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Lems said his group tries to involve Americans in the aid mission by asking for donations.

"It's kind of a humanizing thing," he said. "And then Iraqis see Americans care, and it changes the whole dynamic."

He said the new policy of militarizing humanitarian relief in Iraq—which some say explains the attacks aimed at armed, military relief workers—is a dangerous blurring of the lines between military and relief workers.

"Humanitarian aid groups need to work with military, but they also need to be independent and be able to work with Iraqis," he said.

Donna Durr, assistant director of Church World Service Emergency Response program, shares Lems' view.

"Security has been a challenge. There is no rhyme or reason about what happens," she said of the attacks on aid workers. "There are certainly places in the country where it is more critical and delicate, where you have to work with the local leadership to be effective."

"Ultimately, it's a challenge to hold as separate the humanitarian mandate vs. the military mandate," she said. "If one understands the humanitarian mandate, it's to always have a sense of neutrality and openness. What does it say if humanitarian aid providers travel with armed escorts?"

Jonathan Frerichs, communications director for Lutheran World Relief, said smaller humanitarian groups feel the absence of the larger nongovernmental organizations with whom they partnered for relief projects the smaller groups cannot orchestrate alone.

But, Frerichs said, close work with Iraqi staff members keep smaller projects running—projects that are "by no means adequate" in the absence of larger, NGO-staffed relief efforts.

Red Cross spokeswoman Amanda Williamson said the international group will retain a small expatriate staff, but outside of Baghdad and Basra.

She said the Oct. 27 suicide bombing that targeted the International Committee of the Red Cross headquarters "has been a serious blow, and it's forced us to quite drastically reshape the relief organization" with regard to Iraq.

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Other articles on humanitarian relief from CT's Iraq archive include:

Iraq's Good Samaritans | This past summer, pundits predicted that Iraqis would resent Franklin Graham's ministry. What really happened when the workers showed up? (Oct. 24, 2003)

Damping the Fuse in Iraq | A veteran peacemaker discusses how religion can help stave off religious conflict after Saddam. (July 09, 2003)

No Strings Attached | Christians seek to balance relief work and evangelism in Iraq. (May 20, 2003)

Before the Refugee Dam Breaks | Agencies prepare to help up to 900,000 people in Iraq War. (April 24, 2003)

As Baghdad Falls, Agencies Brace for Flood of Work | Aid and mine removal teams could move into Iraq within days. (April 11, 2003)

Mixing Iraq Aid and the Gospel Stirs Debate | Critics say proselytizing can reflect negatively on other relief groups and governments. (April 04, 2003)

Evangelicals Plan to Minister to Iraqis' Needs—Physical and Spiritual | Evangelism efforts will join relief work, say Southern Baptist Convention and Samaritan's Purse (March 27, 2003)

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December (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47