The blame game

Drought and starvation in the Horn of Africa have raised questions about the effectiveness of the humanitarian response and why aid organisations did not respond more quickly.  Critics have levelled blame at humanitarian organisations themselves saying that they are acting out of 'self interest' and competing with each other in order to secure funding from a lucrative 'aid industry'.  One such critic, Linda Polman, debates these issues with HPG Research Fellow, Samir Elhawary, in a debate originally broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland's Newsweek programme.