Blurring of Lines in Complex Emergencies: Consequences for the Humanitarian Community

UN integration; military involvement in relief aid; whole-of-government stabilization efforts; counter-terrorism legislation; and ‘humanitarian’ interventions invoking the Responsibility to Protect norm. Though this list does not intend to be comprehensive, these are some of the main exogenous variables that feed the blurring of international military, political and humanitarian agendas. All these issues are strongly interrelated, and share a willingness to provide coherent solutions to complex emergencies while addressing security threats. Although sound on paper, their implementation has created significant tensions yet to be addressed. Hereafter is a brief review of the challenges that each of them is facing.