Leaving the Green Zone

To understand the challenges of doing aid work in an active conflict zone, let’s go back to our illustrative example of a conflict theatre, in which Bob and John’s communities are now at war.

Now, let’s imagine that a humanitarian aid worker named Kim has been working tirelessly to get desperately needed medical supplies into the country. Her efforts have really helped the big hospitals in the capital city. But, the greatest needs are out in the countryside, where local clinics have far fewer resources. Kim wants to help, but she’s also worried about working in more volatile and conflict-affected areas, especially in the troubled areas where John and Bob live. What are the risks of Kim leaving the “green zone”? What would she need to think about if she wanted to expand her operation into those troubled areas?

Check out the video in this step, and then share your Comments on the scenario.