEF said, "Ask OCHA." On Friday Inner City Press asked the head of OCHA, Sir John Holmes, about the list, or database, with specific reference to the incident in Chad. We don't have any such database, Holmes said, adding that it would be controversial to maintain one. Video here.

            "Conspiracy or cock-up?" one wag, not this one, asked Inner City Press after the briefing. Maybe both. The wag wondered out loud if perhaps there is an OCHA database of NGOs, which the head of OCHA doesn't know about, and hearkened back to the United Kingdom's demand for an Under Secretary General slot, which they wanted at the UN Department of Political Affairs for long-time diplomat Holmes, subsequently placed at OCHA. Inner City Press' view is that Holmes has tried to be accessible; onwards and upwards. Asked what a UN humanitarian agency staffer should do, in the absence of a database, to check an organization's bona fides, Holmes suggested they "call headquarters," presumably of their own agency, whether UNICEF or the World Food Program or wherever, which would check with the NGO's home country. This is "One UN"?

UN's John Holmes on Friday, list of NGOs not shown
 

            On the brouhaha surrounding visits in India by OCHA and UNHCR to Nepali rebels from Terai, Holmes said the visits were for humanitarian and not political purposes. He acknowledged that India has protested OCHA's visa-getting ways. When pressed by, yes, Inner City Press, he said that in the future, OCHA will do it differently.

            The trigger for Mr. Holmes presence was the cyclone in Bangladesh, to which the UN system and Bangladesh's Red Crescent Society are responding, along with such international NGOs as Save the Children and Global Vision. Holmes said that three million people were evacuated, 620,000 of them into some 2000 shelters. Inner City Press asked if OCHA recommended donations to local or international NGOs. Holmes mentioned the Red Crescent Society, and Geneva.

News Analysis: There may or may not be a database or list: UNICEF said there is, OCHA's head said there isn't, and that it would be controversial. We aim to clarify this going forward. In the interim, it is indicative that one UN agency, asked about its safeguard, refers to a list at a different UN agency, whose head says the list does not exist. How is a humanitarian worker in the field supposed to navigate these contradictions?

Looking ahead, Mr. Holmes will brief the Security Council on November 20 about armed conflict's impact on civilians...

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  Again, because a number of Inner City Press' UN sources go out of their way to express commitment to serving the poor, and while it should be unnecessary, Inner City Press is compelled to conclude this installment in a necessarily-ongoing series by saluting the stated goals of the UN agencies and many of their staff. Keep those cards, letters and emails coming, and phone calls too, we apologize for any phone tag, but please continue trying, and keep the information flowing.

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