By Justin Forsyth Eastern Zaire is a new test for international governance. It is also a test case for humanitarian aid. Critics have argued forcefully that humanitarian aid in such crises may do more harm than good. Aid agencies, they say, competing with one another for profile, soundbites and funding, rush in regardless of the consequences of their actions.
Aid gets manipulated, feeds the killers, fuels the conflict, prolongs the crisis.
We are there to meet people's rights, but those rights become further compromised. There are some compelling points in this debate, which has periodically raged within the offices of relief agencies ever since we began to respond to humanitarian need in politicised crises. In principle there is only one answer. Humanitarian relief is not a choice, it is a must. International law, codified in the Geneva Conventions and eslewhere, imposes an obligation on the parties to the conflict to respect humanitarian access and principles, and on outside governments to provide assistance.