# Humanitarian Action: Additional Reading and Resources ## expand\_more In any humanitarian crisis, it is possible to ask the “religion question:" how is religion embedded in this situation? Our reading lists present this question in a range of examples, each representing a different type of humanitarian challenge as an entry point for consideration: conflict, resource distribution, a crisis caused by a natural hazard, and disease. They include discussions of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar; the ongoing conflict and refugee crisis in Syria; resource distribution in Sudan; and responses to HIV-AIDS and Ebola, particularly in West Africa. These resources were initially developed for the January 2017 Symposium on Religious Literacy and Humanitarian Action held at Harvard Divinity School. These readings are not intended to be representative of best (or worst) practices. Rather, they present an approach to a topic in order to provide a common core of knowledge for practitioners in the field. The humanitarian action reading lists draw from a range of sources. Though there are often overlaps and it is impossible to separate issues, each represents a different type of humanitarian challenge as an entry point for consideration. **As you review the resource(s) chosen for the case studies, consider the following questions:** - What roles do/did religions play in this humanitarian crisis and in response to the crisis? - What international and local religious actors or institutions have been involved in the response to the crisis? At what points? In what capacities? What aspects of their interventions have been positive or negative? - Where is religion engaged in an innovative way? Where is it treated as a cliché (perhaps obscuring what’s really going on in the process)? - Are there other ways of understanding the roles that religions play in the case that would enrich our understanding of what’s happening? - What forms of cultural violence and/or peace is religion supporting or resisting in this case? (See the [Peace and Violence section](/what-we-do/our-approach/peace-violence "Peace and Violence") of Our Approach for understanding cultural violence and peace.) - To the extent that there was/is local humanitarian leadership in the response to this crisis, are religious actors among the local actors leading the response? **We also pose the following questions about the field of humanitarian aid/action more broadly:** - What are the strengths and drawbacks of both secular and faith-based organizations in humanitarian action? - How does a focus on humanitarian leadership shape how organizations understand the roles of religions and engage religious actors in local contexts? - What are the implicit and explicit assumptions about religion in different humanitarian aid organizations? - What kinds of training regarding religion do humanitarian aid workers receive in different organizations? - What are participants' experiences of the ways funding bodies respond to applications for humanitarian projects and programs that engage with religion? - As an individual practitioner or researcher working in the field of humanitarian action, how do you think about the roles that religions play in your work? Open all sections Close all sections ### Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis expand\_more ### Primary resource: - Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, [Listening to Voices from Inside: Myanmar Civil Society’s Response to Cyclone Nargis](http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/F56401203A68A5A1492575AD0020EE46-Full_Report.pdf) (2009). Relevant segments in Part B - Engaging the Authorities, Coordinating Relief and Making Links (p. 147) - From Evangelism to Relief Work (p. 155) - Religious Leaders Respond (p.161) - Adopting a Holistic Approach As a Result of Cyclone Nargis (p.167) ### Additional resources: - Helen James, [“Religion, Disaster Relief and Reconstruction in the Burmese Delta after Cyclone Nargis: How can disaster foster enhanced social capital, community empowerment, and socio-political transformation?”](/file_url/511) (Unpublished paper) - Andrew Bulmer, et al., [Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar: Evaluation Report](https://www.alnap.org/help-library/cyclone-nargis-evaluation-report) (Tearfund, Feb. 2010). - Ashley South, et al., [Myanmar – Surviving the Storm: Self-protection and survival in the Delta](http://www.local2global.info/wp-content/uploads/L2GP_Myanmar_Nargis_study.pdf) (Local to Global Protection, October 2011) (pp. 98-99 on role of religion and religious leaders). ### Syria: Conflict and Refugee Crisis expand\_more ### Primary resource: - Shatha El Nakib and Alastair Ager (2015), "[Local faith community and civil society engagement in humanitarian response with Syrian refugees in Irbid, Jordan.](/file_url/512)" Report to the Henry Luce Foundation. New York: Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health. ### Additional resources: - Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS), [*Relief Actors in Syria: Syria Needs Analysis Project*](https://www.acaps.org/sites/acaps/files/products/files/18_relief_actors_in_syria.pdf), December 2013. - Rupen Das, [“Humanitarianism in Highly Religious Contexts: Responding to Syrian Refugees in Lebanon,”](http://www.mei.edu/content/map/humanitarianism-highly-religious-contexts-responding-syrian-refugees-lebanon) Middle East Institute, March 15, 2016. - Council on Foreign Relations, Event: “[Confronting the Syrian Refugee Crisis: Putting Faith in Humanitarian Aid”](https://www.cfr.org/event/confronting-syrian-refugee-crisis-putting-faith-humanitarian-aid) (Speakers: William Canny, Executive Director, Migration and Refugee Services, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Robert Carey, Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Mark Hetfield, President and CEO, HIAS; Anwar Khan, CEO, Islamic Relief USA), Dec. 2016 (Video, audio and transcript available). - Emily Hokayem, "[How Syria Defeated the Sunni Powers](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/opinion/how-syria-defeated-the-sunni-powers.html)," *New York Times*, December 30, 2016. ### Sudan: Resource Distribution expand\_more ### Primary resource: - Roger Dean, "[Rethinking the Causes of Civil War in Sudan](/file_url/515)," *Civil Wars*., Vol 3:1 (2000), 71-91. ### Additional resources: - M. Jan Holton. "[Our Hope Comes from God": Faith Narratives and Resilience in Southern Sudan](https://doi.org/10.1179/jpt.2010.20.1.005)," *Journal of Pastoral Theology* 20 (2010). - Ulrich Mans and Osman Mohammed Osman Ali, [Stuck in Change: Faith-based Peace-building in Sudan’s Transition](https://www.clingendael.nl/sites/default/files/20061000_cru_occ_sudan.pdf) (Clingendael, Netherlands Institute of International Relations, October 2006) - Faizan Polani, “The Influence of Religion on Islamic Relief and its Comparative Advantage in Sudan,” The New Birmingham Review Vol. 2:2 (2016), p. 105-137. ### Infectious Disease: HIV-AIDS and/or Ebola expand\_more ### Ebola Primary resource: - Katherine Marshall, [*Responding to the Ebola Epidemic in West Africa: What Role does Religion Play?*](https://s3.amazonaws.com/berkley-center/160501MarshallCaseStudyRespondingEbolaEpidemicWestAfricaWhatRoleDoesReligionPlay.pdf) (Case Study, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs and World Faith Development Dialogue, 2016). ### Ebola Additional resources: - Christian Aid, CAFOD, Tearfund, and Islamic Relief Worldwide, [“Keeping the Faith: The Role of Faith Leaders in the Ebola Response](http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Keeping%20the%20Faith%20-%20the%20role%20of%20faith%20leaders%20in%20the%20Ebola%20response.pdf),” (July 2015). - Nina Devries, “[In Sierra Leone, Religious Leaders Take on Role in Ebola Prevention](http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/5/15/churches-and-mosques-educate-on-ebola.html),” *Al Jazeera America*, May 15, 2015. - Christo Greyling, et al., “Lessons from the Faith-Driven Response to the West Africa Ebola Epidemic,” The Review of Faith & International Affairs, Vol. 14: 3 (2016). ### HIV/AIDS Primary resource: - Marian Burchardt, “Faith-based Humanitarianism: Organizational change and everyday meanings in South Africa,” *Sociology of Religion*, 2013, vol. 74(1), p. 30-55. (uploaded to Google drive) ### HIV/AIDS Additional resources: - Global Health Council, [*Faith in Action: Examining the Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Addressing HIV/AIDS*](https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=http://jliflc.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CMMB_Faith-In-Action.pdf) (Global Health Council, 2005). - Fiona Samuels, Rena Geibel, and Fiona Perry, [Collaboration between faith-based communities and humanitarian actors when responding to HIV in emergencies](https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/5902.pdf) (Project Briefing No. 41: Overseas Development Institute, World Vision, and Tearfund, May 2010). - Jenny Trinitapoli and Alexander Weinreb, [“Good News on AIDS in Africa: Deaths are down and the heroes of the story aren’t who you think](http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2013/03/good_news_on_aids_in_africa_religious_leaders_help_fight_disease.single.html),” *Slate*, March, 27, 2013. For additional resources, see this [list](http://jliflc.com/hiv-maternal-health/) compiled by Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities.