ABSTRACT
Although humanitarian assistance providers often premise their operations on the fiction that lifesaving aid is apolitical in nature, the distribution of humanitarian aid in zones of violent conflict is an inherently political activity. This chapter offers a personal account of my work, both within the U.S. government and for independent nonprofit organizations, as an advocate for more robust and effective policies to prevent genocide and mass atrocities. I argue that the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities must be understood not only as a humanitarian concern but also as a key national security interest for the U.S. and other governments. Conversely, I contend that UN agencies and international NGOs need to move beyond the principle of strict humanitarian neutrality in order to protect vulnerable populations from mass killing by predatory groups.
