The Humanitarian Journeyman

If you have ever donated money to international aid and wondered what it takes to deliver the aid on the ground then this is the book for you. The dangers and high risk that sometimes accompany the humanitarian aid workers in conflict and disaster zones. Follow one man's journey through some of the most dangerous landscapes helping aid organisations to remain safe while delivering vital aid in war, post conflict and disaster zones throughout his 15-year journey. The dangers to aid workers has never before been so acute; the rise of violent extremist groups has shown a direct and targeted threat to those who work in International Aid Delivery. Executions, Kidnap and torture are all real threats, the risk of being targeted and taken are real, yet the aid workers still volunteer to travel to far-flung locations to deliver life-saving aid to communities and to people they have never met and know very little about. Follow the emotions of one man, understand his mistakes and his personal humanity, read the terrifying detail of several close calls on his personal safety and the lengths he went through to ensure aid was delivered. Hear the relived accounts of emergency evacuations, often under fire and the heartbreak of losing one of your own with the dangers involved when recovering the bodies of co-workers. All based on true events. Forget the stories of those who stereo-type aid workers as tree-huggers and do-gooders, while the work they do is for good, they are people who put themselves in harm's way to help others, they face risks that can end their lives, all with the motivation to help those in dire need of support and to deliver life-saving aid, often delivering the aid bought with your donation.

Phil Jones tells of his experience working for some of the largest humanitarian organisations in the world in some of the most hostile locations on the planet. From total disinterest in his future when a schoolboy in Liverpool in the 1970s, to an intense 22-year military career followed by a 15-year stint as a consultant for safety and security in hostile locations. He recalls the hardships and dangers he witnessed and the emotions he felt during humanitarian interventions in Iraq, Sudan, Darfur, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria, to name but a few. Phil worked for many of the Largest INGO aid charities becoming the first full time Global Safety and Security Adviser for Save the Children UK as part of the Emergencies Section. Phil went on to form his own Safety and Security Consultancy working to support those same global INGO's in hostile, conflict and disaster zones around the world. Phil wants to shine a light on humanitarian aid workers, to let a wider audience understand the reality of the threats and risks involved in delivering aid in hostile and extreme locations. Phil has a sharp sense of humour, sometimes it can be dark, but his sense of humour runs through his thought process in the guise of irony and sarcasm, which he also believes helps with his capacity to deal with extreme situations and the welfare of his mental health. Phil has been married to Val for 32 years and have two children Vikki aged 31 and Ryan aged 22. Phil is an Everton FC supporter and likes music, playing the guitar (badly!) and has a very keen interest in world events.