Dangerous liaisons? A historical review of UNHCR’s engagement with non-state armed actors

The actions of non-state armed actors (NSAAs) have received significant attention in recent years, especially with regard to how their presence in the field impacts humanitarian space. Groups such as the Taliban and al-Shabaab are believed to restrict access to populations of concern and contribute to an increasingly insecure operating environment.
 

While violent attacks on humanitarian workers have indeed generated considerable anxiety in recent years, NSAAs are not a new phenomenon, nor are they the only parties responsible for such violence. Rather, they have been a feature to one degree or another in almost all UNHCR operations in recent years.