Aid worker stories
Keeping relief workers safe on the front line of aid programmes in Yemen
The security challenges facing Yemen are rarely out of the media spotlight. From the high profile kidnapping of a group of European tourists in 2009 to the recent unrest on the streets of the capital Sana’a, security is an issue aid agencies, both national and international, have to deal with on a daily basis. RedR’s Security Coordinator, Lisa Reilly, recently travelled to Yemen to deliver a tailor-made security course for German development agency GIZ. Here’s how she got on…
What are the key security challenges facing aid agencies working in Yemen?
The key threats identified by aid workers who took part in this particular RedR training were around travel safety and security. That includes road traffic incidents, being caught in cross-fire during transit or being caught up in a conflict between two rival communities within their project areas. Aid agencies have to be able to move around the country to effectively deliver their programmes, so it’s vital staff have the tools they need to stay safe – and to reach the people and communities they are working with. Interestingly, although kidnap is often identified as a high risk factor in Yemen, it is not seen by national staff as a primary concern.
Why is the training of national staff so critical to aid delivery?
Specialist training for national staff is vital to ensuring the day to day management of security operations and, in turn, the safe delivery of programmes. National staff often work across the entire country and are usually the ones on the front line, visiting communities day in, day out. In many cases they benefit from stepping outside their daily lives and reassessing the security threats they face.
Can you give an example?
Take check points. Check points are a daily reality for many people in Yemen. So much so, that often they would not be seen as posing a particular risk. On this course we looked at check point procedures and how to avoid getting into difficulty. Course participants commented that this was really worthwhile – they learnt to revaluate risks they might not have previously been aware of.
What did the training involve?
The four day training delivered an overview of security management and introduced key concepts in personal security. It focused specifically on equipping Yemeni nationals, who are responsible for managing projects and the related security requirements on a day to day basis, with the skills they need. That includes training in how to implement a systematic approach to security, identifying focal points to promote the sharing of vital security-related information across the organisation and equipping staff with the practical tools they need to make security systems work. We also looked at risk analysis, the development of security strategies, conflict resolution and the importance of communication.
How did people respond?
The passion with which participants engaged in the training was great to see. Above all, it was an opportunity to re-evaluate day to day security risks and what needs to be in place to deal with them. In the long-term, that means agencies can get back to work, safe in the knowledge that they know what to do to combat the threats.
RedR delivers a regular programme of security training for relief workers in Sudan, Pakistan and the UK, and on a tailor-made basis for aid and development agencies worldwide.
