Strategic Humanitarian Coordination in the Great Lakes, 1996-1997: An Independent Assessment

Published Date

This report examines developments in the humanitarian situation and actions taken by the international community in the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa from 1996-1997.  During this time, the region witnessed dramatic developments in a political, security, social and humanitarian crisis—including in Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and Zaire.  The assessment asserted that the International political response to the crisis, at the time, ranged from permissive to passive to partial.  The report also warned that the reputation of humanitarian action and actors had been sullied by humanitarian operations in the region. 

Lessons learned from this time are still be applicable to humanitarian action today, particularly in areas of protracted crisis.  As the assessment affirms, continued international failure to tackle the political and security dimensions of the crisis, combined with sustained use of humanitarian assistance in the resultant policy vacuum, undermines the credibility, reputation, and long-term viability of humanitarian action. They can have deleterious consequence for the people that humanitarian action aims to protect and assist.  To read more about the assessment, including a summary of UN operations and coordination efforts in the region, as well as critical gaps identified during this time—and measure necessary to improve humanitarian action—you may find more detailed information in the link below.