Biomaterial Database

Why aid agencies need better understanding of the communities they assist: the experience of food aid in Rwandan refugee camps. 1996

J Pottier

School of Oriental and African Studies, London University.

Refugee views on food aid reveal the ignorance of the international community regarding Rwandan culture, economy and politics. This ignorance carries a number of costs. On one level, the main cost is that a professional service is not carried out to the best of one's ability. Ignorance of Rwanda's North-South divide, for instance, has caused agencies to be insensitive to in-camp discrimination based upon regional identity and its impact on programme activities. On a deeper level, agency ignorance about Rwandan culture, economy and the dynamics of camp politics, reduces refugee confidence in humanitarian agencies and workers. Better information would not only result in the greater likelihood of appropriate responses to specific needs, but would also encourage greater credibility in the political arena where the ultimate stake is to see lasting peace and a dignified return of refugees to their homes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007391	International Cooperation	The interaction of persons or groups of persons representing various nations in the pursuit of a common goal or interest.	Foreign Aid,Treaties,Aid, Foreign,Cooperation, International,Treaty
D010465	Perception	The process by which the nature and meaning of sensory stimuli are recognized and interpreted.	Sensory Processing,Processing, Sensory
D011057	Politics	Activities concerned with governmental policies, functions, etc.	Political Activity,Conservatism,Decentralization,Liberalism,Political Factors,Activities, Political,Activity, Political,Factor, Political,Factors, Political,Political Activities,Political Factor
D011287	Prejudice	A preconceived judgment made without factual basis.	Anti-Semitism,Islamophobia,Anti Semitism,Anti-Semitisms,Islamophobias,Prejudices
D012036	Refugees	Persons fleeing to a place of safety, especially those who flee to a foreign country or power to escape danger, persecution, or economic distress in their own country or habitual residence.	Asylum Seekers,Displaced Persons,Internally Displaced Persons,Political Asylum Seekers,Political Refugees,Asylum Seeker,Asylum Seeker, Political,Asylum Seekers, Political,Displaced Person,Displaced Person, Internally,Displaced Persons, Internally,Internally Displaced Person,Person, Displaced,Persons, Displaced,Political Asylum Seeker,Political Refugee,Refugee,Refugee, Political,Refugees, Political,Seeker, Asylum,Seekers, Asylum,Seekers, Political Asylum
D012066	Relief Work	Assistance, such as money, food, or shelter, given to the needy, aged, or victims of disaster. It is usually granted on a temporary basis. (From The American Heritage Dictionary, 2d college ed)	Humanitarian Assistance,Assistance, Humanitarian,Assistances, Humanitarian,Humanitarian Assistances,Relief Works,Work, Relief,Works, Relief
D003469	Culture	A collective expression for all behavior patterns acquired and socially transmitted through symbols. Culture includes customs, traditions, and language.	Cultural Relativism,Customs,Beliefs,Cultural Background,Background, Cultural,Backgrounds, Cultural,Belief,Cultural Backgrounds,Cultural Relativisms,Cultures,Relativism, Cultural,Relativisms, Cultural
D004467	Economics	The science of utilization, distribution, and consumption of services and materials.	Consumer Price Index,Capital,Conditions, Economic,Consumption,Cost of Living,Easterlin Hypothesis,Economic Conditions,Economic Policies,Economic Policy,Economics, Home,Home Economics,Household Consumption,Macroeconomic Factors,Microeconomic Factors,Policies, Economic,Policy, Economic,Production,Remittances,Utility Theory,Condition, Economic,Consumer Price Indices,Consumption, Household,Economic Condition,Factor, Macroeconomic,Factor, Microeconomic,Factors, Macroeconomic,Factors, Microeconomic,Household Consumptions,Hypothesis, Easterlin,Index, Consumer Price,Indices, Consumer Price,Living Cost,Living Costs,Remittance,Theories, Utility,Theory, Utility,Utility Theories
D005522	Food Services	Functions, equipment, and facilities concerned with the preparation and distribution of ready-to-eat food.	Meals on Wheels,Meal on Wheels,Services, Food,Food Service,Service, Food
D005523	Food Supply	The production and movement of food items from point of origin to use or consumption.	Food Supply Chain,Chain, Food Supply,Food Supplies,Food Supply Chains,Supplies, Food,Supply Chain, Food,Supply Chains, Food,Supply, Food