[Resilience in the face of disaster: A prerequisite or a skill to be acquired? : A consideration of this question using Doctors Without Borders as an example].

Abstract

Little is known about the resilience of the most vulnerable people on this planet in disaster and war zones. However, addressing this topic can be of crucial importance for future adaptation strategies and individual preparation for difficult life circumstances. For Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), resilience is becoming increasingly important in all areas of activity: in supporting refugees and internally displaced persons, in responding to the effects of global warming, following natural disasters, in wars, and in providing psychological support to aid workers as well as those that need help. This article discusses the definition of resilience, the interpretation of which is dynamic and multifaceted. Individual resilience can be gauged and reflected upon through self-interrogation. This article then deals with the safety of and risk faced by international and local aid workers in crisis areas as well as with the question of whether Doctors Without Borders can be considered a resilient organization. Finally, the article looks at how each individual aid worker can strengthen their personal resilience. Indeed, resilience can be trained, and we would do well to start straight away.