Drawing on rich archival sources from Europe, Nigeria and the United States, this book retraces the international responses to the Nigeria-Biafra war (1967-1970). It brings to life the organizations on the ground and the individuals who shaped their missions, while examining their often complex relations with governments. From the dramatic images of starving children to the heated debates about the perverse effects of aid and the emergence of sans-frontiérisme, the Nigeria-Biafra war marked a turning point in the history of humanitarian aid. Colonial practices and representations were adapted to a postcolonial world, and humanitarian aid became a central element in the West’s relationship with Africa. By revisiting the Biafra moment, this book sheds new light on the contradictions and enduring dilemmas of today’s humanitarian system.（.）
Focusing on the Nigeria–Biafra war, this book combines individual, institutional, and governmental perspectives to show how this conflict became a testing ground on which humanitarian practices were reshaped for the postcolonial era, making emergency aid central to the redefinition of Africa–West relations.（.）
