The 2016–2017 Battle of Mosul would have been unrecognizable to Henri Dunant, the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Unlike the defined front lines in the Battle of Solferino, where Dunant witnessed the suffering of the wounded, 21st-century armed conflict is characterized by the proliferation of asymmetric warfare, non-state armed groups, and the targeting of humanitarian workers.
As the security dynamics in today’s conflict zones increasingly render conventional humanitarian operations unfeasible, a new type of humanitarian actor has emerged: veteran-recruiting non-governmental organizations. These entities hire military veterans with combat experience, bringing both advantages and challenges to traditionalThe post Veteran-Recruiting Non-Governmental Organizations: An Emerging Actor in Humanitarian Response appeared first on War on the Rocks.