All of the humanitarian agencies operating in Somalia have armed guards. We're very uncomfortable with it, but there's very little option to pull out of (the security arrangements).

There's not any kind of administration, and very little respect for any humanitarian (organizations), which makes it a very difficult place to work.

We are very committed to providing medical care to this community, but we're not there to be martyrs.

Any agreements are made on very fragile ground.

It made me uncomfortable,

The author also participated in Operation Uphold Democracy (in Haiti, a year after the catastrophic denouement of Operation Restore Hope in Somalia). ... Hope was not restored in Somalia. Democracy was not upheld in Haiti.