3.6 A humanitarian death

We said at the start that death is a universal occurrence, and many of the patterns we looked at have some large numbers. While we might challenge them we also normalise them. Humanitarian crises are slightly different, but in many ways are no less tied into questions of income or social status. Humanitarian crises are rather linked to more complex global political, economic and human rights issues. 

What do we mean by a humanitarian crisis? The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) 2014-2017 strategy sees its role in …”response to the persistent global challenges. They include armed conflict, chronic vulnerability, displacement and an ever increasing demand for humanitarian assistance due to the growing numbers of disasters worldwide.” 

The World Economic Forum gathered the views of major humanitarian organisations on (their top concerns for 2016). They range from natural disasters like El Niño, drought in South Sudan, to wars and conflicts like Central African Republic, Yemen, Burundi and South Sudan to name a few.

Syria is at or near the top of most humanitarian organisations’ and individuals’ lists. For people in Europe there is a visible aspect of people trying to escape waiting at the borders of the European Union, but most of the people the people who have escaped are in neighbouring non-European countries. For example, in April 2016 UNHCR listed 4.8 million as of concern with 2.7 million in Turkey and one million in Lebanon. You can find up to date information here.

Like those who are displaced to other countries, those who are internally displaced are often the most vulnerable in society. Displacement and the inability to access reliable medicines and food affects their health. The Syrian Centre for Policy Research estimates 11.5% of the country’s population have been killed or injured and there are 1.9 million people wounded. Their estimate of deaths is 470,000, they note life expectancy has dropped to 55.4 in 2015 from 70 in 2011 and economic losses are estimated at US$225 billion (Click here for more information). While these numbers may be contested (the UN estimate is 250,000, death is a highly political and politicised issue.