Emergency Sex (and Other Desperate Measures)

‘Emergency Sex: True Stories from A War Zone’, is a kind of diary, published in 2004 by three youngish UN workers, Kenneth Cain, Heidi Postlewait, & Andrew Thomson. They tell personal stories about their humanitarian work on the front lines of humanitarian crises during the 1990s & early 2000s. These were in the blood lands of Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, Bosnia where the UN as an institution and its masters on the Security Council failed to protect human rights, or to prevent Genocide.This is an unrelentingly honest, first-hand account of the filth and horror, and of the struggle to manage the personal emotional experience of humanitarian work. When humanitarian workers are under great pressure, they work it off, like soldiers, through drinking and sex, and still feel the nightmares, sleeplessness, sense of isolation from an external world that can’t understand what they’ve been through. Heidi Postlewaite came under criticism for writing about her sexuality. The book implicitly raises questions about the moralistic reaction of aid agencies to #Metoo. Rape and harassment are always wrong. Humanitarian workers, including women, are sexual people. And there are a thousand degrees of ambiguity about the role of power and money in sexual relationships in the field, just as there are in marriages in New York, London, or Paris.Kofi Anan said this book should be suppressed, I suppose for revealing that UN staff are human, that the UN is hopelessly inefficient, and that the UN failed to save lives, frustrating these idealistic young workers. Well, we knew all that. It’s the bla, bla coming out of New York and Geneva, the slogans and formulas, the numerous wasteful international meetings, that makes the UN look bad. This book improved my image of the UN because it reminded me of the many idealistic and well-trained UN staff I’ve met in the field who work hard to help people with real and often desperate needs.Anyone thinking of a career in humanitarian operations or seeking to understand the UN should read this book.

This is a book that carries the reader with it, it puts the experiences of the three authors, Andrew, Ken and Heidi right into oneself as the story unfolds. It is so sad to see the atrocities meted out on fellow human beings by other people and to bear witness at the gross failures of those in power, the United Nations and the world international community. The accounts of the Rwanda and Bosnia genocides and the killings in Haiti and Liberia are very disturbing and what is worse, they happened at the watch of the UN or its inaction. Human beings are born equal, they should be treated with equity and dignity whatever skin colour, religion or ethnicity......I got personally engrossed in the lives of Heidi, Andrew and Ken and would have wanted to know more as to what happened in their personal lives after leaving the UN. Did Andrew actually settle back in Cambodia with his wife Suzanne? Did Ken ever get married? Did Heidi find new love after losing Marc? Did they ever start families?Such is the power of this book. It leaves many questions regarding the role of the UN, even right at the end when it was awarded the Nobel peace prize.

I've read this book twice now. Once when I was young and idealistic and hoping to do UN work myself, and once 10 years later even though life took me in a very different direction. Both times I read it at break neck speed, completely immersed in the events and places described. I like the format which alternates between the three writers throughout but is also carefully tied together to be coherent and consistent. It's a very easy read for 'non fiction' with simple language and bite sized first person accounts, although, in terms of content many events / experiences described are unimaginably awful and will likely make you feel sick to your stomach. UN is rightly criticised, and the moral question of whether to help peoples in need is answered in a the affirmative, but the macro politics of the UN and international humanitarian aid is not covered in this book. If you're looking for an action packed first person account of work in war torn countries this is a book for you.

Idealism may have been stifled by bureaucracy, but the adventures were real enough. Great read. My thanks to the authors for trying - with no small amount of success - to make the world a better place. Can't quite say the same about the U.N. Good, if disturbing, insight into how the U.N. "operates" in the field.

I dont know if it is as gripping for people who have not been on foreign missions, but if you are a mission junky than you must read this. All emotions are captured extremely well. the longing to go yet on another mission even if you have your doubts about the wisdom of again risking your health and perhaps life. A great book. The only thing I cant say I have experienced is the emergency sex, but the rest is spot on. Witty and well written.

I got it in time and in the expected condition.Having had the pleasure to share my house with one of the authors; Andrew Thomson, in Kigali i 1995-96, I know with which seriousity and proffessionalism he went about his work to establish a certain justice where there was none. As they write; "If u end up in a situation where people w blue berets say they will keep u safe; Run for your life!" Sounds funny, but is chillingly true.

Great Book if your interested in what happens with medical volunteers overseas in really challenging locations

A very good book, not only for humanitarian assistance professionals, but also for people who would like to find out more about peacekeeping/ humanitarian assistance operations. A compelling read, it sucks the reader right in and provides a deeper understanding of UN emergency operations and on the psychological strain the officers implementing them are subjected to. If what's mentioned above is of interest to you, do yourself a favor and buy the book, you will not regret it one bit.

Oscar Wilde said the some people criticise themselves so others won't. I have seen many humanitarian workers who become bitter only when they have enough of playing white saviours while earning quadruple the salaries they would have gotten back home.The writing is sometimes good but most of the time shiny but shallow and cliched.

I bought this book a few years ago on a whim and it has become one of my all-time favourites, having recommended it to many friends. To call it the 90's version of M.A.S.H. is a bit unfair to both, the book and the series. It is not a laugh to read and was never meant to be. Instead, it is hugely critical of the ineffective and half-hearted approaches by the UN under the direction of the Western World to address/prevent and deal with some of the worst atrocities in the world. The narrative style makes it very personal and touching. The gradual acceleration of war and violence the individuals have to deal with are matched by increasing disillusion with the UN's efforts, however, the book remains a positive and encouraging message. The stories, despite the horrors they deal with, still show that there continue to be idealistic and courageous people who are trying to make a difference.

It describes accurately the personal journey and growing up pains of three adolescents in a world occupied by evil, heart break, politics and bureaucracy.The juxtaposition between the initial naive and party-like atmosphere, the holy belief in the good of the UN and the increasing realisation that all is not well, and as a matter of fact, the reality of the situations, thus the way the book is written, becomes quite bitter and harsh towards the end. This is what made it such a pleasure to read from cover to cover.If you expect only to read about the fun side of MASH, this may not be the book for you, it is not a light hearted view, but a very well-balanced account. I also agree with other reviewers, the title is initially not congruent with the contents, until you start to understand the underlying reasons for the actions and decision that they took; to stay in touch with reality and not go insane.Highly recommended.

A good read. Very eye opening for me. Nicely written - some extremely hard topics and accounts but this hadn't been sensationalised. Very glad I read this book, I read it in days.

I have just finished this amazing book and feel like I’ve lived the last thirty years wrapped in cotton wool. I thought I was aware of world events but this book has opened my eyes to the true evil of mankind.