THE ROLE OF THE HEALTH WORKER IN REFUGEE COMMUNITIES

absolutely vital for choosing an appropriate form of aid and intervention or even rejection of them. But this understanding and explaining of the arena of action i s a l l that social anthmpology can offer. Anthropologists, therefore, are important members of any interdisciplinary team not only in terms of response to disaster but perhaps they are even more needed where long term activit ies are planned. Examp l e s where social anthropologists have an important role to play are planning systems of medical care delivery, introduction of new technology, promotion of agricultural schemes, community development programmes etc. In practice, planners may find anthropological advice irksome as i t probably tends to be conservative. Anyone interested in achieving stated goals i s apt to become impatient when told that more or l e s s nebulous hurdles such a s att i tudes and traditions are holding up progress. Yet experience has shown that it i s these problems rather than technological hitches or even difficulties of funding that make or break programmes of work. The Hawthorn experiments prompted managements to think in terms of the human component in work. When dealing with the larger problem of running social rather than industrial groups delicate manipulation can pay great dividends. Sensit ive anthropological awareness is import ant because it provides the vital appreciation of what is humanly possible, desirable, acceptable. Hence while social anthropology cannot provide dams and irrigation systems i ts absence can certainly turn investments of skil l , capital and expertise into spectacular debacles.