the argument that by working closely with local institutions in the recipient countries of aid relief, it builds up trust with the community rendering armed protection unnecessary. As illustrated by “the red cross, working closely with its Somalian counterpart (the red crescent), was able to unload and deliver food aid throughout the crisis without any need for military protection”. 230 Another ethical message shown to the local people of an emergency proposed by Anderson, is one that cooperation is not important and it is reinforced by the “diversity of aid agencies in terms of long-and short-term goals, political agendas, religious stances and other differences in outlook, field workers often fail to cooperate with each other”. 231 Harmony and cooperation between people are vital in the pursuit of peace in a conflict so here lies another negative impact that Humanitarian assistance involuntarily brings with it. The arguments presented in this essay show that humanitarian assistance does also provide negative contributions that would not be present if was no assistance were to be given at all, such as, the ethical messages spread by humanitarian assistance, aid acting as competition in local markets as seen in Somalia, whereby it depresses the local markets and undercuts the local farmers. Also, the aid relief draws fighting to itself, as warring factions always seeks to control them for their own political purposes and to act as a source of funding to carry on their war agendas. Whilst these negativities do pose a problem, they should only serve as encouragement to develop humanitarian aid further and iron 230 Donatella Lorch, 'MISSION TO SOMALIA; red cross won’t use U.S. Troop escorts in Somalia', World , 20 December 1992. 231 Mary B. Anderson, Do no harm: How aid can support peace - or war (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1999).
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