The Perils of Humanitarian Assistance in Armed Internal Conflicts: Somalia in the 1990s

Abstract

The 1990s saw several international attempts to provide humanitarian assistance – often bolstered by military forces – to populations embroiled in armed internal conflicts. Examining the events in one instance – Somalia – makes it clear that the common misperception of humanitarian assistance as apolitical and neutral is dangerously counterproductive and can create unintended negative consequences for donors and intended recipients alike. The provision of aid during a conflict is an inherently interventionist action and future relief efforts, if they take this into account, will have a much better chance of success than did the aid efforts of the 1990s.