[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 147 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12641-S12642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TERRORISM AND THE GROWING THREAT TO HUMANITARIAN WORKERS ABROAD

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, today I wish to call attention to a 
target of terrorism that is rarely discussed. Increasingly, acts of 
violence are directed at some of the noblest members of our community, 
namely, humanitarian relief workers. I have been requested by 
internationally-respected aid agencies to call attention to this issue 
to encourage risk assessment solutions to minimize humanitarian aid 
worker fatalities. Borrowing from a recent GAO report entitled 
Combatting Terrorism, finding solutions demands a ``threat and risk 
assessment approach used by several public and private sector 
organizations [who] deal with terrorist and other security risks.'' 
Unfortunately, little security expertise has been directed to their 
extraordinary circumstances.
  How great is this threat? A March study presented at Harvard warned 
of sharp increases in security threats against the humanitarian 
community. The United Nations reports that the safety risks for relief 
workers has altered dramatically in the last 5 years. We know that at 
least 25 relief workers from America and other countries died in 1997. 
Between 1995 and 1997, the International Red Cross, alone, recorded 397 
separate security incidents of aggression and banditry against its 
personnel.
  In the farthest corners of the earth, aid workers feed the hungry, 
heal the sick, comfort the persecuted, and shelter the homeless. Non-
profit aid organizations do the hardest work for the littlest pay under 
the greatest risks with the least support. From Kosovo to Cambodia, 
Angola to Afghanistan, Liberia to Chechnya, selfless people from 
America and beyond are serving in increasingly dangerous situations 
with tremendous personal exposure.
  Some of these voluntary organizations have become household names 
like CARE, World Vision, the American Red Cross, and Catholic Relief 
Services. Some are smaller community-based charities. Some are 
missionary organizations in the most isolated places. Some are faith-
based, others are secular, but all of them have one thing in common: 
they are at greater risk than ever before of murder, abduction, and 
assault.
  Their extraordinary vulnerability is illustrated by the following 
stories: In Tajikistan, a health care worker for street children was 
kidnaped. Ultimately, both the worker and her 5 abductors were killed 
by a grenade they set off. In Rwanda, a worker transporting emergency 
food relief died during an attack by unknown assailants at a military 
checkpoint. The truck was then set on fire, resulting in the loss of 15 
tons of humanitarian relief food which would have fed some 1,700 people 
for the next month. These are only a few of the countless untold 
stories of worker maiming and death.
  At a recent training course in security for humanitarian 
organizations held by InterAction (a coalition of international aid 
organizations), an instructor asked if anyone present had ever 
evacuated a country under hazardous conditions or had been physically 
assaulted in the course of their work. Nearly all of the assembled 
field workers raised their hands. Many asked, ``Which time?''
  These voluntary organizations play a central role in foreign 
assistance, and significant American foreign assistance is being 
funneled through them at an increasing rate. As these groups distribute 
US foreign relief, they represent America in difficult and dangerous 
international arenas. And they do it well--they are lean, efficient, 
and flexible as is demanded by the extremities of working in the most 
conflicted regions worldwide. Their accomplishments are legendary. Over 
the years, they have stood between life and death for countless 
millions during numerous, threatened famines which were averted because 
of their efforts.
  This is the central point of my concern. These courageous and 
selfless groups are more exposed than ever as terrorism continues to 
escalate against Americans worldwide. The least we can do during the 
current, on-going public debate on ``terrorism'' is to direct attention 
their way to generate risk assessment solutions. They cannot isolate 
themselves behind compound walls as would an embassy or arm themselves 
with military equipment. Their job description requires them to live 
among the people, and by necessity, become vulnerable.
  What can be done? First, I do not want to implement more cumbersome 
legislation. I do, however, hope to energize private sector solutions 
relating to risk assessment in this new era of violence. I hope that 
both public and private sector expertise will be directed towards their 
unique security challenges.
  One immediate solution is information sharing. Even though most 
experienced humanitarian workers can relate

[[Page S12642]]

harrowing stories, hard data is difficult to obtain. Experts agree that 
security incidents among voluntary organizations operating overseas are 
vastly under-reported. By working cooperatively, aid organizations can 
share information and resources as incidents occur. Another solution 
involves training; InterAction, in conjunction with the Office of 
Foreign Disaster Assistance, recently developed a security training 
course for aid organizations which was well received. I encourage their 
continued endeavors and commend all groups seeking ways to improve 
security training. Training resources could be developed and shared via 
a consortium.
  The gathering of more information quantifying the problems is another 
step towards solutions. The skills and equipment that once well-served 
field workers in the past may no longer be adequate. To get a better 
understanding of the scope and nature of these new problems, I am 
working with the General Accounting Office to provide a detailed study 
to assess this problem.
  Aid workers are one of America's great natural resources--living in 
obscurity at great personal sacrifice to ease the suffering of 
strangers, they express the best of the American character through 
their extraordinary generosity. They already sacrifice their personal 
lives, they should not also pay with their blood. We should not lose 
them to senseless acts of violence if this can be avoided by 
appropriate risk assessment and resource sharing. I believe there are 
unique solutions for these unique challenges, where the best security 
experts will creatively address these special needs. We should not let 
these heroes be defeated by heartless terrorism--we should not 
unnecessarily lose our best to this insidious form of violence.

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