Willoughby Lauds Aid Workers
Following his receipt of the Burns Humanitarian Award, Guy Willoughby, director of the demining NGO HALO Trust is calling for more recognition of aid workers who spend their careers working in dangerous and difficult places.
“I feel strongly that aid workers who spend 24 months or more in dangerous malaria ridden conflict/post-conflict countries should get some form of recognition,” Willoughby told Political Minefields. He said he would try to help organize such an award, “even if it takes years.”
Earlier, Willoughby told the Scotland on Sunday that, “If you serve with the military you get a campaign medal after 30 days, but many aid workers sacrifice years of their life for very little in return.”
“At the moment the only sort of recognition is in the form of OBEs and MBEs that are only awarded to a very select number, far later in their career.”