Famine Crimes: Politics & [and] the Disaster Relief Industry in Africa

Alex De Wall

Indiana University Press, 1997 - Political Science - 238 pages

Famine is preventable. The persistence of famine reflects political failings by African governments, western donors and international relief agencies. Can Africa avoid famine? When freedom from famine is a basic right or a political imperative, famine is prevented. Case studies from Ethiopia to Botswana demonstrate African successes - but they are often not acknowledged or repeated. Who is responsible for the failures? African generals and politicians are the prime culprits for creating famines in Sudan, Somalia and Zaire, but western donors abet their authoritarianism, partly through imposing structural adjustment programmes. What is the role of International relief agencies? Despite prodigious expenditure and high public profile, relief agencies often do more harm than good. From Biafra to Rwanda, relief has helped to fuel war and undermine democratic accountability. As the influence and resources of UN agencies and NGOs have grown, the chances for effective local solutions have diminished. What is the way forward? Humanitarian intervention and other high-profile relief operations have failed. Progress lies in bringing the fight against famine into democratic politics, and calling to account those guilty of creating famine.

What people are saying

Review: Famine Crimes: Politics and the Disaster Relief Industry in Africa

User Review  - Amanda - Goodreads

Interesting look at humanitarian action in famine zones. He was often critical of humanitarian motives and operations but definitely had some valid advice. A good range of examples provided that help ...

Review: Famine Crimes: Politics and the Disaster Relief Industry in Africa

User Review  - A - Goodreads

This is one of the best books to give background on different conflicts in African countries and the effect of the ICC and international involvement has in the region

Contents

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: 1
• Africa A Fragile Ohligation: 26
• Retreat from mm NeoLiheralism: 49
• Retreat from mm The Humanitarian: 65
• Privatizing: 86
• Displaced famine victims Red Sea Hills Sudan 1991: 102
• 6: 106
• Graffiti in Ethiopia: 122
• The End of A New Humanitarian: 133
• 8: 159
• Southern Somalia mapj: 160
• Camp for displaced people Mogadishu: 173
• Humanitarian Somalia 1993: 179
• 10: 204
• 11: 213
• BIBLIOGRAPHY: 222
• INDEX: 233

About the author

Alex de Waal is co-director of African Rights, London

Bibliographic information

• Title: Famine Crimes: Politics & [and] the Disaster Relief Industry in Africa; African issues
• Author: Alex De Wall
• Editors: African Rights Organisation, International African Institute
• Contributors: African Rights Organisation, International African Institute
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: Indiana University Press, 1997
• ISBN: 0253211581, 9780253211583
• Length: 238 pages
• Subjects: Nature / Natural Disasters; Political Science / International Relations / General; Political Science / Law Enforcement; Social Science / General