HELP! Do you think overseas aid works? Why/Why not?

Like one other poster said, look at case studies of Sudan, Somalia, and of some of the former USSR republics, etc. "Black Hawk Down" offers a REALLY GOOD TRUE STORY about the Somalia aid expedition in that country. The UN and US were delivering food aid, which would be intercepted by Warlords and then sold to the people. It was used essentially used in this way: "You want food? Support our rebel group, and you live with food or you die if you go against us."