World in Crisis

 The tragedies of war, famine, disease and poverty continue to dominate our headlines. Faced with such tragedy, the politics, ethics, even the economics of humanitarian aid are becoming more complex. The role of relief agencies, the political will of the West, the reponsibilities of the international community for war crimes and human rights - these are all issues at the heart of contemporary humanitarian aid.

World in Crisis - describing the plight of refugees and civilians caught up in war zones in both First and Third Worlds, the homeless, Gypsies, and AIDS/HIV groups in Europe and North America - highlights what can be done to alleviate human suffering in the future. The book concludes with reports from the frontline of the world's main conflict zones, in Bosnia, Liberia/Sierra Leone, Chechnya, Rwanda/Burundi and Sudan.

Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders is the world's largest independent organization for emergency medical aid. Through 25 years of action, the organization has become famous for bringing swift and direct aid to peoples affected by war and natural disaster, regardless of government consent.

Review: 'This book is an important contribution to the literature on civilian protection in contemporary civil wars World in Crisis has useful chapters on conflict in Chechnya, Bosnia, Rwanda, Sudan and Liberia, on medical relief during conflict, and on the gap between international law and the protection afforded to civilians in practice. - - Times Literary Supplement