Two days ago, the Guardian broke that the Red Cross in Afghanistan have been teaching basic first aid to Taliban fighters and providing the insurgent group with medical supplies. The Red Cross says seventy Taliban received first aid training in April alone and started training insurgents in 2006. Karzai’s government is outraged by the program. But he shouldn’t be, he shouldn’t even be surprised.
Many NGOs operating in warzones dogmatically hold onto the myth of blanket neutrality. They take government funding or operate under government provided security, but whenever threatened point of the Geneva Convention and shout “Look! Look! I am neutral! It says right here!”. But, this blanket neutrality does not exist and never did.
Humanitarian neutrality is not a right given, but a privilege earned.
Want to send a letter to FARC hostages or negotiate a prisoner transfer with Hamas leaders? Ask the Red Cross, they have their cell number. Quite simply, ICRC is the most capable intelligence organization on the planet. I would not be surprised if the Red Cross knew where Osama Bin Laden is sleeping, and even gave him medical care. They have contacts the US intelligence community can only dream about. But, there is no magic behind their social network of guerillas and terrorists. The Red Cross has these contacts because of the neutrality it has earned over hundreds of conflicts, one armed group at a time.
While de jure the Red Cross’ neutrality is based on the Geneva Convention, de facto it is based on the trust of rebels and governments alike. The Red Cross’ first aid training is more than just about saving the lives of Taliban foot soldiers, it is about building a relationship with rebels. It is about earning neutrality.
Christopher R. Albon is a political science Ph.D. specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
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