With the end of the Cold War came the hope of a 'New World Order'. Yet the tragedies of war and famine continue to dominate our headlines. Humanitarian law is still violated every day. Emergency aid from the United Nations and donor governments remains inadequate and military interventions often fail to restore durable peace.

Life, Death and Aid highlights the ten most pressing humanitarian crises of the 1990s and examines the policies, actions and effectiveness of the United Nations, donor governments and relief organizations involved in emergency aid and peacekeeping operations.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is the world's largest independent organization for emergency medical aid. Created in 1971 by a group of doctors disillusioned with the political conditions attached to aid operations, the organization has become famous for bringing swift and direct aid to all populations affected by war and natural disaster regardless of government consent.