Thereisnofutureinhumanitarianism.Emergency,temporalityandprotracteddisplacement.ContactinformationCathrineBrunCentreforDevelopmentandEmergencyPractice(CENDEP)SchoolofArchitectureOxfordBrookesUniversitycbrun@brookes.ac.uk

AbstractThehumanitariansystemandpeoplelivingwithandinlong-termrefugeesituationsenvisagethefuturedifferently.Inthisarticle,Iexploredifferentnotionsofthefuturethatmaybefoundinhumanitarianpoliciesandamonghumanitarianworkers.Withparticularreferencetounderstandingsofemergency,crisisandethicsinhumanitarianism,Idiscusswaysinwhichthefutureisunderstoodandpracticedbyhumanitarianactorsworkinginsituationsofprotracteddisplacement.AnalysingthepolicycontextforSyrianrefugeesinJordaninthecontextofthe‘humanitarianreason’whichtendstoseparatebetweenbiologicalandbiographicallives,Iidentifyhowthefutureandpastareseparatedfromthepresentinaprocessthatdecontextualizesforcedmigrantsbothtemporallyandspatially.Ishowhowhumanitarianworkisboundbyitstemporariness:itisreliefandlifesaving.Inmostcases,however,humanitarianoperationslastmuchlongerthananticipated.Whenhumanitarianworkersbecomeembeddedinthelocalcontextandcometoknowthepeopletheyassist,theyfeelresponsibilityforasharedfutureandmaychallenge–throughtheirpractices–thehumanitarianprinciplesofneutrality,impartialityandindependence.Thus,throughfocusingonwhathumanitarianworkersdo,wemaybeabletoidentifypracticesthatchallengecurrentlyacceptedhumanitarianethics.Bywayofconclusion,andsupportedbyfeministdiscussionsoftemporalityandtheethicsofcare,Isuggestsomepossiblewaysofintegratingaconceptofthefutureintohumanitarianism.

Keywords:Humanitarianism,protractedcrises,humanitarianworkers,temporality,ethics,futureSyrianrefugeesinJordanAcknowledgements:Thistextwasfirstpresentedattheworkshop“PrecariousFutures?Hoping,movingandwaitingintimesofuncertainty”inSeptember2016.NaujaKleist,DorteThorsenandIdaVammendeserveabigthankyoufororganisinganinspiringandconstructiveworkshopatthemostbeautifulplaceinTisvildelejeinDenmark.ManythankstoNaujaKleistandStefJansenforprovidingtheopportunitytodevelopthepaperforthisspecialissue,tothereviewersfortheircomments,andtomyco-contributorsforprovidinginsightful

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papers.ThepaperhasalsobenefittedfromfeedbackafterpresentationsattheCityDebates(theAmericanUniversityofBeirut),OxfordBrookesUniversityandtheUniversityofManchester.ManythanksalsotoAnitaH.FàbosandNicholasVanHearforcommentsanddiscussionsbasedonpreviousdrafts.

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Ingress:Stuckinthepresent?“Beingstuck”isaspatio-temporalnotionthatimpliesthatthefutureaspiredtocannotbereached,thatanundesirablesituationorlocationcannotbeescaped.Itindicatestemporal,socialandgeographicalstillness.Ihavetriedseveraltimestousethetitle“stuckinthepresent”whenwritingtounderstandthesituationinwhichpeopleinprotracteddisplacementfindthemselves.ButeverytimeIworkontheexpressionof“beingstuck”,itbecomesclearthatthepeople,whoseexperiencesandpracticesIamwritingabout,arenotentirelystuck.Thetermdoesnotquitework.Weneedtorespectthatpeopleinprotracteddisplacementoftenfeelstuck:theyarestuckinastatusofbeingdisplacedorstuckinawarzonewithouttheabilitytoescape,theyfeelstuckbecausetheycannotdeveloptheirlives,stuckbecausetheycannotcontroltheirfutureandbecausethefuturetheyoftendreamofislocatedinthepast.However,whileacknowledgingthisexperience,andanalysingitsconsequences,thereisalwayssomekindofmovementinpeople’slives.Theremaybegeographicalmovement;theremaybesocialmovement,ormobility,whichcouldseepeoplemovingtoabetteroraworsecondition;peoplefindwaysofmovingon,andeventhoughtheydonotmoveon,therearechangesintheirlives.Beingstuckisentangledwithanumberofotherprocessesoftransformation,movementandvolatility,andIalwaysendupmodifyinganddeletingstuckfromthetitle.Sotoowiththisarticle.Istartedwiththenotionof“stuck”aimingtolookathowthehumanitariansystem’sspatio-temporalpoliciesof(im)mobilityinurbanprotracteddisplacementfixespeople.However,inthearticleIhaveendedupshowinghowhumanitarianworkersnegotiateahumanitariansysteminwhichtheyworkandalsofeelstuckandtheconsequencesthatthesystemhasforenablingpossiblefutures.Myfocusthusshiftstowhatunderstandingsoftemporalitytheexperienceofbeingstuckmayderivefrom,andhowwecanintegrateamoreexplicittime-dimensioninhumanitarianwork.ThethemesIexploreinthisarticlecomeoutofpreviousworkonattemptingtointegrateatime-perspectiveonprotracteddisplacement(Brun2015;2016;HorstandGrabska2015),onwhythenotionof“limbo”isproblematicwhenconceptualisingprotracteddisplacement(BrunandFàbos2015),andworkonethicsinactionresearchandhumanitarianworkinthecontextofcrises(Brun2009,BrunandAttanapola2015;BrunandLund2010).Ihavepreviouslyanalysedhow“hope”allowsforeverydaypracticesandfuturetimetocometogether(Brun2015).HopeasIunderstandithere,representsengagementswiththefutureinacontextofprotracteddisplacement(KleistandJansen,thisissue).Havingafutureorworkingtowardsafutureindicatesthepresenceofhopeasgenerativeofaction-atemporalsenseofpotential(Brun,2015;see

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alsoSliwinski,thisissue).Inthispaper,Iaddresshopethroughhowthe‘future’isdealtwithandpartlymadeirrelevantinmuchofcurrenthumanitarianpractices.Iengagewiththeroleofthefutureinhumanitarianismbyexploringhowthehumanitariansystemworkswithprotracteddisplacementandcivilianswhofeelstuck.Iaddressthelimitsoftemporalityinthecurrentethicalpositionsavailabletohumanitarianworkers.Inordertoengagewithtemporalityinhumanitarianism,IapplyafeministnotionoftemporalityinspiredbyHannahArendt(1958)andSimonedeBeauvoir(1952/1988)that,Isuggest,enableapossiblelinkbetweenfutureandethicsofcare.Afeministethicsofcareallowsforinsightsintohowpracticesonthegroundinprotractedsituationsofdisplacementrepresentalternativestotheethicalregisteravailableinthecanonofthehumanitariansystem.Thearticleisbasedoninsightsfrommanyyearsofresearchingprotracteddisplacement,interviewingstaffinhumanitarianagenciesandaprojectonknowledgegapsinthehumanitariansectorwhichinvolvedinterviewswithhumanitarianworkersemployedbyNorwegianhumanitarianorganisations(BrunandAttanapola2015).Inaddition,fieldvisitstoJordaninNovember2015andinFebruary2015enabledinterviewsandconversationswithstaffinhumanitarianorganisationsworkingwithSyrianrefugees.Secondarymaterialprovidedbyhumanitarianorganisationsandavailableonlinehasbeenanimportantsourcefortheanalysesthatfollow.Humanitariancategoriestendtofixpeopleinparticularplacesandsocialpositions.Manyscholarshavewrittenabouthowthecategoriesbecomestatusesthatworktorestrictpeople’sabilitiestosocialandgeographicalmobility(Malkki1992;HyndmanandGiles2011;Brun2016).Humanitarianactionprimarilyaimsfortemporarysolutionsthattendtomakepeoplestuckinahumanitariansystemforyears.Peopleaffectedbyconflictmakelifebynavigatingtheuncertaintyandvolatilityofaconflictualsituation(Lubkeman2008,Vigh2008).Survivinginthepresentandplanningforafuturerepresentaclashingoftemporalitiesinacontextwherethehumanitariansystemandpeoplelivinginandwithcrisis(conflict,disaster,displacement)envisagefuturesdifferently.Idiscussthewaysinwhichthereislittleroomforthinkingaboutfuturesinthecurrenthumanitariansystem.Widelydiscussedindevelopment-studiesandinanthropologyofdevelopmentprojects,temporalityhasbeenexploredtoalesserextentwithinhumanitarianstudies,andmuchlesssothantheanalysisofthespatialimplicationsofhumanitariancategoriesandpractices.Theurgencyinherentinhumanitarianworkhasbeentakenforgranted,orrelatedtodebatesonlinkingreliefanddevelopment,andmorerecentcriticalworkonresilience(BaileyandBarbelet2014;Caveltyetal.2015).Tounderstandthespatio-temporalpoliticsof

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humanitarianisminurbanprotracteddisplacement,IengagewithwaysinwhichtemporalityandthefutureisunderstoodwhenproducingknowledgeaboutSyrianrefugeesinJordan.Withagroundinginfeministdiscussionsoftemporalityandethicsofcareandwiththeinsightsfromhowhumanitarianworkersnegotiatethehumanitariansystemofwhichtheyareapart,Isuggesthowahumanitariansystemboundbyuniversalismandstricthumanitarianprinciplesneedstotakeamoreflexibleandlocalisedapproachinprotractedsituationsofdisplacementinordertoexpanditsethicalregisterandenableafutureforpeopleassistedbythehumanitariansystem.Humanitarianism,humanitariangovernance,humanitarianreasonSavingandprotectingthelivesofpeopleaffectedbyconflictandcrisisisafundamentallynecessaryandworthwhileactivity.Humanitarianactionisasafetynetforthemostvulnerableintimesofdisaster,whetherman-madeornot.Assuch,itdeservestobeprotectedandnurtureddespiteitsobviouslimitationsandimperfections.Atthesametime,beforeonegetscarriedawaybyunrealisticexpectations,itisusefultostartunscramblingthemultiplerealitiesthathidebehindthebenevolentfaçadeofhumanitarianism(Donini2010,S221).Iconsiderthehumanitariansystemtobetheactorsthatarelinkedinsomefunctionalwaystoeachotheracrossmultiplescalestoconstitutethelocal/globalhumanitarianarchitecture(ALNAP2015).Itisasetofinstitutions,butitcouldalsobeunderstoodtobeabusinessandanindustrythatemployshundredsofthousandsofindividualsandinwhichactorscompeteformarketshare(Donini2010).Thehumanitariansystemisasmuchaboutbiopolitcsasgeopoliticsandgeopoliticsisoftenreducedtobiopolitics(Minca2006;Fassin2012,2013a,b;Hyndman2012).Inthiscontext,itispossibletounderstandhumanitarianismasgovernedby“humanitarianreason”whichFassin(2013a,37)definesasthe“principleunderwhichmoralsentimentsenterthepoliticalsphere.Itunderlieswhatmaybecalledahumanitariangovernment,thatis,awayofgoverningonthisprinciple”.Humanitarianism,accordingtoFassin(2013a),isbothrationalandemotional.Itisrationalinitsapplicationofuniversalprinciplesandemotionalasexpressedthroughtheconcernsthroughwhichpeoplefeeltheobligationofsavingstrangers.

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Theemphasisonprofessionalizationofthehumanitariansysteminrecentyears,hasledtoincreasinguniversalisingideasthroughmoreinstitutionalisationandstandardisation.Forexample,thehumanitarianimperativeandtheethicalprinciplesofhumanity,neutrality,impartialityandindependenceasformulatedintheIFRC/ICRCcharter(IFRC/ICRCnodate)havebecomeacommonvocabularyforthepeopleworkinginthesystem.Althoughtheprinciplesareproblematized(Leader2000),theyareseenasimportantandcontinuetobebasicguidelinesfortheworkconductedincrisissettings.Moreover,thehumanitariansystemdoestoalargeextentexcludelocalcommunitiesandlife-savingactivitiesthatdonotconformtotheWesternhumanitariancanon(Hammond2008;Donini2010).Donini(2010)showsthatzakat(aformofalmsgivinginIslam),remittancesorcontributionsfromcommunitiesintheGlobalSouthdonotmakeittointernationalstatisticsofofficialdevelopmentassistance.Humanitarianreasonhasbecomepartofourwayofmakingpolitics,nationallyandinternationally.Itmaybeobviousthathumanitarianismisembeddedinpolitics,butmanyanalystscontinuetodenythislink(Fassin2013a)andthereisstillanunresolvedtensionbetweenethicsandpolitics.AwellknownreferenceisAgamben’s(1998)notionof“barelife”whichmaybeusedasanexample,whererenunciationofpoliticsisareductiontobarelife.Identifyingbarelifeasanoutcomeofhumanitarianismmaybemeantasacritique.However,asFassin(2013a)shows,fromotherperspectivestherenunciationofpoliticsisconsideredpositive,becauseitindicatesthathumanitarianismisdevoidofpoliticsandthattheprinciplesofneutrality,impartialityandindependencearefollowed.AmajorchallengethatIidentifyhereistheinflexibilitythatthisstandardisedandprofessionalisedsystemhascreated–asystemthatdoesnotsufficientlycaterforcontextualdifferencesandforthewaysinwhichneedschangeovertimeduringaprotractedcrisis.UrbanrefugeesandtheapplicationofhumanitarianreasoninJordanSyrianrefugeesinJordanTheSyrianrefugeecrisisisenteringitsfifthyearandhasbecomeaprotractedrefugeesituation(LoescherandMilner2005;BrunandFabos2015).Asofmid-February2016therewere637,626SyrianrefugeesinJordan(UNHCR2016a)themajorityofwhomcamebefore2014(AmnestyInternational2015).Thecurrentcitizen-populationofthecountryis6.6million(Ghazal2016).Jordanisnotasignatorytothe1951RefugeeConvention,butaccordingtoUNHCR,theJordaniangovernmentreferstoSyriansas

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refugees(UNHCR2016b).However,thegovernmenthassignedaMemorandumofUnderstandingwiththeUNHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR)forassistanceandprotectionofrefugeesinJordan.ItistheUNHCRthatregistersSyrianrefugees,andIreturntothisexerciselater.OutoftheSyrianrefugeeswhohaveregistered,anestimated82%liveoutsidecampsandmostlyinurbanareasUNHCR(UNHCR2016a).AccordingtoareportbyAmnestyInternational(2016),86%ofSyriansrefugeesresidinginJordanlivebelowthepovertyline.JordanisamarkedlyurbanisedcountryandrefugeesandmigrantsfromneighbouringcountriesandfurtherafieldintheMiddleEasthavebeenanimportantdriverofurbanisation(PavanelloandHaysom2012).Mostnotably,thesegroupsareJordaniansofPalestiniandecentandex-Gazanswhocamein1948and1967,IraqirefugeeswhocamemainlyasaresultofthesecondGulfWarin2003,EgyptianguestworkersaswellasasylumseekersfromSomalia,SouthSudanandtosomeextentEritrea.Therapidurbanisationofthecountryhascreatedpressureonurbaninfrastructure.Inadequatewaterandsanitationsystems,limitedaccesstohealthservicesandpublictransportareallcausingchallengesfortheurbanresidents.NearlyonethirdoftheSyrianrefugeesoutsidecampswereregisteredinAmmanGovernorate(32%)andoveronequarterinIrbidGovernorate(29%)(UNHCR2015).Wheretheyliveisdeterminedbybothfinancialmeansbutalsonetworksandfamilyrelations,someofwhomwerepeoplewhocamebeforethewar.UNHCR(2014)estimatesthat52%ofahousehold’sincomeisfromhumanitarianassistance,27%fromwork,13%fromfamilyandfriendsand8%fromremittances.ThereisatrendofdecreasinghumanitarianassistanceandincreasingincomefromworkamongtheSyrianrefugeesinJordan.UptoMarch2016,Syrianrefugees–likeallotherimmigrantsinthecountry–areallowedtoworkwithaworkpermit,butlessthan1%oftherefugeeshadobtainedthispermit(ILO2015).Mostrefugeesworkinformallyandillegally,underprecariouscircumstances.Iftheyarecaughtworkingillegally,theymaybeimprisoned,senttoacamporsomehaveevenbeendeported(Carrion2015).TheInternationalLabourOrganisation(ILO)foundthatSyrianrefugeesarewillingtoacceptlowerwagesandharsherworkingconditionsthannationals.ItisimportanttoemphasisethatevenbeforetheSyrianrefugeesarrived,therewasanumberoflabourmarketchallengesinJordanwithhighnationalunemployment,dependencyonlowwageandforeignlabour,whichhasleftthecountryunabletomeetitsnationals’economicopportunityneeds(ILO2015).TheWorldFoodProgrammehassupportedtheSyrianrefugeeswithfood

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throughelectronicandpapervouchers.Duetolackoffundsoverthesummerof2015,theyhadtoreducefooddistributiontoaminimum,whichisbelievedtohavecontributedtomoreSyriansreturningtoSyriathancomingintoJordan.Syrianrefugeesinurbanareasmainlyrenttheirdwellings.Becauseofthedifficultyinaccessingwork,andespeciallywhenthesavingstheybroughtwiththemfromSyriarunout,manypeoplefinditverydifficulttopaytheirrent.Thereisnotmuchdocumentationaboutthemovement-patternsofurbanSyrianrefugees,buthumanitarianstaffworkinginurbanareasconfirmthattherefugeestheyassistmoveresidencefrequentlyinordertofindcheaperplacestostayorforemployment.UrbanSyrianrefugeesinJordan,andurbanrefugeesgenerally,areofteninvisibleandmobilewhichcausesdifficultiesestablishingreliableinformationaboutthegroupandpresentsobstaclesforassistancetoreachthem(FabosandKibreab2007).Jordanhasmovedtoanencampmentpolicytoavoidurbanisation,integration,andinordertopreventpeoplefromworkingandcompetingwithJordaniansonthelabourmarket(Turner2015).Employment,asmentionedabove,isacrucialcomponent.ItispoliticallychallengingtoletSyrianswork,particularlywhenothergroupsofrefugees/guestssuchasthePalestinianex-Gazanrefugeeswhoarrivedin1967arepreventedfromworkinginmanysectors.EmploymentfortheSyrianrefugeesisthusacomplexmatterpolitically–bothfornationalpoliticsandgeopolitically–consideringthehighnumberofguestworkersfromotherMiddleEasterncountriesandJordan’shistoryofmanagingrefugees(Chatelard2010).TheconditionsforworkandthestatusofSyrianrefugeesinJordanindicatethatfortheregime,therefugeesareinJordantemporarilyandshouldnotintegrate.After5years,however,thistemporarinesshasbecomeratherpermanent.JordanandhumanitarianreasonInacontextwherethetemporarinessbecomessoimportant,italsoaffectsthenatureofhumanitarianassistance.HumanitarianactorsoperateinJordanatthebehestofthegovernmentwhichpresentsconstraintsthatareentangledwiththehumanitarianguidelinesandprinciples.Theoperationandpresenceinthecountryisjustifiedbythenotionofhumanitarianreasondiscussedabove.Importantly,Jordanhasbecomeahumanitarianhubandmanyinternationalorganisationshaveestablishedtheirregionalofficesinthecountry.Humanitarianreasonmaythusbeunderstoodasacontractbetweenthegovernmentandhumanitarianorganisationsfortheircontinuedpresenceinthecountry.Itisinthiscontextoftemporarinessthatthehumanitarianworkers

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manoeuvretheirprojectswhicharerestrictedtoactivitiesthatfallwithinthereliefandhumanitariandomain:theycannoteasilymoveintoactivitiesthatcouldpotentiallyrepresentmorelong-termdevelopmentforSyrianrefugees.Intheurbancontexttherearespecificchallenges.First,humanitarianorganisationsareassignedneighbourhoodstoworkinbythegovernment,andprovidedwithbeneficiarylistsforhostpopulationsinorderfor30%oftheassistancetogotohostsand70%totherefugees.Inmanywaysthisisagoodprinciplebecauseitwouldhelpsocialcohesionandeasethepressureonlocalauthoritiesinareascopingwitharapidpopulationincreaseinpopulation.However,theneighbourhood-focusmayalsobeproblematicconsideringorganisations’limitedfundsrelativetotheurbanneed.Therearefewpossibilitiesfordealingwiththedeeperproblemsofurbanchange.Whilehumanitarianorganisationsdocommunicatewithlocalgovernmentintheneighbourhoodswheretheywork,humanitarianassistancedoesnotreallyenterintotheurbanspaceinwaysthatcouldcontributetodevelopmentforbothrefugeesandtheirhostsinanurbansettingthatdesperatelyneedsupgradingofinfrastructure,housingandemploymentinamorelongtermperspective.Second,humanitarianpractitionersrepresentaverymobilepartofthesystem:theymovefromcrisistocrisis.Manyhumanitarianworkersdonothavemuchexperienceofurbanareas.Theymaycomefromrural,camp-basedsettingsandbringwiththemtheexperiencesfromanentirelydifferentcontext.Duringthepastfewyearstherehasbeenmoreemphasisonhumanitarianworkincities(UNHCR2009;Harroff-Tavel2010),butthisworkhasnotyetbecomeverywellinstitutionalisednormadeoperationalinaverysophisticatedmanner.TheguidelinesforhumanitarianworkersarethusverygeneralandmanyofthehumanitarianworkersImetstruggletoredefinetheircoreactivitiessuchasshelter,waterandsanitationintoanurbancontext.Third,thereisanincreasinglystrictpolicyenvironmentinJordanandprotectionneedsareontheincreaseamongtheSyrianrefugees,manyofwhomareinneedofclearingupirregularitiesintheirregistrationdocuments,astheiropportunitiesinJordandiminishwhenpapersarenotinorder.TheJordaniangovernmenthasbecomemorerestrictiveinwelcomingSyrianrefugeesanditispossibletoidentifyasignificanthostfatigueamongtheJordaniansinlate2015andearly2016whereSyriansfrequentlybecomescapegoatsfornationalchallengesthatpredatedtherefugeecrisis(Francis2015).Istherenofutureinhumanitarianism?

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Humanitarianreasonpaysmoreattentiontothebiologicallifeofthedestituteandunfortunate,thelifeinthenameofwhichtheyaregivenaid,thantotheirbiographicallife,thelifethroughwhichtheycould,independently,giveameaningtotheirownexistence(Fassin2012,254).Humanitarianismandhumanitarianreasonhasbecomeapowerfulsocialimageryofourtimeandoccupyakeypositioninthecontemporarymoralorder(Fassin2012).Thereisassuchnoreasontobelievethathumanitarianismasagovernancesystemandasanimagerywilldisappearsoon.However,whenclaimingthatthereisnofutureinhumanitarianism,Ipointtowardsthemeaningsofthefuturethatareavailableinhumanitarianism.AsImentionedabove,Fassin(2012)showsthatthereismorebiopoliticsthangeopoliticsinhumanitarianism,butstillacomplexmixofthetwo,andhumanitarianreasonpaysmoreattentiontobiologicallifethanbiographicallife.Biologicalandbiographicallivestakeontwoverydifferentnotionsoffutures.FassinbaseshisdistinctionbetweenbiologicalandbiographicallifeonHannaArendt’s(1958,97)TheHumanCondition:“Limitedbyabeginningandanend,thatis,bythetwosupremeeventsofappearanceanddisappearancewithintheworld,lifefollowsastrictlylinearmovementwhoseverymotionneverthelessisdrivenbythemotorofbiologicallifewhichmanshareswithotherlivingthings.Thechiefcharacteristicofthisspecificallyhumanlife,whoseappearanceanddisappearanceconstituteworldlyevents,isthatitisitselfalwaysfullofeventswhichultimatelycanbetoldasastory,establishabiography(…).”ThereisastrikingsimilarityinArendt’sworkonbiologicallife(labour)andbiographicallife(work)andSimonedeBeauvoir’sunderstandingof“immanence”and“transcendence”(Veltman2010;Brun2015;BrunandFabos2015)andIaimtounderstandtheimplicationsofapredominanceofbiologicallifeinhumanitarianismbythehelpofArendtanddeBeauvoirandfeministreadingsoftheirwork(Young2005;Veltman2010).Biologicallifeisthemovementofthelivingorganism,includingthehumanbody:“Lifeisaprocessthatpermeatesitsbeingandmakesitalive.(…)Lifeisaprocessthateverywhereusesupdurability,wearsitdown,makesitdisappear,untileventuallydeadmatter,theresultofsmall,singlecyclical,lifeprocesses,returnsintotheoverallgiganticcircleofnatureherself,wherenobeginningandnoendexistandwhereallnaturalthingsswinginchangeless,deathlessrepetition”(Arendt1958,96).Biologicallifeisrepetitive,anditconsistsofactivitieswhichariseoutofnecessity.Thisunderstandingof

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biologicallifeisverysimilartoSimonedeBeauvoir’s(1952/1988)writingssixyearsearlieronthedifferentnotionsoftimeandsocialstatusinTheSecondSex.Althoughsomeofherreflectionsmaybereadasoutdated,andparticularlythedismissalofreproductivework,theunderstandingsareconstructivetobringintothediscussionoftemporalitiesofhumanitarianism.WhereArendtuses“labour”tounderstandreproductiveworkandbiologicallifethatproducesnothingthatendures,deBeauvoir’simmanenceexpressesthemovementofliferatherthanhistory.Itis“atimewithnofutureandnogoals”(Young2005,138).DeBeauvoirfamouslyusedtheexampleofhouseworktoexplainthatwomenweretrappedinthisactivityofanever-endingandcyclicalpracticewhichdoesnotfeelasiflivesmoveintoafuture,butisjustsustainingotherpeopleneedsorbiologies.Work,orbiographicallife,ontheotherhand,produces,accordingtoArendtdurableartifactsandshapesaworld-structure.ThisiswhatdeBeauvoirterms“transcendence”whichreferstoamodeoftemporalityinthatthelivingsubjectisfuture-oriented;“thefutureisopenwithpossibility”(Young2005,137).Biographicallifeisunderstoodinrelationtotheabilitytoactwithinorupontheforcesthatshapeandrestrictourpossibilitiestoreachadesiredfuture.Thereismuchmoreofanopeningforunderstandinglivesinaparticularcontext–assituatedlives–innotionsofbiographicallives.Hence,engagingwithbiographicallivesandfuture-orientedsubjectsenablesanunderstandingofhopeasarelationalphenomenoninhistoricaltimeandapotentialforchange(Jansen,thisissue).Thosewholabourexclusivelyatthemaintenanceoflifearejusttheretoprovideproductivityforothers.Savingstrangersinthemeaningofsavingbiologicallives,mayinasensebeinterpretedasthelabourofthevictims–asbiologicallife–tosustainanddevelopthehumanitarianimageryofemergenciesasIreturntobelow.Laboursofimmanenceonlyservetosustainlife,butdoesnotachieveanythingbeyondcontinuationoflife,theycannotthemselvesserveasthejustifyinggroundforliving.“Life,”deBeauvoirwrites,“doesnotcarrywithinitselfitsreasonforbeing”(Beauvoir1952/1988,69).Lifeisnotself-justifying,oneneedsareasontolabourandtomaintainlifeinthefirstplace.Justificationformaintaininglifecanonlybeachievedinthetranscendence(Veltman2010).Ifwetakethedistinctionbetweenbiologicalandbiographicallifewithusintohumanitarianism,savingbiologicallifedoesnotentailafuture.Peoplefeelstuckwhenbiographicallife,transcendenceandconsequentlythefuturearenotavailable:theyfeeltrappedinanever-endingpresence(Jeffrey2008).Somewouldsayitsextremelynaïve

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anddangeroustomixthetwonotionsofbiologicalandbiographicallife,becauseifhumanitarianismstarttoengagewithbiographicallifeitwillchallengetheprinciplesofneutralityandimpartialityinthehumanitarianimperative.Thequestionthenbecomes,whatkindoflivesshouldhumanitarianismsave?Inthemidstofconflict,itmaybestraightforwardtomakeaverygoodargumentforsavinglivesandpreventingpeoplefromdying.However,myargumentisthatwhenahumanitariancrisisbecomesprotracted,thereisaneedtostartthinkingbeyondbiology.Thenextquestionthusbecomes,whatkindoffutures–whatconceptsandunderstandingsoffuture–areavailableinhumanitarianism?Tostartthatdiscussion,IturntotheVulnerabilityAssessmentFrameworkformulatedforSyrianrefugeesinJordan.TheVulnerabilityAssessmentFrameworkforSyrianRefugeesinJordanInJordan,humanitarianreasonisinstitutionalisedinmanyways.AmostprominentexampleofthisseparationofbiologicalandbiographicallifecanbefoundinthedisseminationandapplicationoftheVulnerabilityAssessmentFramework(VAF).TheframeworkisdevelopedbytheUNHCRincollaborationwithanumberofotherhumanitarianorganisationstomapregisteredrefugees’vulnerabilities.Vulnerabilityisgenerallyunderstoodasthedegreeofexposuretorisk(hazardsorshocks)anduncertainty,andthecapacityofhouseholdsorindividualstoprevent,mitigateorcopewithrisk(DFID1999).Vulnerabilityisconsideredtobemultidimensional(itvariesacrossphysicalspaceandamongandwithinsocialgroups),scaledependent(withregardtotime,space,andunitsofanalysis)anddynamic(thecharacteristicsanddrivingforcesofvulnerabilityovertime)(Vermeetal.2016).TheSteeringCommitteeoftheVulnerabilityAssessmentFramework(UNHCR2015,65)inJordandefinesvulnerabilityinamoresimplisticmanneras“theriskofexposureofSyrianrefugeehouseholdstoharm,primarilyinrelationtoprotectionthreats,theinabilitytomeetbasicneeds,limitedaccesstobasicservices,andfoodinsecurity,andtheinabilityofthepopulationtocopewiththeconsequencesofthisharm.”ThecurrentVAFisamajorinitiativetoproduceknowledgeabouttheprotectionneedsofSyrianrefugeesinJordan.ItisbasedonSyrianrefugee-householdsthatregisterwiththeUNHCRandtheninterviewedbythehelpofaquestionnaire.Fromthequestionnaire,profilesofvulnerabilitiesaremade.Itisahouseholdsurveywithsomeinformationonthehouseholdandsomeinformationabouttheinterviewee,normallytheheadofthe

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household.Thequestionnairecoversaspectsthatwillprovideanoverviewofcurrentneeds:dependencyratio;registration/documentsinJordan;schoolattendance;shelterconditions;foodconsumption;householdfoodsecuritycopingstrategies;debtandaccesstohealthservices.AllthisknowledgeandinformationishelpfulinunderstandingvulnerabilitiesamongSyrianrefugeesinurbanareas,anditisusedinmultiplewaystoargueforthecurrentneedsofSyrianrefugeesinJordan.IthashelpedtoshowthatmanySyrianrefugeesadoptwhatmaybetermed“negativecopingstrategies”includingreductioninfoodconsumption,withdrawingchildrenfromschoolandtakingoninformal,exploitativeanddangerousinformalwork(UNHCR2015).Theframeworkandthedataitproduces,hasbecomeoneofthemainknowledgesourcesonSyrianrefugeesinthecountry.However,thetooldoesnotcoveranumberofprotection-relatedriskscomprehensivelysuchasgenderrelationswithinahousehold.Ofequalimportance,isthattheVAFdoesnotinitsdisseminationproduceanybiographicaldata,beyondtheeducationalleveloftheheadofhouseholdandschoolingofthechildreninthehousehold.Thereisnoinformationabouthistory,placeoforigininSyria,socialcapitalandrelationshipstorelativesandnetworksinSyria,Jordanandfurtherafield.Similarly,therearenonarrativesoftheexperiencesofwar,people’smovementsafterdisplacementandafterenteringJordan.Consequently,toassistbasedonthepublishedandaccessibledataoftheVAF,providesageneralisedpicturethatonlydepictsthenow.Itiscurrentlyonlyhelpfultoassistindividualsandhouseholdsbasedonneedinoneparticularmomentandwithoutunderstandingspatialortemporalcontexts.Throughthisexercise,refugeesaredeniedabiographyand,asIwillnowargue,hopeforthefuture.Humanitarianism,theemergencyimageryandempty/abstractfuturesBesides,aidworkersandarmedforceshavewhatmightbecalledasimilartemporality,thatofemergency:theyenterandleavethecountryatthesametimeandpace.Theybothdeploytheirpersonnelinsitesstrictlyisolatedfromlocalpopulations,officiallyforsafetyreasons.Theysharecertainobjectives,suchastakingcareofthewoundedandparticipatinginaspectsofthereconstruction(Fassin2013,101,myemphasis).Let’sthinkofthefutureasaphenomenologicalexistentialposition(EmirbayerandMische1998;AdamandGroves2011)wherethefuturemayberepresentedasthetemporaldimensionofexperiencethroughwhichmeaningisprojectedandwovenwith

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thepastandpresentandmaythustakeonagreaterweight(AdamandGroves2011).Thesearefuturesthatfallwithinthehorizonofanindividuallife-timeandthataffecttherightsoflivingindividuals.Peopleexperiencingconflict,displacementanddisastersactivelyproducemeaning,theyactivelyextendthemselvesintothefuturethroughimaginationandthroughaction:futuresaremadeandtaken.Engagingwithsuchfutures,“theactoffuturizing”(Luhmann1976)isaboutre-establishingthelinkbetweenaction,knowledgeandethics(AdamandGroves2011).Thisnotionoffuturemustbeunderstoodinrelationtotheemergencyimagerywhichisanimportantcomponentofhumanitarianreason(Pandolfi2003;Calhoun2004,2010).Thisimagerydesignatethepresentconditionasastateofexception(Agamben2005)butalsoananticipationofanemergencytocome–anemergencythatmaystrucktheeconomy,theclimateandenvironmentandsocietiesasawhole(Adeyetal.2015).Authorswritingabouttheemergencyimagerybasemuchoftheirthinkingonhumanitarianismanditmaybepossibletosaythattheemergencyimageryhashelpedtomakehumanitarianismcomeintoacentralpositioninglobalgovernance(Calhoun2010).Thehumanitarianemergency-imagerydepictsthefutureinaparticularformat:asadisruptive,potentiallycatastrophicevent(OpitzandTellmann2015,107).Thisnotionof“emergency”thentendsto“defuturize”–orempty–thefuturebecauseitpresentsuswithaheightenedsenseofdiscontinuity,renderingthefuturemorecontingent.Itisawayofdetachingobservationsaboutthefuturefrompastexperiences:“ifthecatastrophebefallsus,itisfromafuturewithoutchronologicalcontinuitywiththepast”(OpitzandTellmann2015,112).Theunderstandingoffutureinvokedintheemergencyimagerydoesnotstretchoutbeforeuslikeanopenfield,butitcomesatus.“Itisafuturenottobelivedbuttobesurvived”(ElmerandOpel2006inOpitzandTellmann2015,112).Thereisnoplaceforbiographicallifeintheemergencyimageryofthefuture,becauseitisafuturethatradicallybreakswiththepast.Thisemptyingofthefuture–orrenderingofanabstractfuture–showsthattheemergencyimagerydecontextualizesand“de-situates”thelivesofpeopleexperiencingacrisis.Intheemergencyimagery,emergenciesariseasexceptionstowhatisunderstoodasotherwisenormalsocialconditionsofstabilitywhichhelpstojustifythehumanitarianreason.Fromthebeginningofmosthumanitarianoperations,thereisnofuture,sofuturecannotbegin(Lumann1976).Onlyifthehumanitariansystemdefinesafuturebeyondtheexceptionalconditionoftheemergency,canitberelevanttoengagewiththecommunitiesinwhichagencieswork.Thus,humanitarianreasonlargelystaysthesameaslongashumanitarianworkisdefinedassuch:short-termreliefworkaimingtosave

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strangers’lives.Thereasoninghasunintendedconsequenceswhencrisisbecomethenormal,protractedandwhenthereisnoreturntoastabilitythatmayneverhavebeen.”Creatingourownframework”–thecaseofshelterprojectsinJordanHumanitarianorganisationsmaystayinthesameareafor10,20ormoreyears.Duringthistimetheymayengageindevelopmentactivities,buttheirmandatemostlynotcoveringso-called“development”activities.Rather,thetime-perspectiveoftheassistancetendstobeshortterm.Inaseriesofinterviews,wedidforaprojectonknowledgegapsinthehumanitariansector(BrunandAttanapola2015),wefoundthatsimilartomanyoftheforcedmigrantsinprotracteddisplacement,humanitarianworkersalsoinsomewaysfeelstuckandwanttoknowmoreabouthowtotransferactivitiesfromrelieftodevelopment.Theyfeeltheylackconceptsofchangethatmayenableamoreactiveengagementwiththefutureinthecontextinwhichtheywork.Thehumanitarianworkersexpressedtheneedforamandatethatopensupforlong-termengagementandphysicalpresenceinconflict,post-conflictanddisastersettings.Atthemoment,however,suchnotionsoffuturearenotpartoftheirvocabulary.ThusVigh’s(2008)proposaltounderstandcrisisascontextratherthantheexceptionalcondition,becomesaproductivestartingpointforanalternativeethicsandhumanitarianreason.Theemergencyimagerydeniesrefugeestheabilitytomakesenseoftheirlivesduringcrisesaswellastheiropportunitiesforafuture.Humanitarianworkersareuncomfortablewiththeuniversalisthumanitariansystem’saimofsavingstrangers(Feldman2007,Malkki2015).Atthesametime,humanitarianworkersareprofessionalsthatrepresenttheirorganisationsandparticipateininter-agencycommitteemeetingswherethereisageneralunderstandingofwhatisneededandwhatispossiblewithinthegivenpolicyframework.Thesearetheofficialmeetings,wheretheuniversalistlanguageofhumanitarianagenciesareconformedtowithinanethicsthatmaintainstheprinciplesofneutrality,impartialityandindependence.However,eveninthemorenarrowlydefinedWesternhumanitariansystemtowhichIhavelimitedthediscussionhere,anumberofnuancesintheexperiencesandpracticesmaybeidentified.AhelpfulstartingpointforenablingalternativepracticesisFeldman’s(2007)identificationofthe“Quakerway”whereshediscussesthefrustrationtheworkersinvolvedintheQuakerAmericanFriendsServiceCommitteereliefprojectinGazafrom1948to1950.Here,thehumanitarianworkersoftheorganisation,negotiatedthenarrowethicalregisterofhumanitarianismbyemphasisingtheirownhumanitarian

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positionthatplacedmoreimportanceoninterpersonalrelations,acknowledgingboththerefugeeandthehumanitarianworkerinthatrelationship.Whatdohumanitarianactorsdowhentheymustactwithinaverygeneralsystemandwhentheyhavetoworkwithinthehumanitarianreason,butseethatthereareotherneedsthatconcernamorerelationalunderstandingofhumanitarianism?“Wedevelopourownframework”wasacommonresponsebythehumanitarianworkersinJordan.Thesemorespecificorganisationalframeworksaredependentupontheindividualexperiencesandskillsamongstaffintheorganisations,therelationshipamongstaffintheorganisation,betweenstaffandlocalauthoritiesandbetweenstaffandtherefugeestheyaretheretoassist.Additionally,theknowledgedevelopedforunderstandingneedsintherefugeepopulationisbasedontheorganisation’sownresearchandcapacitytodosuchresearch.Evenforthelargerandmoreestablishedhumanitarianorganisations,itistheindividualexperiencesandinsightsofstaffthatareusedtomakedecisionsonwhattodo,andwhatispossibletodointhisparticularcontext.Imentionedabovethatmanyhumanitarianworkersdonotcomewithworkexperienceinurbancontexts,buttheystillusetheirexperiencesasbestastheycanbasedonpastexperiencesandtheirreadingsofthesituation.Itbecomesimportanttolearnmoreabouthowthehumanitariansystemoperatesbasedonhowtheindividualhumanitarianworkersincountryofficesandfieldofficesaroundtheworldtakethegeneralguidelinesandformulatetheirownwayofdoinghumanitarianworkinthecontextoflongtermpresence.Itisthuscrucial,Iwouldargue,thatthebiographiesofthehumanitarianworkersalsobecomemoreprominentinthewayhumanitarianassistanceisformulatedandimplemented.ThenegotiationofshelterpracticesinJordanprovidessomeinsightsintotherealitiesinwhichhumanitarianworkersstruggletoassistpeopleinprotractedsituationsofdisplacement.ThereisahousingshortageinJordan,whichstartedbeforethearrivalofSyrianrefugeesinMarch2011(Kelberer2015).HumanitarianorganisationsdecidedtoassisthoststofinaliseunfinishedhousesintheprocessofbeingbuiltforfuturegenerationssothatthehousingunitscouldbeusedforSyrianrefugeestorentandtoeasehousingneedsatthenationallevel.However,theJordaniangovernmentwouldnotapprovethebuildingofpermanentstructuresassociatedwiththerefugeesasitwouldindicateandacknowledgelong-term–evenindefinite–presence.Projectplanswerekeptonhold,buttheshelterteamswerethere,fundingwasavailableandhumanitarianworkerswerejustwaiting,readytostartacting.Inthissituation,“wejusthadtodosomething”asonerepresentativeofahumanitarianorganisationsaid.This“something”wastohelprefugeeswithsmallimprovementsintheirrentedspaces,inagreementwith

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theirlandlords.Aspartoftheagreement,therefugeeswouldbeabletostayintheaccommodationforalowerrentforbetweenoneandtwoyears.Toselectpeopleforassistance,theinformationfromVAFwasnotused.Peopleweregenerallychosenbasedonwhogotintouchwiththeorganisationtoreceiveassistance.Theorganisationswouldthenmaketheirownvulnerabilityassessmentofthehouseholdthattheywereabouttoassist.Thevulnerabilityassessmentwouldvaryfromorganisationtoorganisation,basedonwhattheydeemedmostimportantfortheirwork.Theorganisationworkedcloselywiththefamilytomaketheimprovements,whichwouldmainlyconsistofdecorating,plumbing,improvingwiring,windowsorsometimes,whentheconditionswereextremelybad,buildorfinishanouterwalltoprotectthefamilyagainsttheelements.Peoplewhogotintouchwiththeorganisationsandbecame“beneficiaries”wouldfrequentlybecomeattachedtothatorganisationinotherways,andbeinvolvedinotheractivitiesthattheorganisationwasinvolvedin.Sometimes,thisactivitywouldbelegalassistance,sometimesitwasmorerelatedtocommunity-andparticipatorywork.Cookingclassesandothersocialactivitieswereimportantandpopularactivitiesthathelpedtocreateanenvironmentandafeelingofcommunity.Assistancewhichgenerallystartedwiththehouseholdgettingintouchwiththeorganisation,oftencreatedamorelong-termrelationshipbetweentherefugeeandthatorganisation.Wecantakeseverallessonsfromthis.Theconstraintsthathumanitarianworkersexperienceaddtoourunderstandingsofthehumanitariansystem.Thereisatensioninwhatthehumanitarianorganisationsandworkerswantedtodo–andwhattheycoulddo.Theywantedtobuildpermanentstructures,tomakedurablechangesthatwouldbenefitboththehost-communityandrefugeesbyincreasingthehousingstockinthecountry.However,theyendedupwithasmallrenovationprojectthathelpedtherefugeesshort-term,perhapsforayear.Despitetheuncertainconsequencesoftheirintervention,theyhadtodosomething.Risksassociatedwiththeprojectisthatwhenthecontractwiththerefugeeforreducedrentexpired,wouldthelandlordincreasetherentbeyondthepaymentcapacityoftherefugee;wouldtherefugeesbeaskedtoleave,towhatextentwouldtheimprovementofthosehousingunitsincreaserentsandimprovetherefugees’lifeintheshorterterm,butmakethemmorevulnerabletoevictioninthelongerterm?Despitetheuncertainconsequencesoftheirintervention,“theyhadtodosomething”.

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Shiftingspatio-temporalscales:towardsanethicsofcareforthefutureinhumanitarianism…howcanweliveuptothedemandsofethicsandresponsibilityinaworldheldtogetherbyanarrayofimpersonalorganizations,institutions,andformsofdiscursivepower?(Popke2006,505)HugoSlimandMiriamBradley(2013)suggestinaliteraturereviewthatethicaldemandsthickenandincreasethebetteryouknowpeople,themoreyoudowiththemandthelongeryouarewiththem.Hence,intheirunderstanding,thesheerlengthoftimehumanitariansarepresentinaparticularcontext,closesthemoralgapbetweenreliefanddevelopmentinmanyhumanitariancrises.Thedurablepresenceofhumanitarianactorsinaconflictordisasterdoes,accordingtoSlimandBradley,necessarilychallengethehumanitarianprinciplesofneutralityandimpartiality.Placeanda“politicsofpropinquity”mattersforthehumanitariansonthegroundwhodevelopafacetofacerelationshiptothepeopletheyaretheretoassist.Thisrealityrequiresachangeintherelationshipbetweenhumanitarianactionandethics.Aninstrumentalethicsofneutralitynecessarilymoves–ontheground–intoanethicsofcarewereaformofresponsibilitydevelopsinwhichtendingtorelationshipsbetweenpeoplebecomesthecore.Iproposethatanethicsofcarepotentiallyenablesaninclusionoflocalcontexts,biographyandconsequentlythefutureinhumanitarianaction.Itisthisspatio-temporalshift–orscalechange–thatmustbeborneoutmoreexplicitlyinhowhumanitariansoperateonthegroundbecausetheambitionofsavingstrangers’livesturnintoanambitionofsavingpeoplewefeelrelatedto.Dobson(2006)suggeststhatcosmopolitanismneedstobringdistantstrangersneartousinawaythatreferencestocommonhumanityappearnottodo.Hesuggestsa“thickcosmopolitanism”thatidentifiesrelationshipsofcausalresponsibilitywhichmaytriggerasenseofobligationtowardstheother.Afeministethicsofcaremaythusbeahelpfuldevelopmentofcurrenthumanitarianprinciplesinordertoengagemoreexplicitlywiththefutureinhumanitarianism.AfeministethicsofcarewasfirstintroducedbyCarolGilliganin1982,buthaslaterbeenadoptedbyanumberofscholars(forausefuloverview,seeRaghuram2009).Careethicsareconcernedwithcaringaboutratherthancaringfor(Raghuram2009,29):itdealswithquestionsofwhycareandhowtocareaboutrelationshipsinordertomovetowardsamorejustworld.Careethicsbeginswithasocialontologyofconnection(Lawson2009),wheresocialrelationshipsofmutualityandtrustratherthandependenceareforegrounded.Ratherthanbeingauniversalprinciple,itemphasizes

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contextualisation,andisamodeofrelationalthinking–likeanintersubjectivityofcaring(Lawson2009;Raghuram2009)wherethebiographyofthosewhoassistandthosewhoareassistedmatters.Consequently,peoplewhoaretobeassistedinacrisisarenotstrangers,theyarepartofthewiderrelationshipsinwhichweinvolvebecausewearebeingpartoftheworld(Massey2004;Young2006;Brun2009).Careethicshavebeencriticisedforbeingtooorientedtowardsface-to-facerelationsandpropinquity.Inaddition,Iwouldbecarefulinmovingtoofarintonotionsofmutualityandpersonal/privaterelationshipsinhumanitarianismasthisisanunrealisticaim.Lately,however,scholarshavesuggestedadoptingtheprinciplesofethicsofcareforrelationshipsacrossdistances(Lawson2009).Dobson’s(2006)thickcosmopolitanismmayberelevantifweunderstandhowourlivesareradicallyentwinedwiththoseofdistantothers.Itisthewaysinwhichwecancarefromadistanceorwhenweareclose,bymovingawayfromanotionofthestrangertowardsembodiedsubjectswithbothbiologyandbiography,tousethevocabularyIdevelopedearlier.Careethicsmayhelptorecognisetheinheritancesofthepast,anditsroleinshapingthepresentandthefuture,“aswellastorecover‘pasts’thathaveescapedhistorybutmayprovidearouteintocraftingfutureselves”(Raghuram2009,29,citingChakrabarty2000).Thepointisthatwhenwecareaboutan“Other”,weacknowledgetheirfuture,theirwelfare,andtheirethicalsignificanceareboundupwithourownfuture(AdamandGroves2011).Withinanethicsofcare,careisalwaysfuturedirectedandinthefirstinstance,alwaysattachedtospecificindividuals.Itistherebyspecificallydirectedtowardstheirbiographiesandtheirfuturesandistiedtofutureswhichareembeddedindistinctcontextsofconcern.Fromdiscussionsofethicsofcare,itispossibletounderstandcareasmorethansimplyasocialrelationwithmoralandethicaldimensions,itcanalsoentailanalternativepolitics(Popke2006),itbecomesrelatedtoeverythingwedotomaintain,continueandrepairourworldandmakeitliveable(Tronto1993).ConclusionsforanexpandedethicalregisterinhumanitarianworkThereisamomentofpossibilityinthiscrisis.InNovember2015manyofthehumanitarianagenciespresentinJordan,Lebanon,Turkey,IraqandEgyptpublishedajointreporttitled“RighttoaFuture”(JointagencyBriefingPaper2015).Itisapromisingperspective.Icommunicatedwithsomeofthehumanitarianworkersin

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JordaninNovember2015whohadhelpedtoformulatethereportandthetitlereflectssomeofthechallengesIhavediscussedhereandthathumanitarianworkersinthisregionexperience.Thepaperhelpstounderstandtheexperienceofbeingstuckthathumanitarianworkersexpresswhenassistinginaprotractedcrisis.Fromthesummaryofthereporttheirfrustrationsandinsightsbecomeclear:Thescaleanddurationofthecrisismeanthatemergencyhumanitarianresponses,whileasnecessaryasever,arenolongerenough.Humanitarianaidmustnowbecomplementedbymoresustainableapproachestohelprefugeesandhostcommunitiescopeinthemediumandlongerterms.Overthepastyear,thegovernmentsofSyria’sneighbours,incooperationwithinternationalaidagenciesanddonors,haveincreasinglyrecognizedthisreality.Together,theyhavedevelopedasocalled“resilienceagenda”tohelprefugee-hostingcountriesdealwiththehugeweightassociatedwithsupportingrefugeesfromSyria.Butfortherefugeesthemselves,increasedvulnerability,notresilience,isthenorm.Moreandmorerefugeesarebeingpushedtomakedesperatechoices.Childrenareforcedtoleaveschoolandworkillegally,girlsareforcedintomarriagebeforetheirtime,andmanyhavelittleoptionbuttorisktheirlivesondangerousboatjourneysinthehopeofreachingEurope,oreventoreturntoSyria.Humanitarianreasonincorporatesaparticularpoliticsoftimethathelptoemptythefutureforthosewhoareincorporatedintothesystem.Consequently,andasIhaveshowninthispaper,thecurrentemphasisonuniversalism,biology,urgencyandemergencyinhumanitarianismdecontextualizeslivesandfutures.Whatisimportantinthiscontextisthatthisisexactlywhathumanitarianpractitionersstrugglewithintheireverydaypractices.Thereisaneedtothickenresponsibilityandobligationinordertocreateafutureforhumanitarianismbeyondbiopolitics.Thearticlehasarguedfortheengagementwithafeministethicsofcarethatmayplacemoreimportanceoninterpersonalrelations,acknowledgingboththerefugeeandthehumanitarianworkerinthatrelationship(Feldman2007).Humanitarianactorsrepresentthehumanitariansystem,whethertheylikeitornotandwhethertheyidentifywithitornot,andtheymustfindawaytobeginthefuture.Currently,humanitarianethicsandpracticesseemtoadvocateanunderstandingofwhatcountsasresponsibleactioninawaythatprivilegestheinterestsofthepresentand,thus,putsatrisktheinterestsoffuturegenerations(AdamandGroves2011).

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