Review of The Crisis Caravan: What's Wrong with Humanitarian Aid?

Linda Polman, drawing from over fifteen years experience reporting from war zones for a range of European radio stations and newspapers, uses rich case study analysis to posit a picture of ineffective and ill-targeted foreign assistance that departs alarmingly from the industry's claim of impartial assistance to victims of conflict. On the contrary, Ms. Polman paints a convincing portrait of captured aid, supporting the business of war and military strategy, pushing the ethical boundaries on such questions as whether doing something is always better than doing nothing, and whether good intentions are enough to warrant certain means and outcomes. She argues for greater transparency, honesty and accountability across the humanitarian assistance industry with rich, detailed accounts of areas for needed change. This is an essential read for students, practitioners and scholars of international conflict, development and aid.