Crisis Response

The Horn of Africa has become symbolic of famine and of impotent international crisis response systems. Somalia and Sudan, in particular, represent classic case studies in modern crisis response. John Prendergast makes a detailed analysis of the recent human rights and humanitarian interventions in Sudan and Somalia, examining those that have worked and those that have not. Prendergast demonstrates that military intervention and state building efforts in Somalia provide many lessons for future emergencies, while the long-running negotiated access response to aid the victims of Sudan's war also offer insights for those responding to other catastrophes. The crises in the two countries are viewed within the wider context of cyclical famines in the Horn, and the massive worldwide responses which often come too late and fail to address the causes of the crises. Providing a range of initiatives on how the international community can respond effectively to complex international emergencies, the author highlights how resources can be made better available to aid agencies within the UN and elsewhere.