Guest Thinkers — September 13, 2010

Against Humanitarian Aid

“The world’s humanitarian aid organizations may do more harm than good, argues Linda Polman.” The writer has a new book on the unintended consequences of humanitarian aid.

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“I believe that aid could be given in a much more efficient and less dangerous way,” says writer Linda Polman. “After every humanitarian intervention, the aid organizations analyze what went well and what went wrong. Every analysis…says the weakest point is that the aid organizations are not cooperating well enough, which makes them vulnerable to abuse of the aid. … The reality is that aid is not being given a choice. Aid is being used by parties that are at war with each other. Even if aid wants to be neutral, the choice is made for them.”

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