ABSTRACT
Airlifts and increased communications bring humanitarian catastrophes to a larger world's attention more quickly while the suffering is acute and growing. Such information and transport improve opportunities for effective assistance, but also expose relief workers to enormous stress. Working in the midst of uncontrollable disasters creates emotional reactions in the relief workers themselves, especially since experienced and effective workers are sometimes sent consecutively from one disaster zone to another. Enmeshment can be seen among relief workers who view the behavior of the refugees around them in black and white terms only. They think of the people they employ or help as generous, wise, and hospitable and feel lucky for having found a group of people who accept them and appreciate their efforts. In general, persons in top levels of international humanitarian organizations want to profile their particular organization. This is an important way of gaining political influence and financial support.
