Overview

The Syrian crisis is one of the most serious humanitarian disasters in recent history. Yet the widely reported numbers--more than 6 million displaced, including 5 million refugees--reflect only a fractional toll of the conflict. Numerous international organizations, states, and civil society movements have called for the laws of war to be respected, sieges lifted, and humanitarian access facilitated. But beneath each of these humanitarian appeals lies a complicated reality extending beyond the binary narratives that have come to define the war in Syria. Everybody's War examines the complexities of humanitarianism in Syria and the wide-ranging consequences for both Syria's populations and humanitarian responses to future conflicts. Organized by Médecins Sans Frontières, this edited volume brings together academics and humanitarian practitioners from across the globe to provide a multitude of perspectives on the politics of aid in the Syrian war. Contributors explore the humanitarian crisis behind the Syrian conflict through the history and fragmentation of Syrian health care, the role of international humanitarian law in enabling attacks on health facilities, and the lived experience of siege in all its layers. Further attention is given to the ways in which humanitarian actors have fed the war economy and joined the information wars that have raged throughout the region over the past ten years.While the Syrian crisis has been everybody's war, it has certainly not been everybody's victory. This volume shares the intricate story of aid delivery and humanitarian complicity within one of the defining conflicts of the twenty-first century.

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9780197514641

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Reviews

Ultimately, Everybody's War is a positive example of the insights that can be gained through collaboration between humanitarian aid actors, both international and local, and scholars of humanitarianism ... In addition to making a solid contribution to academic debates about the effectiveness and relevance of humanitarian neutrality in contemporary wars, this volume will prove useful in courses devoted to humanitarianism and peace and conflict studies. * Nell Gabiam, Middle East Journal * Everybody's War casts an unsparing and critical light on the challenges faced by humanitarians caught between the politics of war and the moral duty to save lives. Through diverse chapters, it problematizes the many inhumanities of the Syrian conflict and questions the future of humanitarianism when civilians become the targets of war. This troubling but essential volume is long overdue, and vitally needed. * Antonio Donini, Graduate Institute, Geneva and Co-founder, United Against Inhumanity * This book highlights the political intricacies of aid in Syria and the challenges experienced by Syrians. It provides valuable insights for INGOs operating in conflict zones by showcasing shortcomings and political implications, offering lessons that can be applied to potentially avert similar pitfalls in Syria and different conflict settings. * Sima Aldardari, Journal of Development Studies *

Ultimately, Everybody's War is a positive example of the insights that can be gained through collaboration between humanitarian aid actors, both international and local, and scholars of humanitarianism ... In addition to making a solid contribution to academic debates about the effectiveness and relevance of humanitarian neutrality in contemporary wars, this volume will prove useful in courses devoted to humanitarianism and peace and conflict studies. * Nell Gabiam, Middle East Journal * Everybody's War casts an unsparing and critical light on the challenges faced by humanitarians caught between the politics of war and the moral duty to save lives. Through diverse chapters, it problematizes the many inhumanities of the Syrian conflict and questions the future of humanitarianism when civilians become the targets of war. This troubling but essential volume is long overdue, and vitally needed. * Antonio Donini, Graduate Institute, Geneva and Co-founder, United Against Inhumanity *

Everybody's War casts an unsparing and critical light on the challenges faced by humanitarians caught between the politics of war and the moral duty to save lives. Through diverse chapters, it problematizes the many inhumanities of the Syrian conflict and questions the future of humanitarianism when civilians become the targets of war. This troubling but essential volume is long overdue, and vitally needed. * Antonio Donini, Graduate Institute, Geneva and Co-founder, United Against Inhumanity *

Author Information

Jehan Bseiso is Executive Director for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Lebanon. She joined MSF in 2008 and worked in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Ethiopia, and Belgium, primarily in communications and advocacy. Michiel Hofman has been Senior Humanitarian Specialist for MSF based out of Belfast since 2011. Previously, he worked for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in field missions between 1993 and 1998 as Emergency Coordinator and Head of Mission for MSF in Liberia, DRC, Bosnia, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Brazil, South Sudan and Kosovo. He is also Co-founder of The Antares Foundation, a Dutch non-profit organisation which supports local NGOs in providing psychosocial support for staff working in high-stress environments. Jonathan Whittall is Director of the Analysis department for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Operational Centre in Brussels. He previously established and led MSF's Programmes Unit in Southern Africa before becoming head of humanitarian analysis for MSF. He has worked in MSF emergency projects in South Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Bahrain, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.

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