Private security firms in war zones worry NGOs

[seemslikeadream]

Friday August 13, 2004 (1417 PST)

"Non-state armed actors operating for profit create unique problems for humanitarians," Kenny Gluck, director of operations for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland, told AlertNet.

"They are not clearly military, but neither are they local actors. Local people in conflict situations are generally able to identify local belligerents and tell us who they are. Military actors are generally easily identified, and belong to a hierarchy with clear lines of authority which can be approached to facilitate protest or negotiation.

"But with private security elements, who is responsible? Who can be held to account? The shareholders?"

Between 10,000 and 20,000 former military or security personnel are earning up to $1,500 a day working in Iraq and Afghanistan on a variety of tasks, including the armed protection of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, protecting the United Nation's cash and supporting the Afghan elections.

According to International Alert, the global market for private security is expected to grow to $210 billion in 2010 from $55.6 billion in 1990. A third of the U.S. budget for the war in Iraq is reportedly spent on private military companies -- a projected $30 billion in 2004.

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