From what I have learned so far in my course, I can define humanitarian work as the activity of reducing human suffering and saving lives. Before starting this course, I always wondered about the importance of humanitarian work since I had yet to learn how it can be crucial to the world. This course has been unique because it has equipped me with essential information that will help me specialize in what I have always wanted and the world. Since I am kind-hearted, I have always wanted to become someone who can help those in need or those that are in crisis while maintaining peaceful communities not only in my country but internationally. After learning this course, I can now see that my dream and interests are almost becoming a reality.
My research has frequently raised many questions about humanitarian intervention, which has led me to develop an interest in learning more about it and how it functions, and the various principles underpinning it as a field of the humanitarian world. My interest in humanitarian intervention stems from the fact that if this concept is not strictly followed, humanitarian organizations will no longer be responsible for saving lives. As I have always advocated for protecting human rights, equality, and equity at all levels, humanitarian intervention is a significant field that deserves my attention. I have always opposed atrocities not only in my class but also in the community. Hence, this topic will help me extend my service to the international level, enhancing my fight for the marginalized and alleviating the suffering caused by natural disasters and conflicts.
In the past few years, I have frequently seen countries rise against rebels within a nation while employing force, which results in many innocent civilians losing their homes, suffering injuries, and in some worst cases, some losing their lives. This has always caught my interest because I have always wanted to protect lives and enhance peace outside my country. A good example of a humanitarian concern scenario is the Libya intervention in 2011. In this case, international interventions used military forces to intervene in Libya’s crisis to stop human suffering. The then president of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, had sworn to hunt all those who were protesting his government one by one, which caught the international community’s attention. NATO feared the country would experience civil war (McMahon, 2015). This was one of the instances when I wished I had finished my studies and joined humanitarian organizations to take part in protecting human rights and maintaining human dignity. This experience has increased my interest in learning this topic while showing its importance in real-world issues. Even so, I have had a question that I think will be solved by the end of this course on whether it is justifiable to let international law allow members to intervene wars using military force.
So far, I have become aware of the theory underpinning humanitarian principles, humanitarianism, humanitarian action, the history of humanitarianism, humanitarian ethics, and the moral concepts that underlie humanitarian principles via my learning encounters. According to several readings I have done, helping others is the foundation of a long heritage of charity giving and national solidarity in various countries. It is one of the social values that most directly addresses the fundamental idea of humanity (Nadler, 2020). I was surprised to hear how humanitarianism is as old as history. I associate humanitarianism with kindness and believe that most humanitarians perform their responsibilities due to an inside force that pushes them to do good to others out of sympathy. Also, logical, spiritual, and religious commitment are the primary forces that underpin acts of compassion.
Before starting this course, I had yet to learn of some of the humanitarian organizations that have been in existence for decades now. For example, I initially thought that Red Cross was only responsible for helping needy people and victims of natural disasters with food and other basic needs. Through discussions with my peers, I was surprised to know that the organization not only provides concrete aid but also helps to restore peace and unity in countries facing conflicts (Setiawan & Hamka, 2020). Since then, I have been absolutely enthusiastic about working for Red Cross in the near future after completing my degree. I believe that this organization is the best example of a humanitarian entity that has been very impactful on global affairs.
Through interaction with reading materials from this course, I have had important insights that, as a humanitarian, I should be flexible and all-around. Hence, I should be concerned not only about my community or nation but the whole world. Also, humanitarianism is a wide field that involves humanity, voluntary service, universality, neutrality, unity, independence, and impartiality. These principles are key components of humanitarianism that form the responsibilities of such organizations. Also, I have understood that these principles are crucial in humanitarian intervention because to solve any conflict, one needs to be neutral, independent, and impartial while trying to alleviate human suffering in a certain region or nation.
In conclusion, I believe that this topic has had a significant impact on my understanding of humanitarian work and how I perceive things concerning human rights. The course materials have enlightened me, leaving me rich in international information essential to maintaining unity and peace and mitigating human suffering. However, in my most exciting topic, humanitarian intervention, I look forward to learning more about the extent to which international intervention goes to the restoration of unity and the lessening of human suffering. I am excited about whatever I have learned through the course materials and discussions with my peers.
References
McMahon, R. B. (2015). Choosing the Guardians: Politically-Motivated Appointments and Military Performance. Available at SSRN 2592811. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2592811
Nadler, A. (2020). Social psychology of helping relations: Solidarity and hierarchy. John Wiley & Sons.
Setiawan, A., & Hamka, H. (2020, March). Role of Indonesian Humanitarian Diplomacy toward Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Social Sciences, ICSS 2019, 5-6 November 2019, Jakarta, Indonesia.
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