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, and there have been notable successes, yet there is doubt and criticism about the appropriateness of food aid, and confusion about the deep-rooted problems which perpetuate these calamities. This book is designed to give a wide public a clear insight into the key issues, presenting a balanced assessment of the uses and misuses of food aid, and relating these to the complex realities of the international economy.