Humanitarian action formed a major part of the international community's response to the wars of the 1990s, especially civil wars. But the experiences of governments, NGOs, and international bodies involved in humanitarian action have raised controversial questions like: Does humanitarian action save lives or prolong wars? Is it compatible with economic sanctions? Does it permit forcible population movements? How should safety zones be protected? Is military assistance for humanitarian action useful? Do NGOs lose their impartiality when they participate in a large, co-ordinated international response? This study provides a solid overview of these issues.