Ballistic vests, swollen feet and job satisfaction in contemporary aid work
A few months ago a UNAMID friend of mine let me try on a blue helmet and ballistic vest they usually keep draped over their office chair in case of emergencies. I’ve seen plenty of them around, all the UNAMID troops are issued with them and I supposs civilian staff have to don them when the world starts falling apart. I’d never really given it much thought, but found the straps pushing down on my shoulders, the ceramic plate grating against my ribs and the kevlar helmet crushing my skull to death made me realize how bulky and and immobilizing these ‘lifesaving’ devices really are. It gave me a new appreciation of the fellas who patrol around in them all day long in the Darfur heat.
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The key to peace
… is chai.
Though it looks as if they are doing less talking in Doha and more fighting in Darfur.
The War is over… so why am I not coming home?
Hi Mum and Dad,
Great news! according to the head of the peacekeepers in Darfur – the war is over! I feel like going out to celebrate, to pack up my bags and look nonchalantly over my photos, to say how I feel to Kilo Juliet Alpha 1.2 because she’s so beautiful and basically kick back and think about all the good times ahead, because that’s what you’re supposed to do when the war is over isn’t it?
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ODI report: peacekeeping a safer occupation than aid work
A recent Overseas Development Institute report stated that more aid workers than peace keepers were killed in 2008. Some other key points of the report: