The Dark Side of Good

When viewing humanitarian work from the context of a non-humanitarian emergency, for example the suburbs of Atlanta, the English countryside – anywhere lacking conflict, combat, displacement, and famine - it is difficult to see the dark side of good. Michael Marren knows it well. He wrote a book about it called “The Road to Hell” – and you thought NGOs were all about saving the world. Read his book, albeit one journalist’s take on the aid industry, but a take that should be assessed. I state these things as one of the most bizarre news pieces became apparent this week in the central African nation of Chad:

Over a dozen aid workers from the French organization “Zoe’s Ark” – mostly French and Spanish – were arrested and are accused of attempting to smuggle 103 children (ranging in age from 2 to 9 years) to France. Their plane was stopped on the runway in Chad, minutes before it took off.

Let me not pass judgment on this one, for I’m not in a position to do so. I think a jury, judge, and court of law are more suited for that. What I can do is push the issue; and I will.

Here are the facts: The children are for the most part healthy, showing no signs of mistreatment, poor health, or need for medical attention. Zoe’s Ark claims that the children were being “rescued” and taken to France to be cared for and given education and medical attention. Zoe’s Ark claims they are “orphans from Darfur.” When journalists visited the children most were crying for “mommy” and “daddy.” Most of the children are Chadian. The parents of many of the children have been identified. They have been looking for their children. They claim that Chadian men came and asked to take their children to a nearby village where foreign aid workers would educate them.

This story highlights the very real potential for “doing good” to go awry. Greater mechanisms need to be put in place to ensure foreign NGOs are held accountable when operating in conflict zones. A little girl calling out for her mommy is not an orphan.

Let the court decide the fate of those involved, but let it set a precedent for regulating the renegade nature with which too many relief organizations operate.