Navigating the Risks of Humanitarian Work: An Insider’s Perspective

In the complex and often perilous world of humanitarian aid, ensuring the safety and security of personnel is paramount. Organisations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) operate in some of the world’s most volatile regions, facing myriad challenges that require robust risk management strategies.

In this interview, we speak with Mike White, a seasoned operational professional who began his journey with MSF in 2004. Mike shares his experiences and insights from his extensive career, highlighting the evolution of security protocols and the critical role of logisticians in maintaining the safety of MSF operations. Join us as we delve into Mike’s career path, from cataloguing VHS tapes in Toronto to managing complex logistics in East Africa and security in high-risk areas such as South Sudan, Ethiopia, Northern Nigeria, and Haiti. 

Read the full interview and gain valuable knowledge on the intricacies of risk management in humanitarian work and learn practical strategies for ensuring safety in challenging environments, making this interview essential reading for anyone involved in or aspiring to join the field of humanitarian aid. 

The Challenges of Humanitarian Work

RiskPal: Can you tell us about your career path with MSF?

Mike: Sure, I started with MSF in Toronto in 2004. I was working in television commercial production but was looking for a change. So, I knocked on the door of MSF Canada to see if they needed any office volunteers, which changed my life forever.

Believe it or not, my first task was cataloguing VHS tapes, a hodgepodge of news clips and field videos. Gratefully, I quickly got the opportunity to move around the office.By 2007, I was ready for my first overseas deployment. I was sent to Southern Sudan (now South Sudan) as a logistician, and it was the start of numerous deployments to humanitarian emergencies and HQ assignments. 

RiskPal: What did your role entail?

Mike: Logisticians are a hardy lot. We worked 18 hours a day for nine months under very challenging circumstances. In Pieri, where I was based, we slept in a tukul (mud hut) without electricity or plumbing. We maintained generators, construction, transportation, HR, finance, and medical supplies. It was pretty overwhelming. Did I mention the snakes, spiders and bats? There were so many bats.

Being part of an MSF “log” team entailed numerous critical security and safety responsibilities. We participated in regular risk assessments to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities. We developed and implemented risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans. Enforcing security protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) was a crucial part of our role, as was maintaining communication systems for reliable and timely information exchange. We ensured all team members were equipped with and trained to use communication devices, implementing communication protocols for regular check-ins and emergencies. In 2007, we were still using satellite phones, Bgans, HF and VHF radios, including Qmacs, especially for outreach teams or in case we needed to make a “bush run.” Our team was also responsible for securing physical premises, including offices, clinics, and storage facilities with guards, fences, and locks.

I lived in South Sudan for over three years and visited the country regularly between 2007 and 2020. To put the context of South Sudan in perspective, every hospital where I worked between 2007 and 2014 was attacked. Some hospitals, including Pieri, were attacked more than once. South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous places for aid workers, especially South Sudanese humanitarians, to work.

RiskPal: How has MSF’s approach to safety and security changed over the years?

Mike: MSF tends to operate in volatile regions, so safety has to be a primary consideration when providing humanitarian assistance while minimising harm to patients and personnel. Over time, due to increased violence and complexities, MSF has adopted a more professional approach, including employing Security Focal Points. There are clear protocols for risk assessment and secure movement of staff working in high-risk areas.

Organisations like MSF are fortunate to employ hundreds of local staff at the field level, who bring invaluable, lifelong knowledge to context analysis. Therefore, any safety and security plan should involve collaborative and participatory planning. This approach ensures the incorporation of diverse perspectives, thorough analysis of the security landscape, and identification of the main threats.

Key decision makers, like programme, country, and security managers, will also be involved in formulating SOPs, which dictate behaviours in the field. The critical point is that context analysis, identifying the security risks and developing mitigation strategies are collaborative. And, of course, risk assessment is a huge part of it.

RiskPal: How does MSF plan movements?

Mike: Road movements are an excellent example of risk assessment in almost every humanitarian crisis. In regions like South Sudan, Eastern Ethiopia, and Northern Nigeria, where I worked, we focused on security and safety to decide whether and how to travel by road.

On the security side, we assess the likelihood of being attacked by bandits or encountering other hostile actors and whether we can maintain communications and monitoring during the journey.

Safety considerations include ensuring that the vehicle is adequately serviced, in good working condition, and equipped with emergency and medical supplies. Additionally, we ensure that the driver is well-trained and that passengers are briefed on safety protocols and emergency procedures.

We conduct thorough threat assessments to identify potential risks such as banditry and conflict zones, plan routes to avoid high-risk areas, and identify alternative routes. Reliable communication systems like satellite phones and HF/VHF radios are essential for regular check-ins and real-time vehicle location monitoring. All these issues are reviewed at the field, capital, and HQ levels, and the green light is only given if all factors are determined to be within an acceptable risk level.

RiskPal: Did it ever go wrong?

Mike: Yes, unfortunately, it did.

In one particularly tragic event in South Sudan in 2013, a convoy of Land Cruisers travelling from Bor to the capital, Juba, was attacked by unknown gunmen. Our two vehicles were riddled with bullets, resulting in the devastating death of one of our drivers and the wounding of another.

No matter how robust your risk mitigation strategies are, there’s usually residual risk. The job of senior managers is to determine if the residue risk is acceptable. These types of critical incidents never leave you. The Post-Incident Analysis is a crucial step in reviewing and learning from a critical incident, aiming to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Ultimately, there’s little that can be done to stop gunmen from attacking unarmed humanitarian vehicles on a major roadway in the middle of the afternoon.

RiskPal: What are the biggest challenges to risk management in NGOs today?

Mike: The most significant challenges to risk management in NGOs today are complex, reflecting the increasing danger in regions with high threat levels like the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Sudan, and Myanmar. The list of insecure environments for aid workers and journalists is growing, with humanitarian crises often marked by violence and politicisation of aid.

Today’s reality seriously challenges my 2004 assumption that aid workers are protected due to their humanitarian role. Humanitarians face unprecedented levels of hostility, including harassment, attacks, and kidnappings. What’s happening in Gaza today is a textbook example of the deliberate and devastating targeting of humanitarians to manipulate or deter aid efforts.

Managing the health and well-being of aid workers is another constant concern. Illnesses, injuries, and cumulative stress affect teams regardless of their environment. Ensuring staff are prepared, aware, and supported with effective health policies is crucial for managing safety and security.

Despite having fifteen years of experience with MSF, I burned out in 2020 during one of my easier operational roles. This highlights cumulative stress’s pervasive and insidious nature, its impact on even seasoned professionals, and how it reduces productivity and potentially responsible decision-making.

RiskPal: Do you think technology can make people safer in the field?

Mike: Yes, technology can enhance field safety for aid workers and journalists.

• Online training modules provide essential knowledge on security protocols, first aid, and situational awareness.
• Telemedicine offers remote medical consultations, providing immediate support for health issues.
• Early warning systems alert users to threats like conflicts, natural disasters, or disease outbreaks, helping them avoid high-risk areas.
• GPS and tracking devices enable real-time location monitoring.
• Risk management platforms offer tools for comprehensive risk assessment, planning, real-time updates on emerging threats, and integrated communication for better information sharing.

These technologies significantly enhance organisations’ duty of care, ensuring a safer and more secure environment. However, technology should not replace human collaboration and communication. Over-reliance on technology can lead to losing critical human insights and personal connections, which are vital in complex operational environments. 

Leveraging RiskPal for Strategic Risk Management

Strategic risk management is crucial for the success and safety of humanitarian missions. RiskPal is a leading risk assessment software which provides NGOs and humanitarian organisations with the tools they need to navigate complex and hazardous environments.

RiskPal offers customisable risk assessment templates, a vast library of built-in safety guidance, and detailed country profiles, empowering organisations to make informed decisions. Additionally, with integrated collaboration and approvals, we streamline the risk assessment process, ensuring operational efficiency and a safer working environment for aid workers.

Learn more about how RiskPal’s risk management software can support your organisation’s risk management efforts at RiskPal or contact us for more information.