Food aid has played a key role in responding to the extreme poverty and disasters afflicting millions of people in the developing world. It is at the centre of much political discussion, both nationally and internationally. Despite notable successes there is doubt and criticism about the appropriateness of food aid, and confusion about the deep-rooted problems which perpetuate these calamities. This book presents a balanced assessment of the uses and misuses of food aid, and relates these to the complex realities of the international economy.