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Harper Massey
Mr. King
Pre-AP English II
8 May 2015
Americas Next Step with Humanitarian Aid
The definition of aid is, help, typically of a practical nature. Unfortunately, in this day
and age, it could be argued whether humanitarian aid is really helping. Aid is being used
worldwide, to help bring water and medical supplies to areas stuck in war and poverty. At this
time, there are people receiving aid and helping them return to good health. There are also people
receiving the aid that is sent and are continuing and lethal war. The ideas of humanitarian aid
need to be rethought. America needs to step back, and start small. This can be done by only
giving aid to countries with governments capable of handling the aid efficiently.
Aid that has been delivered to states in need is being taken advantage of by all, even rebel
soldiers and those prolonging these conditions. In the article, The Case Against Aid, by Farah
Stockman, she says, The international community fed Hutu fighters who had committed
genocide in Rwanda and who then continued their violent campaigns from UN-funded refugee
camps. This aid is creating a vicious cycle between saving the lives of innocent people, to
saving the lives of the ones harming them.
The humanitarian aid has also prolonged an immoral government in the area of need.
Many people were stunned when Sophie Scholl did not donate, with her reasoning, (The aid)
prolonged the life of a government she deemed immoral. From reading the article, AntiHumanitarian Aid by Jens F. Laurson and George Pieler, we can see evidence of people

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deciding to donate to help innocents during the Nazi regime, even if they did not agree with it.
Without realizing, the aid is supporting regimes that are discriminating, causing suffering, and
humiliating other races, genders, and religions. Continuing to give aid to unstable or unruly
governments is only adding fuel to the fire.
If the superiority has resolved that they can benefit from humanitarian aid, they begin to
manipulate the system behind it. In the article, The Case Against Aid, Linda Polman shares her
personal experience from a patrons point of view. When asked of the worst example of aid
abuse, she speaks of her time in Sierra Leone. I realized that the rebel soldiers who had been
hacking off peoples hands and feet, they could actually explain to me how to manipulate the aid
system, she describes. This is an obvious example of this situation getting uproarious, to the
point where the enemies have used tactics to have their war noticed and receive benefits to
continue on.
The unceasing aid from America to authority incapable of using aid properly or in order
to help innocent citizens and nurture the country back to health, is not bringing any good. This
situation has gotten to the point where places have learned how to manipulate the U.S.s aid
system to their advantage, continuing on a lethal war, and protecting a government or dictator
without a problem. This leniency is not acceptable for the U.S. In order to fix this, the United
States will need to find countries and problems worldwide with a secure government with
promise that the aid will be going towards the good of the state and its citizens.