The Role of Environmental Services in Post-Conflict

Countries The International Civil Society

Workshop on Environmental Norms and Military

Activities

Mishkat Al Moumin, PhD.Founder and CEO of

Women and the Environment Organization

11/26/2009 1

Successful Transition to Peace.

Meeting the basic environmental

needs such as: safe drinking

water, reliable energy supplies,

sanitation services, and trash pick

up is essential to ensure a

successful transition to peace.

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Post-Conflict Settings

• Policymakers understand environmental needs as “protecting the trees.”

Thus,• Environmental needs are given

less priority in the post-conflict stage.

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Back to conflict Successful

transition to peace

Post-Conflict

• According to World Bank, in 44% of all post-conflict situations, the conflict resumes in the first five years after the conflict has stopped. ( World Bank 2004. P.8)

• 50% of post-conflict countries relapse back to war in first decade of peace ( Collier 2003. P.7)

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The Role of Environmental Services

Failing to provide services creates: - On-going frustration and

grievance among the majority of the population.

- Widens the gap between social groups; winners and losers.

- Encourages migration to the cities where these services are offered (limited supply and increases of demand).

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Weak States

• A weak state that has just emerged from a conflict lacks both human and financial resources to provide services.

• Due to the conflict, most of the state infrastructure is destroyed.

• The challenges of the post-conflict stage are overwhelming, most policymakers do not know where to begin.

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Lack of Services Triggers Violence

• Insurgency is the function of grievance and opportunity ( Dixon 1999)

Thus,• a weak state + frustrated

population = Insurgency

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Case Studies

• Al Madi Army, an insurgency group operates from Sadr City in Iraq. However, the city lacks basic environmental needs

• Anbar Province where Sunni insurgency operate in Iraq- 60% of the population lacks access to safe drinking water

• Zapatista insurgency based in Chiapas- 21% of the population lack access to safe drinking water

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Recommendations

• Identify the immediate environmental response(s) that should be taken after major military operations come to an end.

• Adopt policies and operational measures that can provide effective protection to manage environmental resources and sustain them.

• Adopt policies that can be implemented successfully at the local level

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Questions?

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