Humanitarianism & War Project

	\|\|\|\| Status Report #2: November 22, 1991
	SINCE THE STATUS REPORT of October 9, a number of developments have taken place.
	Initial research is proceeding apace. Meetings of researchers held in Providence Nov. 18 and Washington Nov. 21 discussed preliminary findings and identified problems of methodology, data, and substance. By year's end, the initial research should be completed and the relevant data available in computerized form for comparative review by the project . Research is focussing on three regions (the Horn of Africa, Central America and the Gulf) and on a number of individual countries (Sri Lanka, Yugoslavia, Liberia, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Angola and Mozambique, Lebanon and Peru). In early 1992, visits will be arranged to aid agency headquarters and to selected regions and countries.
	The Project has been monitoring relevant discussions at the United Nations. On October 31, the Second Committee of the General Assembly reviewed humanitarian operations in a number of countries and regions in conflict. On Nov. 4-5, the General Assembly held two days of debate on the restructuring of UN associated humanitarian aid. A review of the latter discussions is attached, as is Humanitarianism and War. Occasional Paper No.8 in the Watson Institute Series. (Additional copies are available upon request from the Watson Institute). Also now published is Soldiers, Peacekeepers and Disasters, edited by Leon Gordenker and Thomas G Weiss (London: Macmillan, 1991). Copies are available from Macmillan Publishers Ltd. and in limited numbers, from the Watson Institute.
	During the past month, several additional agencies have confirmed their support of the Project: the UN¼s Special Emergency Program for the Horn of Africa (SEPHA), the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Mennonite Central Committee. The number of agencies currently making cash contributions stands at eleven, including UNICEF, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN World Food Program, the Dutch government, Catholic Relief Services, Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran World Relief, the Norwegian Refugee Council. Discussions are continuing with a number of other UN agencies, governments, and NGOs which have expressed interest in the initiative. Additional funds are still needed to meet the Project's objectives and budget.
	In recent weeks consultations have been held with senior officials from SEPHA, UNICEF, UNDRO, the Dutch government, the ICRC, the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the Norwegian Refugee Council. Project personnel participated in a panel discussion on "Defining the New Sovereignty" at the United Nations in New York sponsored by the Parliamentarians for Global Action and will make presentations at upcoming conferences on humanitarian assistance in Canada and the United States.
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