Care in crisis: the impact of child evacuation and humanitarian aid on medical practice (1936-1940)

The project is already proposed. The methodology with required milestones will be discussed with supervisors. Aims:

As set by the studentship, the primary aim of this research project is to investigate the profound impact of the Spanish experience of child evacuation on humanitarian aid and medical practice during the years 1936-1940. Specifically, the study seeks to understand how Spanish civil war child refugees influenced the intersection of humanitarianism and medical practice through the actions of both partisan and non-partisan humanitarian actors.

The information generated through this research will then be used to create talks, exhibitions and cultural activities in connection with the Instituto Cervantes. Background:

The Spanish Civil War marked a pivotal moment in the history of humanitarianism, particularly regarding child evacuations. In 1937, numerous expeditions carrying thousands of children left to various countries, including the UK, Belgium, France, USSR, and Mexico. The evacuations were a measure set by the Basque Government, aimed to protect children from the threat of aerial bombardments.

Tens of thousands of children, predominantly Basque, left Spain, some accompanied by their parents, but many on their own. The absence of government intervention in the Spanish Civil War led to the mobilization of dozens of humanitarian actors, both partisan and non-partisan, who worked tirelessly to provide relief and maintain the evacuated children. Funding for these expeditions primarily came from charities and humanitarian actors.

Methodology:

The research will include the examination of archival holdings, the analysis of transnational life trajectories of humanitarian workers, and potentially incorporate interviews with eye-witnesses or their familiars. The archival research will delve into primary sources to reconstruct the historical context, while the analysis of transnational life trajectories will provide a nuanced understanding of the experiences and perspectives of humanitarian actors. Interviews may be conducted to gather first-hand accounts and insights.

Objectives: The objectives are given by the studentship.

The goals of this project are manifold. On one hand, it seeks to explore the methods employed by contemporary doctors and medical professionals while working with child refugees, the reasoning behind them, and any lessons they might have gathered from their experiences. The project will also delve into the concept of health, how it was conceived and addressed within the context of child evacuations and humanitarian aid during the Spanish Civil War.

Was there a lasting change or impact on our concept of health and wellbeing thanks to these child refugees? It will compare and contrast the medical norms prior to, during, and after the child evacuations to evaluate the impact the children had on these.

The project aims to reconstruct how partisan and non-partisan humanitarian actors addressed the medical challenges associated with caring for child refugees, and any differences in their approach. I would also propose to examine the influence of gender on the issue, how gender influenced/influences ideas of health and norms of participation - for example, who is labelled a "humanitarian actor", and who is merely "doing charity"?

Gender will also play a role when conducting the archival research, as "doctors" are more likely to be named in records, but "nurses" are not.

This research aims to contribute to our understanding of the intricate relationship between child evacuation, humanitarian aid, and medical practice. In a world that is increasingly more mobile and interconnected, where the number of refugees is growing day by day, this project will help shed light on the ways that medicine and humanitarianism are shaped by and products of contemporary crises.