The difficult debate over local aid worker security

When Gaza was pummeled by airstrikes this year, international agencies evacuated staff and sent them back to headquarters or to their offices in Jerusalem — an oft-repeated course of action for nongovernmental organizations working in conflict-affected areas.

Early this year, a number of international NGOs left the Central African Republic when violence began to escalate. A few months after that, some organizations in the coastal areas of Kenya suspended staff travel and pulled out foreign volunteers, following a spate of attacks in the area.

Evacuating staff is certainly understandable, but it often comes at a cost. Programs don’t stop running when expatriates are pulled out from conflict zones; national staff and local partners are often left to continue operations — and fend for themselves, because of a widespread belief that their background and local knowledge make them less susceptible to danger.

This story is forDevex Pro members

Unlock this story now with a 15-day free trial of Devex Pro.

With a Devex Pro subscription you'll get access to deeper analysis and exclusive insights from our reporters and analysts.

Start your free trial