Photo credit: The Economist  

The Economist, in a recent article, contributes to the debates on how technology is (re)shaping humanitarian aid. Titled  , the article goes to explore how mobile phones and the web are transforming the manner in which humanitarian aid is planned and operationalised, with significant changes in the relationships between victims and aid agencies.

Not all are convinced. Paul Currion has an excellent post on his blog that questions many of the assumptions of the article in the Economist. He avers,

The response to famine was exactly the same as it has always been - send more food. Mohammed Sokor is in exactly the same position of supplication as he would have been ten years ago, only now his begging letter is a text message that can be quickly deleted, rather than the “crumpled note” passed on by hand. The aid world is about power relations, with beneficiaries at the bottom of the pile, and there are limits to how much technology can change that. The “familiar flow of authority” is still intact, except now it comes with a customised ringtone.

What do you think? Send us your comments and experiences and also see our own approach to technology and conflict management.